Can't sleep until this spider is identified :(

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forest_boy Vancouver, Canada Nov 12, 2011

Hello everyone,

I found this spider crawling under my bed the other night and I decided to lay carpet tape around the perimeter to protect myself. When I woke up the next day, I found it trapped on the sticky tape. I have not had a peaceful sleep since. Please, if someone can tell me if this spider is poisonous or any useful information about it, I would be grateful.

It is brownish in colour and about 2 inches wide. It is a bit squished in the picture, but it stood quite high in the beginning. I took a picture of it with my camera phone, so I hope this will help with it's identification.

Thanks again!

Thumbnail by forest_boy
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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Nov 12, 2011

it looks like some kind of wolf spider to me.
go back to sleep.

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kwanjin (Zone 7a) Nov 12, 2011

It looks Wolf-ish to me, as well.

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 12, 2011

Looks more like a funnel web spider, Tegenaria sp. -
http://bugguide.net/node/view/284287/bgimage

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forest_boy Vancouver, Canada Nov 12, 2011

Here is one more picture:

Thumbnail by forest_boy
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forest_boy Vancouver, Canada Nov 12, 2011

What are the defining characteristics that distinguish a wolf spider from a funnel web spider?

Thanks for this information!

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forest_boy Vancouver, Canada Nov 12, 2011

I read the guide posted in the link you supplied, Flapdoodle. Thanks for this information.

It would appear that it is not easy to identify the differences between these two types of spiders.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Nov 13, 2011

keep in mind that while most spiders do have a venomous bite, very few are considered dangerous or life-threatening. it's best to give spiders in general a wide berth (don't handle them) but they aren't going to come after you purposely. here is a fun link on spider id. http://www.termite.com/spider-identification.html

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huzur79 Vancouver, Canada Nov 13, 2011

Its a Wolf Spider. The fangs, and the color/size of the legs are not typical for a funnel web. This photo of a Wolf Spider matches it much better.



http://pestcontrolcanada.com/Questions/What%20i1827.jpg

A West Coast Funnel Web spider looks like this

http://pestcontrolcanada.com/Questions/What%20i2165.jpg

This message was edited Nov 13, 2011 9:09 PM

Thumbnail by huzur79
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 14, 2011

Sorry, huzur79, but I have re-examined all the images, including yours, and still believe that the spider in question is far more likely to be an Agelenid in the genus Tegenaria than a wolf spider. The image of an Agelenid you provided is that of a male spider whereas that of forest_boy is a female, and your 'wolf spider' image actually is that of a hacklemesh weaver (Amourobiidae).

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