Spider

[zipadeedodah]

Last night in bed I noticed this big insect thing I hadn't seen before running on my carpet. I put an empty glass over the top to have a look - it had 8 legs, so assume it was a spider. It was much longer than it was wide, and had short legs. The back larger half of body was a palish green colour, and the front half and the legs were a light reddish brown. Not like the typical spiders you find in your house. Any ideas what sort it was?

[chijiki]

Have a look at the link below and see if the Cucumber Green Spider resembles the one you found.
http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o449-cucumb ergreenspider.php

[lynlockwood]

Don't look at that- I just did and it's made my blood run cold! You must let us know if that was in your house. You're very brave.

[zipadeedodah]

Thanks for the link chijiki - it wasn't that type of spider though (luckily!!) Longer thinner body - and shorter legs, and not quite that bright yellow/green!

[LotusEater]

Strangely enough, Zip, I've seen one of these spiders in my house. Largish grey-green abdomen with a reddish thorax and slightly shiny red-coloured legs. Just wondering if it was travelling about while it was quiet or hunting or getting away from either the heat or the damp. May have come in from outside. Bet it has a Greek name for it. May be on Google Images, (if you can bear to look!)

[Cetti]

Scroll down this link zip, then have a look at the Woodlouse Spider. The abdomen is more pinky than green in this picture but it does have the reddish brown thorax and shiny legs - this one bites!

[zipadeedodah]

Yeah it was how you describe LotusEater! And Cetti - very similar shape I think, main difference just being the green abdomen.

I'm so used to the common big brown or black house spiders it was weird to see a completely different sort running on my floor!

[chijiki]

I am now thinking that what you have seen is a Cobweb Spider (Tegenaria Gigantea).
That matches your description.
Failing that, it could be a Common House Spider (Tegenaria Domestica)
Have a look at the site (link below), scroll down to the 6th and 7th items.
http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/spiders.html