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Original poster

Any arachnologists on here? ID please

11 replies

terracottapot · 30/07/2020 20:06

I saw a small spider yesterday running about in a plant pot and try as I might I can't find it in any of my wildlife books or when I search online.

It was small, less than 1cm long with a narrowish white/cream body and a bright scarlet head about the size of a pin. I couldn't take a picture of it, cos it wouldn't stay still long enough. And definitely a spider, I counted the legs as it ran over my hand.

Can anyone ID it from that description please?

OP posts:
MitziK · 30/07/2020 20:11

Baby Woodlouse Eating Spider.

MissHemsworth · 30/07/2020 20:40

I second a woodlouse spider.

Original poster
terracottapot · 30/07/2020 20:51

Oh thanks, that looks very similar, although I'd have said that the proportions of head and body are different. The one I saw had a longer thin body and a smaller head than that. I wish I'd been able to get a picture before it ran off.

OP posts:
Original poster
terracottapot · 30/07/2020 20:56

Aha! I just went on Wikipedia and it said that the woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata) is very similar to the much less common Dysdera erythrina. So I looked at images of erythrina as well and that's definitely it.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Feralkidsatthecampsite · 30/07/2020 20:57

Will leave this here!!

Any arachnologists on here? ID please
Original poster
terracottapot · 30/07/2020 21:03

@Feralkidsatthecampsite Grin

OP posts:
GoshHashana · 30/07/2020 22:25

I believe its scientific name is vile awful horror boy.

MitziK · 30/07/2020 23:14

@GoshHashana

I believe its scientific name is vile awful horror boy.
The adults are called Fucking Giant Red Bastards.
Deathraystare · 31/07/2020 08:55

Does Terracottapot need to set fire to both her house and garden, though??

Original poster
terracottapot · 31/07/2020 08:56

It was actually very small and very cute - even when it decided to walk between my fingers...

OP posts:
MitziK · 31/07/2020 13:16

@terracottapot

It was actually very small and very cute - even when it decided to walk between my fingers...
Aww. Baby spiders are great. Adult ones are amazing, in that 'wow, how amazingly perfect and remarkable they are' way.

Get above the size of a 5p all round including leg span and I'm a longtime fan of Social Distancing, though - I like you, you're fantastic, but keep your distance, please.

They probably feel similarly towards us - 'You're not food, I just want to set up my spot for catching flies and bugs, we can get along fine sharing this house/garden, right? Just so long as you don't keep screaming at me and throwing shoes in my direction?'

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