Spiders!

[Keraulophone]

My 10-year-old son spotted Mr (or Ms) 'House Spider' in the bath this morning, shot out of the room and refused to go back in to brush his teeth (no, not the spider's teeth). This is probably the one people are noticing. It's approximately two inches across with legs extended as here - a remarkably hairy creature on close inspection.

[P. G. Tipps]

That look likes a 'Mr' as males are seen more often and have longer legs.
He's drop-dead gorgeous isn't he?

Which brings me nicely on to the fact that once a male house-spider discovers a female's web he mates with her for weeks, finally dying from exhaustion, and then is eaten by his partner.

Female man-eaters appear to exist in the arachnid world as well ...

[Ferretfancy]

Believe me, Ferret, I was BITTEN (or 'nipped' is maybe a more accurate description).

Of course, maybe it was an invisible fly or bluebottle that escaped my attention as I picked up that house-spider and that 'nipped' me?

Who knows? We live in a mysterious world!

Oh, I've no doubt that on this occasion you were bitten, as Sir Thomas once said in a different context " Disgusting manners, but what a critic! "

[Ferretfancy]

My 10-year-old son spotted Mr (or Ms) 'House Spider' in the bath this morning, shot out of the room and refused to go back in to brush his teeth (no, not the spider's teeth). This is probably the one people are noticing. It's approximately two inches across with legs extended as here - a remarkably hairy creature on close inspection.

Yes, it's a humble tegenaria, and it's a boy. You could, if you tried hard, examine individuals of all 600 British species and establish whether you had a boy or a girl. The pedipalps in your photo look as if they've got boxing gloves on the ends, on the ladies the pedipalps end in a smooth tip.

It's all part of the sexual mechanics, but this is a family newspaper !

[Mary Chambers]

That's the sort I find in the house - in the bath, washbasin or just walking across the floor. They can be quite startling, but not at all frightening as far as I can see.

I think harvestmen are the ones with tiny bodies and long, very thin legs. I only find those in the garden.

[Nick Armstrong]

a remarkably hairy creature on close inspection.

Your bath looks a trifle hirsute too, in close up, Kera!

[mangerton]

Your bath looks a trifle hirsute too, in close up, Kera!

The bath does look hirsute, without doubt. More to the point, that spider is a leg short, and if you look closely you can see which one is missing.

I hope it realises it would almost certainly be unsuitable for the rôle of Tarzan.

[Keraulophone]

Re hairy bath: I nearly didn't post the pic on that account when I saw the close-up! At least the, now two, spiders clear up any insects. We usually shower, so the bath gets little use except as a spider trap. (Will get the Vim out tomorrow.)

[P. G. Tipps]

Arachnophobia appears to be all the rage on SKY this morning ...

http://news.sky.com/story/1559618/fuel-pump-blaze-as-man-uses-lighter-on-spider

http://news.sky.com/story/1559568/false-widow-spider-alert-as-rise-predicted

[Nick Armstrong]

Re hairy bath: I nearly didn't post the pic on that account when I saw the close-up! At least the, now two, spiders clear up any insects. We usually shower, so the bath gets little use except as a spider trap. (Will get the Vim out tomorrow.)

The Shame, The Shame!

(Sorry! )

[ardcarp]

I haven't read everything very thoroughly, but has anyone noticed that the spider pictured in #31 is missing a right leg? (You can see the stump.)

[mangerton]

I haven't read everything very thoroughly, but has anyone noticed that the spider pictured in #31 is missing a right leg? (You can see the stump.)

Yes! See #37.

( I don't know. You slave away over a red hot ipad..... )

[P. G. Tipps]

Yes! See #37.

( I don't know. You slave away over a red hot ipad..... )

Yes definitely one leg missing ... maybe the wife was so ravenous she tried to eat the poor thing whilst he is still alive?

[Padraig]

( I don't know. You slave away over a red hot ipad..... )

You're right mangerton! Too little appreciation, too late. I had meant to note your acute observational capabilities but failed to do so when it mattered. Well spotted sir!
Tarzan? Well I don't know.... if there is not an eight-legged candidate for the role.......

[Ferretfancy]

No need to worry too much, by the next time it moults its skin there will be the beginnings of a replacement, providing of course that it survives all the winter.