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I found this spider in my house, it came in after some rain. Because of that I assumed it was a rain spider, but after looking online it seems more like some variants of the (apparently poisonous) violin spider.

It was found today, 28 March 2009, in Kenilworth, Cape Town. Approx. 8 to 9 centimeters from end to end.

Any ideas what it is?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Hi Mark...welcome to this great forum of ours!!!

ewwwwww....Spiders are not my thing...

Found this link..might be helpful...

Violin Spider

Thx for the info on your spider.

(Hayley I feel your fear) I am afraid of most things that have more legs than I do and more hair than I have on a bad shaving day.

I use a Sony A200, when in the park I only use the 75 x 300 lens. The lens has a macro function. The lens does what it needs too, and takes really nice photos. I do find it frustrating having to change between lenses all the time and this lens does it all according to my needs.

Lovely pics indeed...

I must confess, I'm very afraid of spiders (and snakes), but more so when I've seen spiders, and one second later they are not there!... Now where could it be?... CREEPY!

Got two bites from a spider three years ago. Initially the GP treated the fiery blisters as being wet psoriasis (?!) - and I now boast a hole on the back of each leg to prove it. (Btw, no sense of feel, etc.)

Yackity-yak!

Having said all that, obviously I realise what important roles spiders play as pest controllers, and thus let them be. But my BEST alternative is to call hubby to catch it in a box or bottle to release it into the 'wild' - i.e. our garden.

Elzet

Greetings all... I'm pretty sure there's a better place to post this question, but I figured I'd give it a go... Can anyone out there recommend a decent and complrehensive Spider guide? All the ones I've come across have been about 50 pages with very little info...

South African spiders: an identification guide (Filmer) Book and ... An interesting, general overview of the spider families of South Africa ...
www.arachnoboards.com

SOUTH AFRICAN SPIDERS Price - Jump Shopping - South Africa
Find the best Price for SOUTH AFRICAN SPIDERS in History at the best shop in South ... A wonderful reference book with illustrations, photographs and maps ...
www.jump.co.za/product/south-african-sp ... 585441.htm

Araneae (spiders)
The Book of the Spider. From Arachnophobia to the Love of Spiders. London: Hutchinson. ... LAWRENCE, R. F. A Conspectus of South African Spiders. ...
www.biodiversityexplorer.org/arachnids/spiders/

African spider spotted wolf - African beeds , Books by african ...
... Africareligion · Phisical map of africa; Books by african american authors ... African paper doll , African spider spotted wolf; South african recipies ...

Southern African Spiders: An Identification Guide by BHB ...
Southern African Spiders Isbn 1868251888 used book. Southern African Spiders Isbn 1868251888 ... South African Spiders: an Identification Guide used book ...
https://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/6227187

Scorpions of Southern Africa - the South African Bushveld, a field ...
Jonathan leeming has written the chapters on Spiders and Scorpions. ... carry more than one guide book when travelling to any South African Bushveld region. ...
www.scorpions.co.za/

Hi Skyjuggler

Check these out on the web. Don't wish to promote anyone, but Filmer I found to be ok.

Hi,

I've tried to find out what spider i found in my room last night, i was busy cleaning out the cupboards in my room when i noticed a spider on the carpet, i think it was disturbed when i pulled some things out.

The spider is olive in colour underneath its abdomen, the top is black. Its legs are half orange/brown. The spider looks rather flat. Its stance reminded me of a scorpion. The spider is the size of a 50cent coin.

I live in Gauteng - Johannesburg. Was found June 1st, Indoors...

Any help identifying and i'll be very gratefull! Thank you:)

Hi Wez0 and welcome to the forum. I'm no expert on spiders but it sure looks to me that it could be the Scorpion Spider Family Trochanteriidae Maybe a other forumite can confirm.

I second BGS
Google Trochanteriidae I did and it looks very similar!

Thanks for the quick replies... I think you are right with it being from the Trochanteriidae family.Im trying to find out if these are dangerous? it's the 2nd time i've found one on the property, and i hope they not harmfull to my dogs?

Theres a few species in South Africa. Have a look here! Go to Platyoides - theres a list of nine. Hope this helps.

GOOD EVENING JHB SPIDER:

THIS IS A SCORPION SPIDER AND IS HARMLESS TO THE HUMAN.
HOPE NOT YOU KILLED IT. IT LIVE AT KNIGHT NEAR AND IN CREVESICE AND HOUSES. EATS INSECTS. 1 OF THE 13 SPECIES IN AFRICA. SUGGEST YOU GET HOLD OF THE SASOL FIELD GUIDE OF SPIDERS AND SCORPIONS. THERE ARE OTHER FIELD GUIDES ALSO AVAILBLE. TRY CNA ORE OTHER BOOK OUTLETS.

REGARDS EDDIE
NELSPRUIT

A warm welcome to the forum Koueeddie!

Thanks Koueeddie, Nope havent killed it, i dont like messing with karma lol so ill let it go if its not a danger to my family/animals. Quite an interesting looking spider, seems dosile. I must get that sasol field guide

We've caught several of these over the last few days in the house. They have all the characteristics of sac spiders, ie: the agressiveness, the very black mouth parts, the elongated 2 front legs etc. These ones are all tiny, no bigger than a 1 cent coin, and not the usual fawn/yellowish colour of normal sac spiders. However, I think these may be juveniles? It's missing 2 legs though.









Any ideas?