Is this a false widow spider

[Suffolkelfie]

Found this spider in the bath. Is it a false widow? Asked DH to remove, however he set it free to roam in the bathroom rather than putting it out of the window. Should I be worried? DDs are freaking out.

I thought they were meant to be black or dark brown? Colour wise that looks like a garden spider I think 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes.

No, it’s definitely not. The striped legs for one, and it doesn’t have the right marking on it’s back.
I have one living in my kitchen, so I’m used to looking at it lol.

Like this

Phew that's a relief we can all sleep easy tonight.

Magicstar - do you have a false widow living in your kitchen?

Nope not a FW. I have loads some in my house. I just chuck them out when I see them

My false widows live in the conservatory. I leave them alone and they leave me alone..... but they don’t half make a mess dropping their “leftovers”.

Not a false widow. I had one living on my kitchen window for a year. She even survived last winter. She has now fucked off and left various carcasses.
She munched a bee and a dinky wasp.
I don't like spiders with big abdomen but as far as I was concerned, she got rid of any flies.

@Suffolkelfie we do. She stays in the corner not bothering us, and keeps the flies away.

False widows won't do any harm to humans anyway, their venom is very mild. it's the black widows that are dangerous, and I'm pretty sure they mostly love in Auz,NZ etc.

@Ginandgingers92 that's hogwash, have you not seen the people in the news who have been bitten by false widows and reacted badly?

Most of those bites are simple bacterial infections from puncture wounds. That's not quite as good a story though.

I got bitten by a false widow spider a few weeks back and needed antibiotics for it. It got very nasty very quickly.

I think mine was an allergic reaction to it more than anything else though. And in fairness I think the antibiotics were a precaution because I was having major surgery a week later.

Not heard the term hogwash in years 😂😂😂😂
From what I've read (not in the news, especially not on the daily fail), it's akin to a wasp or bee sting, which of course isn't nice, but I think some people are under the impression that their bite can hospitalise you, or worse!
Common house spiders can bite too, fun fact! 😉

Weeelll, if it's like a wasp sting, I'd be fucked cuz I'm allergic to wasps.

I knew there was a reason I avoided my resident false widow. I also briefly had one above my front door. That was a fun time. Looking up , making the spider was not above me and dashing out the door.

jumping on this thread... hoping someone will know. Had this spider in living room for a while and just thought he is starting to look a little widowy. Does he look like a false widow?

Yes I'm pretty sure that's one, we loads in our conservatory. They don't bother me but they are so messy with their webs

It’s a garden cross spider, the sort that make stunning webs in the garden, it will be much happier outside than in.
False Widows have a skull like pattern on their backs.

Thanks both. We aren't bothered by it but just wanted to check. Will pop it outside.