Would you worry about this spider? NO PICS PLEASE!

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

please please don't upload spider pics to this thread

Sorry, I am just honestly really frightened of big spiders. This may be skewing my judgement!

My mum who is absolutely unafraid of spiders remarked today that last night, she found the biggest spider she had ever seen outside of a zoo in her house. She said it was "the size of a small mouse, black-black rather than browny black and had red markings". She said although she has never felt scared of a spider before (she is 70) this one "gave her a nasty start".

I am worried this is something exotic that may be poisonous. I am concerned for her and her dog, in case they get bitten, but also she has 14mo DTs tomorrow for the afternoon. They are into everything and would totally try to chase/ grab/ eat a spider.

AIBU to be a bit worried? Has anyone heard of a native UK non-poisonous spider that looks like this.

please no pics as I haven't seen it myself so pointless asking if it is this or that one
TIA!

Without a pic I wouldn't worry. And with a pic I wouldn't worry .

Thanks. I think

I wouldn’t worry either. Almost certainly just a large and harmless house spider.

No pic but a link for you to send to your mum and ask if this is what she saw, it's talking about black spiders with red markings in British homes coming from Oz.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/8885990/Deadly-Australian-spider-comes-to-Britain.html

What did she do with it?!

The spider in CookPassBabtridge’s link only has a body the size of a pea so doesn’t sound like what your Mum saw so don’t panic at the title!

Was almost certainly just a garden spider, which can definitely grow to be very large - growing up in an old farmhouse they could be almost the size of the palm of a hand (including legs) so big spiders aren’t uncommon.

I'd be concerned. The only native UK spiders with any red on them are the False Widow (15mm) and the Napoleon spider (10mm). Both harmless.

Fuck knows what a mouse sized one is, but it's got to be an import.

Actually mostly I'd be fascinated and intrigued - I love spiders, but that's perhaps because I live in the UK where they're not at all dangerous.

Thanks all! We do live in a port/naval city and occasionally get exotic beasties off ships.

Apparently the monster ran away under a loose floorboard which had been partially pried up and my mum daren't chase it

Could your Mum do a rough drawing of the spider ? Or look at possible ones online ? Are you on twitter ? If so you could ask British Spiders, they might have an idea what it is.

It's probably been in the house for ages, if that's any reassurance?

I hate spiders but am trying to tough it out so my kids don't inherit my habit of screaming the second I see one.

Cave spiders are massive, alarming looking things, and very black. No red though, but your Mum might have been mistaken there perhaps ? They are photophobic so will try to get out of the light. Normally live in very dark places like cellars etc.
Some lace weaver spiders can be scary looking, they are largeish, black, have a big body and are rather furry looking.
The Cardinal spider is the largest in Britain, they are reddish, HUGE, and run very, very fast, so I am wondering if this is the one ?
I have not added pics, but your Mum could google.