Name that spider!

jhunter46 · April 2011

We've been seeing a lot of these guys over the last year or so in our house, especially as it warms up. I don't think they're dangerous, just annoying.

Can anyone identify this spider?

Ultimanecat · April 2011

Where do you live? I'm going to need an address.*

* I do not need an address.

jhunter46 · April 2011

Phoenix, AZ.

Also for reference they range in size from dime to nickle size.

Raekreu · April 2011

That spider is named Jerome and he is a bit of an asshole. </attempt at humor>

It looks like a cellar spider to me.

http://www.cirrusimage.com/spider_cellar.htm

Ultimanecat · April 2011

I'd probably say he's a grass spider, due to the markings on his back (black stripes running along his back), but I can't be sure. Usually they don't wander around the house, but will set up shop around it. Nothing's really stopping them from coming in, though.

Probably no need to worry. Widow spiders (they can be brown, not just black) have a larger rear end than front end; recluse spiders are mostly plain brown-colored except the violin-thing on their back.

Delzhand · April 2011

For the record, a "violin shaped" mark on the back doesn't mean it's a recluse. I mean, in that photo there's something vaguely violin shaped, but it obviously isn't a recluse.

jhunter46 · April 2011

I'm sure that it isn't a Widow, Brown or Black. We get plenty of those on the porch. It also not a daddy longlegs.

It's abdomen looks a little off of the grass spider. It's more round.

Noxy · April 2011

Yeah, most spiders have the visible violin shape on their back, especially light colored spiders.

A brown recluse can most easily be identified by a combination of factors including the length of its front legs and more importantly, the structure of its eyes. Most people don't want to get that close though.