What kind of spider is this?-Picture included-?

Question

I found this spider in our closet in a bag w/ flip flops. The flipflops the spider is on is about 2 in. thick. I have seen this spider before underneath my grandmas deck, but it was black! Its is huge! Can you please tell me what kind of spider it is, where its native to, and if it is poisonous or not? Thanks!

Here is the link!

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ilovetoesocks_2007/IMG_1104.jpg

if i were to draw a circle around the spider the diameter would be 3in. does that help? i don't think its a garden spider. How dig are brown recluses and how big are wolf spiders?

Its already outside. we live in the pacific northwest.

As in we moved it outside.

Answer 1

This poor spider, always misunderstood. this is a Giant House spider, i have them everywhere here, in my crawlspace,outside my house in my attic.Everywhere.the link below shows a side by side comparison of the Wolf and the Giant.in the picture the Giant has a little different marking than what i've seen, usually they are marked with a small pattern on the abdomen and 3 stripes on the Cephlothorax, 2 dark 1 light.They are aggressive spiders, i've had them chase me in the yard when i go poking at them with a stick.Here is another link, click on the pictures and you'll see the different variations of marking
http://bugguide.net/node/view/31449

Answer 2

It is not a Wolf Spider. It is called a common Brown Grass Spider. It is also called a Funnel-web Spider, because it builds a funnel-like web in corners of decks, porches, in woodpiles, in bushes, etc. Below is a picture of one.
They are common all over the country, and they can get pretty big as your picture shows. Their bite is slightly poisonous, but not serious. I have been bitten by one on the shoulder. It felt like someone pinched me. Then the area around the bite got red, and it ached for about an hour. Then it itched pretty bad for about 2 - 3 hours. By the next day it was practically gone.

Answer 3

Certainly not a brown recluse, and also not a wolf spider. It
appears to be a giant crab spider or huntsman spider (these
are alternative names for the same thing) family Sparassidae
or Heteropodidae (again alternative names for same group).
I don't know what species of huntsman spider would be found
in the Pacific Northwest, most of them are tropical or
subtropical.

Answer 4

It's hard to tell, since the photo is a little blurry, but my guess is it is some kind of "huntsman spider."

I don't think it's a wolf spider, wolf spiders tend to have "beefier" legs, which are held closer to the ground, without such an obvious "knee" between the first and second leg segments.

Wolf spiders and huntsman spiders look superficially similar, and have similar habits, but they are not closely related....
They seem to be often confused on the internet, however the pattern of the eyes on a wolf spider is distinctive:
http://people.uleth.ca/~dan.johnson/bws/dj_geolycosa_missouriensis_eyes.JPG
Too bad you can't see the eyes in that photo!

Huntsman spiders do not build webs, but rather scurry around in shadowy areas, looking for insects to eat, then chasing down their prey with lightning speed. These spider are harmless, and they may be beneficial, by eating pest insects.

Hope that helps,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 5

Note the eye patterns in the photos provided. The large eyes in the wolf spiders are the key. My book limits the huntsman to the southern US.

Answer 6

Given the size i would also suspect a wolf spider. It is not a brown recluse as those spiders have a distinct change in colors on their body as opposed to the picture of this one who appears to have some verigation on his body on his abdomen and thorax.

Answer 7

I believe it is a wolf spider. They aren't very dangerous, but their bite is somewhat painful. If that flip-flop is 2 inches thick, it can't be a brown recluse. They don't reach such a large size.

Answer 8

kinda blurry, but it looks like a wolf spider to me!
here's a pic-http://nalts.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/wolf_spider.jpg
toxicity-"The Wolf Spider is not aggressive but will inject venom freely if continually provoked. Symptoms of its venomous bite include swelling, mild pain, and itching. Though usually considered harmless to humans, its bite may be painful."
range-"Wolf spiders can be found in a wide range of habitats both coastal and inland. These include shrublands, woodland, wet coastal forest, alpine meadows and suburban gardens. Spiderlings disperse aerially and consequently wolf spiders have wide distributions"

Answer 9

Just a common Wolf spider!
They are everywhere....not dangerous!

Answer 10

Be very careful. That is a brown recluse also known as a fiddleback. They are common all over North America, perhaps worldwide. They are poisonous and their bite can cause holes in the flesh if not treated by a physician immediately!