Which spider is this

[teaumaz]

Last night as I switched on the light in my living room, this spider was crawling on the walls. I know that in Belgium there are no dangerous spiders, and I generally just softly pick them up and release spiders outside my house. However, as I came closer to this one, it really seemed to have 2 massive fangs.

Beyond the stuff I see on Animal Planet and National Geographic, I don't know much about spiders so I was wondering whether anyone could tell my what this spider is. It's body was about 2,5 cm (1 inch) and the diameter from 1 leg to the other was around 8 cm (3 inch).

My wife doesn't believe it's harmless, so if you could help me out by telling me which kind of spider it is...

[Rudy]

uh.... I would kill it asap... it looks huge lol

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Jesus f****** christ! Who cares what kind of spider it is, kill it! kill it kill it kill it!

*cough* Sorry, arachnophobics shouldn't enter this thread, obviously...

Out of interest, what have you done with it while you wait for an answer?

[YounGMessiah]

I wish you had closer shot, primarily with a clearer pic of its body and head..

**Kinda of looks like a vibrating spider in a way..

[teaumaz]

I wish you had closer shot, primarily with a clearer pic of its body and head..

**Kinda of looks like a vibrating spider in a way..

It was quite hard to go even closer to it. As soon as the shadow of my hand moved, the spider moved too.

[YounGMessiah]

Yeah I understand, its hard to know now a days 2; I seen spiders that you would never imagine seeing; im no expert though and defin. dont know much spiders in Belgium lol..

Edit: You should capture it and take it in..

[+virtorio MVC]

I believe that's a member of the mf'n'terrifying species.

[Phixion]

Looks like a regular house spider but seems huge... we get alot of spiders this time of year and it really does my head in - I'm petrified of spiders and often have night terrors about them falling on my bed. If I find one I usually put something over it and get a family member to remove it :p

[XerXis]

it's a regular housespider, totally harmless, but they do get big :)

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grijze_huisspin here you are ;)

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Looks like a regular house spider but seems huge... we get alot of spiders this time of year and it really does my head in - I'm petrified of spiders and often have night terrors about them falling on my bed. If I find one I usually put something over it and get a family member to remove it :p

I've had two experiences like that.

The first time was when I was really little. I think that's what made me scared of spiders. I woke up and saw this spider on my ceiling right above my bed. I didn't move, and called for a parent to come and remove it (that's how young I was). Before someone could get it, the spider dropped off the ceiling and landed in my bed. I've been wary of them ever since.

Then, a few years back I was in bed watching a film on my laptop with the lights off. There were a series of explosions in the film, and as they lit up the area I noticed something scuttle along the side of my bed. I dived out and turned on the light. Sure enough, it was a spider, and not exactly a small one either. I proceeded to spend the next hour going through my room with an airsoft gun hunting him down. I shot him twice before dropping a crate on him. Sure, it was evil and probably not a nice way for it to go, but dammit the b*****d should have known better than to scare me. Oddly enough I haven't been bothered by a spider since, I think somehow word got out not to mess with me. :laugh:

Hey, my 1337 post. :D

[MikeChipshop Member]

I'd agree... we get a lot of huge sized house spiders at this time of year, it's been warm but as the air cools they come out of hiding. As much as i hate to say it just squash the bstard and hope no more happen.

[XerXis]

I'd agree... we get a lot of huge sized house spiders at this time of year, it's been warm but as the air cools they come out of hiding. As much as i hate to say it just squash the bstard and hope no more happen.

why squash it? they generally keep away from people, they do no harm, just pick it up with a can and put it somewhere where it doesn't bother you.

[Sulphy]

That is gorgeous!!!!!! Its a male hunting spider... they do get really large, rare to see a male that size! not much luck with the ladies then :)

[Nick H. Supervisor]

That is gorgeous!!!!!! Its a male hunting spider... they do get really large, rare to see a male that size! not much luck with the ladies then :)

Seriously?! It's called a hunting spider? No contest then, kill it before it kills you.

