So what is this spider...

...that my daft dog has been sharing his basket with? I've never seen one with these colours before.

It has spun a kind of cotton wool ball type web and was sitting on top of it. It was about 20mm x 12mm

that web is a egg nest- suggest can of bo spray and a lighter

Originally Posted by husky03

that web is a egg nest- suggest can of bo spray and a lighter

Hmm, I brushed it out into the grass, I'd have to go and find it. I don't mind it breeding so long as it isn't dangerous to dog or kids.

Id be inclined to say that it is an orb-weaving spider

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

So what is this spider...

That, Sir, is a Red-Ar$ed Dunny Spider.

Native to Australia, it may have travelled here by hitching a lift care of Quantas in holiday-maker's baggage.

Normally livs under a loo seat, biting the bu-tocks (Forrest Gump stylee) of unsuspecting but otherwise relieved personages. This has never struck me as being entirely fair.

It looks like the spidys we have in our garden - orb-weavers I think they are. Beautiful webs our ones have, and are merrily munching their way through loads of little flies at the moment. I don't think they're harmful at all but I've never got close enough without a big lens in front of me

They can bite but it is rarely toxic to humans.

Originally Posted by minimorecambe

They can bite but it is rarely toxic to humans.

Glad I've not got too close to them then They seemed happy enough munching flies so I might have been safe anyway They're lovely things to watch

[gruntygiggles]

It looks like a particularly pretty garden spider to me. The most common of Britains orb weaving spiders. I wouldn't worry about being bitten by it. I've picked up thousands of these things in my life, never used to let my dad trim the hedges in the back garden until I had moved them all to safety. I never got bitten!

I'd expect they would only bite you if you walked through thier web and startled them.

I would also bite some who wrecked my house!!