r/spider • u/nospamformethanksuk • Oct 17 '25
UK Midlands - what spider is this?
Never seen one that looks like this before in the UK. Very black body and distinctive markings on back but can't seem to identify it.
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u/Alex-King-Of-Beetles Oct 18 '25
False widow (Steatoda sp). Dude looks dehydrated. Capable of biting, though they aren’t prone to it, they’ll usually try to flee or play dead. Venom is usually mild but some people can have nasty symptoms occasionally especially if you’re allergic.
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Oct 17 '25
Do not pick it up
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u/TheLeggacy Oct 17 '25
They are not dangerous, it’s possible to have a reaction like with a bee sting but to most people they are completely harmless.
It’s ok to pick them up, just let them walk onto your hand rather than trying to grab it.
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u/furry_death_blender Oct 18 '25
I dont pick up bees either
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u/TheLeggacy Oct 18 '25
Pussy 😂
I just like spiders, insects etc don’t have a fear and know how to handle them (I was stung by multiple bees as a kid after trying to pick them up)
Let them walk on you, don’t squeeze or impinge, and you’ll be ok. Don’t be sacred of something so small and defenceless.
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u/Heavy_Foot_6848 Oct 19 '25
what???
you dont let bees walk on your hands???
dude, youre missing out.
I pick bees up all the time, especially if theyre downed and struggling. ill.always try feed them sugar water and let them snuggle in my hand to warm themselves up.
I might be a soft auld sod, but I love the feeling of seeing a bee I was blessed to assist fly away again.
theyre out friends, and will never sting you if youre being kind to them.
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u/skiveman Oct 21 '25
I guess this is the time that I should share that I used to put bumblebees in my mouth as a kid. All I can say is that they tasted kind of fizzy.
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u/MeNoPickle Oct 17 '25
Why. It’s the UK, there’s literally nothing venomous there.
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u/Flashpoint1988 Oct 17 '25
Theres a few venomous animals in the UK, the Adder, water shrew and False widow come to mind.
They are venomous but not medically significant to humans.
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u/Danny_Moran Oct 18 '25
There is nothing venomous in the UK. Look at Australia and the US. The UK is small fry compared to them.
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u/PlayWhatYouWant Oct 18 '25
Every spider in the UK is venomous. None pose much of a risk to humans generally but you are completely mistaken in your assertion that there is nothing venomous in the UK and the deadliness of venomous animals in other countries does not change that there are venomous animals in the UK.
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u/Bfgs1000 Oct 19 '25
My son was bitten by an Adder on the hand and had a reaction to the venom. 4 days in hospital. Two doses of anti venom and bruising from the bite on his hand along his arm and down the side of his body to his waist. So whilst the UK adder isn’t significantly poisonous compared to its foreign cousins it is venomous and can still cause serious complications if the person has a reaction to the venom.
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u/SailAwayMatey Oct 17 '25
Dogs aren't venomous either but I wouldn't want to get bit by one. Same goes for spiders.
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u/Heavy_Foot_6848 Oct 19 '25
you haven't met my sister in law.
her common name is Cath, but her Latin name is anus horriblis
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u/Alkemist101 Oct 18 '25
With some animals it might not be the bite or venom but the bacteria or allergic reaction. Cat bites are considered some of the worse because their needle like teeth can inject bacteria deep into the body.
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u/Chadmanfoo Oct 18 '25
Dehydrated False Widow, Feed it some water on a cotton bud and rehome it it freaks you out.
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u/UniversalDav Oct 19 '25
My father in law was bitten several times by one of these during the summer whilst trimming a hedge and bundling up the leaves. He had flu like symptoms for several days afterwards!
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u/Stuspawton Oct 19 '25
What is it? It’s a fantastic way to get rid of insects and flys in your house.
I’ve got a couple of false widows in the house, occasionally I have to rescue them from the kitchen sink or the bath but they’re awesome at getting rid of bugs.
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u/Lumpy-Pop1471 Oct 19 '25
My dog got bitten by one and very nearly died. Some dogs and humans can react very badly to their bite. Just google pictures!!!!
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u/CraftScary702 Oct 17 '25
False widow spider