8
Paravespula germanica (Fab.) Paravespula vulgaris (L.)
Vespula austriaca (Panz.)
Roger Payne
A FURTHER REQUEST FOR HOUSE SPIDERS
Thank you to the Field Club members who responded to my request for house spiders and
the green spider Nigma walckenaeri. This has resulted in new records for both the Nigma
and the house spider Tegenaria gigantea.
Although now probably too late for Nigma to still be found this year, I would again ask
for help regarding house spiders. The different Tegenaria species will still be adult, and
there are also other spiders commonly associated with houses that are very under-
recorded e.g. Amaurobius similis, Zygiella x-notata and Nuctenea umbratica all found
under the eaves or in cracks in walls and fences, and the three jumping spiders Salticus
scenicus the zebra spider and Euophrys lanigera both found inside or outside the house
on walls, near window sills or on fences and outbuildings and Sitticus pubescens, which
seems to be found particularly on old walls.
The Gum-Squirting spider Scytodes thoracica and the Daddy-Long-Legs spider Pholcus
phalangioides are both very characteristic in appearance and could be in any house. The
small Theridiid spider Theridion melanurum is very common inside or on the outside of
houses and the related species T blackwalli and T. familiare, although apparently very
rare are possibly simply overlooked.
In 1990 Ray Ruffell found a house spider new to Britain in his own house. Scotophaeus
scutulatus looks very like the widespread but under-recorded Mouse spider S. blackwalli
and could well have been overlooked before. It is widely distributed in Europe and there
seems no real reason why it should not also occur widely in Britain.
So once again please send me your spiders! House spiders are tough (that is why they can
survive in houses) and are quite safe in the post if sent in a small container like a
matchbox or old film capsule. I am happy to refund postage and let you know what you
have in your house so what have you got to lose?
Peter Harvey, 9 Kent Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6DE