Anyone know their spiders well enough to identify this one?

[sugarplumkitty]

We're weird. We know it. Ever since we had the tarantula wander into our house two years ago, we've allowed the occasional spider to live in our bathroom window.

We haven't had one for a while until this one showed up last week. It's about 1.5 inches long including the legs. The body is about 3/4 of an inch. I can't find it on any arachnid websites but would like to know what our guest is.

He/she's really polite, just staying in the window and building a modest sloping tangled web in one corner. We only see it in the evenings. It's less afraid of us than it was the first night. It seems to know we mean it no harm. It even let me take a couple of pictures. Here's the best one.

Any clue what it is? The only site I found that would let me join was a pet site. Tentative identification is that of a wolf spider or a water spider. I'd like to find an expert to know for sure. The spider guy on the pet site claimed I wouldn't need a spider cup to transport it outside because it's harmless. HA! RIiiiight. I'm going to grab a spider with jaws that big? I think not.

Comments

[toadslyquinne.livejournal.com]

Well, he appears to be a he. And you say he built a web in your window? That means he most likely can't be a hunting spider (i.e. wolf spider). Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm at a loss.

I'm glad you joined Arachnerds- those other kids know bunches about spiders and should be able to help you out right quick. I hope you stick around, too.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks! How do you know it's a he?

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

The web turned out to be pre-existing. I tried to stick a bug in it and it's not sticky anymore. So, he's probably a wolf spider.

[chungjik.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I am no help identifying the spider... However I would NOT touch ANY spider that I could not conclusively identify... especially one that big!

[alessandrastarr.livejournal.com]

b/f says it might be a brown recluse, he says to do a web search and see if the markings match those of a brown recluse, which are very poisionous.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I've already ruled that out. Thanks though!

[angelsmum.livejournal.com]

While I appreciate the fascination with spideys, I personally would never set foot in my bathroom again if that made an appearance in there! LOL. Good luck with your search, I hope it isn't poisonous!

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it isn't. The only poisonous spiders around here are black widows and maybe the brown recluse. This isn't either of those.

[angelsmum.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad to hear that!

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Oh it doesn't bother us at all. It's looking for bugs to eat.

[angelsmum.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it doesn't! Spiders just freak me out; I get the shivers to be honest just looking at the picture. =S

Lame huh?

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

No, actually it isn't lame at all. I printed a the picture to show my hubby at about 3 times the size of the actual spider and left it sitting on my desk. When I went back in there I freaked a little then laughed at myself and turned the paper upside down. LOL

[angelsmum.livejournal.com]

Hehehe!

[aparecida.livejournal.com]

I forwarded the question on to my friend eyeawry, who knows more about crawly things than anyone I've ever met. heh.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[aikoheiwa.livejournal.com]

Worse come to worse, go over to flickr.com, start a free account, upload that picture, then join the 'id please' community. Post it there and most likely SOMEone will be able to tell you what kind of spider he is.

Y'all are that weird. We used to leave spiders alone and let them live in our apartment. However, after my cat, Aiko, got several spiderbites (and now has several permanant scars from them), we've either killed them or taken them outside. I don't like to kill them, but sometimes they're too small to catch and release.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

spiderbites? We've never had a problem with that. Our cats stomp spiders very carefully and quickly. They killed the tarantula several months after the last sighting.

hmmmmmmmm

[vwsrmylife.livejournal.com]

you are way braver than i. here is my found a spider in my bathroom checklist...

1. scream
2. vomit
3. grab nearest firearm
4. commnence firing
5. grab phone to call drywall guy
6. grab checkbook

sorry. my heart wants to collect and redeposit outside (i will do so only with the tiny spideys) but 1.5 is too big for this froggy.
g

Re: hmmmmmmmm

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Before the tarantula experience I was not quite as violent in my reaction but I was close. I've overcoming my phobia.

[iheartoothecae.livejournal.com]

The most similar-looking I could find was this guy, an unidentified Huntsman spider (family Sparassidae):



This was found in San Francisco, and someone else in SF posted two years earlier a picture of a spider identical to the one above. Your userinfo says you live in Silicon Valley -- maybe it's a species or subspecies local to that area.

I really don't think it's a wolf spider; they usually have fat racing stripes on their bodies. It looks nothing like a water spider.

That's as close as I can get. Have you posted to spider communities on LJ?

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Yes I have. Thanks! This guy is stockier than the huntsman you have there. I suppose there are differences within a type.

[plusjke.livejournal.com]

i saw this entry the other day and meant to reply on it but somehow i didn't get to it.
That looks like a freaky creature to me hon. At first i was thinking that it was a tiny spider and you have a big lens on your camera. But when you mentioned tha jaws being so big.. i started to doubt it and remembered the tarantula that got lost in your home.
Now please tell me, because i'm curious, and yes i want to tell this to my friends over here so i can see them shiver *lol*, HOW big is that spider? (but since i don't know a thing about inches, let's compare it with the size of a hand )

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Hands can be different sizes found a ruler with both inches and centimeters on it. 1.5 inches = 7 centimeters

[plusjke.livejournal.com]

yaiks!!!!!!!!!! And you let that creature live in your bathroom??? Just like that??
I would never ever be able to take a warm cosy bath while he was there.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

LOL! He's hidden away under the curled wall paper at the ceiling away from the bathtub during the day. He doesn't peek! ;)

[plusjke.livejournal.com]

aaaaaargh girl!! Take your shoe and SMASH that wallpaper!!!!!!!!