Note: I understand that the "hunting" part of the name doesn't refer to humans being it's prey. But still...

[Darkmiss]

That looks like what we found in our mosquito net, (here in the UK) just a few days ago, which was a Giant House Spider or Tegenaria duellica.

its a hunter rather than a web spinner, and completely harmless.

I also read that they are the fastest spiders in the world.

[Ently]

Nawh what a little cutie!

[djdanster]

Nawh what a little cutie!

[Xoligy]

I hate spiders ever since i watched that movie about them arachnaphobia is it? canna stand the things and if i see them i have to kill them everyone says "catch them and throw them out the window" i say "forget that its either me or him" lol mind u i hate all insects :/

[Sulphy]

Seriously?! It's called a hunting spider? No contest then, kill it before it kills you.

Note: I understand that the "hunting" part of the name doesn't refer to humans being it's prey. But still...

hahaha.... :) Don't kill these spiders... They are great at getting rid of all sorts of insects, and harmless to humans... I was only even bitten by one, in South Africa... but she was massive! and it was no worse than a mosquito bite, itched a bit, but went away. The bite itself was more of a fright to me, than any pain... a slight pinch. In general, their fangs cannot get very deep into human skin.

Named Hunting SPiders, due to the fact they dont spin a web to catch prey, and run it down or ambush prey instead. ... Wait till you see or experience the Shadow Spiders.......!!!! Now that sucker is creepy, and gets the old ticker pumping! :)

[djdanster]

If you are arachnophobic this one's for you?

They run 10 mph, jump three feet, are a nocturnal spider, so only come out at night unless they are in shade. When they bite you, you are injected with Novocain so you go numb instantly. You don't even know you are bitten when you are sleeping, so you wake up with part of your leg or arm missing because it has been gnawing on it all night long.

If you are walking around and you bump something that is casting a shadow over it, and the sun makes contact with it, you better run. It will instantly run for your shadow, and scream the whole time it is chasing you.

PS. The one on the bottom is eating the one on the top. These are Spiders found daily in IRAQ by troops. Imagine waking up and seeing one of these in your tent!!

Source

It cant be as bad as that spider

[dknm]

Phew for not being anywhere near Iraq , because this just got added to the list of reasons !?

As for the harmless spider , take a carton board , let him climb on it and place it outside . Avoid shaking? :laugh:.

[ReDFoX2200]

If you are arachnophobic this one's for you?

They run 10 mph, jump three feet, are a nocturnal spider, so only come out at night unless they are in shade. When they bite you, you are injected with Novocain so you go numb instantly. You don't even know you are bitten when you are sleeping, so you wake up with part of your leg or arm missing because it has been gnawing on it all night long.

If you are walking around and you bump something that is casting a shadow over it, and the sun makes contact with it, you better run. It will instantly run for your shadow, and scream the whole time it is chasing you.

PS. The one on the bottom is eating the one on the top. These are Spiders found daily in IRAQ by troops. Imagine waking up and seeing one of these in your tent!!

Source

It cant be as bad as that spider

Those are camel spiders

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_Spiders

[Phenom II]

Yep we get big spiders that look like that here (Well not that big) but yea a normal hose spider, I forget their correct name

Tegenaria domestica

[MikeChipshop Member]

why squash it? they generally keep away from people, they do no harm, just pick it up with a can and put it somewhere where it doesn't bother you.

Because if i left it my girlfriend would up and move out and i would blame that spider for my sexless love life... hence it deserves to die in advance.

To be fair i rarely do kill spiders but choose to pop them in a glass or pick em up and move them. However i killed one yesterday when it walked along the edge of my bath eye-balling me. pervert.

[teaumaz]

Thanks for all the replies: so the credo that "there are no dangerous spiders in Belgium/Western Europe" still holds true then.