Some flavor of Tegenaria in my garage

[iainspowart]

This may or may not be the same specimen from an earlier post of mine (www.spiders.us/forums/showthread.php?t=967) - the old photo makes it look a lot darker but it may just be that I was able to get a clearer photo this time.

It appears to have very poor eyesight (not uncommon I believe) because I can get very close to it with the camera but if I so much as touch the ground with the camera then it's off like a shot back into its web.

It's only about 10mm long (body length).

Central Scotland, UK

Iain

[Mandy]

This gal looks like something in the genus Malthonica (still in family Agelenidae, like Tegenaria also is)... she has banded legs and a slightly different color/pattern scheme than Tegenaria.

There are a few different species of Malthonica in your area, but I'm not sure which she is. Far beyond my expertise in this case since I don't have any hands on experience with them. Malthonica don't even exist in North America.

The first image in that other thread you linked to also appears to be female Malthonica. If you can talk to any arachnid hobbyists in your area or if there are any forums there, someone might know which species based on the fact that she lives in your garage. Some Malthonica like caves and things outside, whereas I think some species are common in and around buildings instead.

Nice shot, btw!

[Mandy]

You know what, I take that back... looking again (and again and again) this could just be Tegenaria domestica. Same goes for the 1st image in that other thread.

So hard to tell from an image, plus none of us are experts in Scottish spideys, unfortunately. It's a totally different set of options across that big blue ocean.

[iainspowart]

I'm so glad you changed your mind! If I found out that these weren't Tegenaria it would mess up my entire belief system! lol

The photos I had found of Malthonica seemed to have a much greater contrast in the markings and banding but I know that looks can be deceiving. I like the spiders too much to want to catch them and subject them to professional examinations just to confirm to species level so I'm happy to take it on educated guesses as to what they are.

[Mandy]

I'm so glad you changed your mind! If I found out that these weren't Tegenaria it would mess up my entire belief system! lol

Haha! Sorry to throw you off for a second there!

For the most part I changed my mind after finding out most Malthonica are more common outdoors than indoors... and T. domestica is probably the single most common house spider in the entire Northern Hemisphere, so is more likely. Wish I had some hands on experience with Malthonica so I could learn to tell the differences between them and Tegenaria domestica. From what I know at the moment they are really very similar on the outside... though looking at some drawings by Michael Roberts (big name in Euro arachnology), he drew Malthonica with (just as you said) greater contrast in the markings, especially on the legs. T. domestica can be pretty variable in contrast as it is, so not sure that would help in every scenario, but who knows...