Wierd spiders in my house in Indiana?

Question

Myself I've never seen this spider with my eyes but my mother says that she always sees brown one dollar coin sized spiders with a pointed body in the early mornings. She says one just wont die because she's been hitting it for 3 days now (she identifyed it because it's missing 5 legs)! If you have a link to a picture that matches my discription please give me a link so I can show my mother if it's the right spider.

Answer 1

Ewww gross. I saw one today too and I spent the last hour trying to find the one I saw on the web. I live in north central indiana. This stuff creeps me out and I am probably going to have nightmares tonight! but here is the link of what I think I saw... I think I saw the second one down on the page. It was stinkn' huge.
http://www.tenczar.net/midwest/Lycosoidea/Lycosoidea.htm

Answer 2

Sounds like a black and yellow argiope or "ladder spider" to me. They're harmless - very big and scary-looking, but they make a beautiful web and catch lots of insects. They make a ladder-like weaving in their webs, thus the name. See the picture below, and you'll see what I mean.

Edit: I have to disagree with the idea that it's Tegenaria domestica; they just don't hang around! I'm including a second link, though, just in case that's what it is. The page is in Italian, but it's the first picture (very good shot); the discussion on the page is just asking someone to identify it, and stating that it scares the asker's son , and apologizing for the quality of the photograph (at least as best I can translate it - my Italian isn't so great any more). The first link is still the yellow agriope, of course.

I DO agree that it's definitely not a recluse (they're quite small) or a black widow (VERY distinctive creature).

Answer 3

I agree with Jim that it's probably not a recluse (and certainly not a widow). I wouldn't go so far as to say "paranoia", since most people are at least uneasy around spiders, if not very nervous. Anyway, check out Tegenaria domestica; it matches up well with your sketchy description, and the odds are good that's what it is. Personally, I'd say that anything that your Mom's been whacking on for 3 days that hasn't died deserves to get a free pass.

Answer 4

I have a Salcutta living in my back yard! This is also called an African Spur Thigh. He is in his late 30's, so he's just a boy. He's about 185lbs now, and will be about 250 lbs when he is full grown.He will live to be about 130, and is the third largest turtle species on the planet. We have planted a garden with all kinds of things that a tortoise likes to eat, and he grazes daily. My husband built a shelter for him, and he has a pet green anole who likes to bask on his back. He is very sweet and gentle and we have named him Nelson. Nelson was a reptile rescue. He had been abandoned in a state park by owners who probably had no idea how big he grow to be.

Answer 5

Indiana has 2 poisonious spiders. The black widow and the brown recluse or fiddleback. If that spider has a violin shape on it-stay away! they are reclusive and often a person doesn't know they are there. (as with most of those creepy crawlers) Could be just a garden spider-just watch for those two.

Answer 6

www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/pestinfo/recluse.htm

It's likely this is the spider. if your mom or you could get a picture of it... you can email it to me and I'll help you look it up if we can. Otherwise, just to be sure of what it is, I'd try to get one in a jar and take it to the local nature centre.
Just in case:
Identification
Recluse spiders have six eyes that are arranged in pairs.
In the mature brown recluse spider as well as some other species of recluse spiders, the dark violin marking is well defined, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the bulbous abdomen. The abdomen is uniformly colored, although the coloration can range from light tan to dark brown, and is covered with numerous fine hairs that provide a velvety appearance. The long, thin, brown legs also are covered with fine hairs, but not spines. Adult brown recluse spiders have a leg span about the size of a quarter. Their body is about 3/8 inches long and about 3/16 inches wide. Males are slightly smaller in body length than females, but males have proportionally longer legs. Both sexes are venomous. The immature stages closely resemble the adults except for size and a slightly lighter color. Whereas most spiders have eight eyes, recluse spiders have six eyes that are arranged in pairs in a semicircle on the forepart of the cephalothorax (see close-up view). A 10X hand lens or microscope is needed to see this diagnostic feature. In order to determine the exact species of Loxosceles, the spider's genitalia need to be examined under a high-power microscope. This requires the skills of a spider expert.

got my fingers crossed for ya!

Elfa

Answer 7

It is not a black widow or a brown recluse. So quit torturing it and just leave it alone. If your paranoia about spiders continues, I recommend some serious counseling.

Answer 8

i wouldnt look for a pic, i would get an exterminator because those sound like very poisonous spiders.

Answer 9

I think your Mom's been raiding the liquor cabinet!