house spiders aggressive in any way?

[tali122]

although british house spiders due to their large size look threatning i am aware that they are harmless- but are they naturally aggressive in any way?

[pjm007]

Only towards thier prey, although they do bite they are harmless to humans.

[brachiopod]

I think it's a case that, in most cases, they are unable to puncture human skin, though it is not impossible.

I have a bit of a phobia about spiders (especially larger ones), though somewhat less now than when I was younger.

Many years ago, I once had to get my elder sister to remove a large house spide from the stairs, since she wasn't the least bit worried about them. She duly picked up the spider to throw outside, when it bit into her. She actually found it quite amusing, as she couldn't shake it off, and proceeded to 'show' me by dangling it in front of my face.

She wasn't laughing a few minutes later when her finger swelled up to twice its normal size, and was apparently very painful.

[tali122]

i posted this question because i have found larger house spiders rather defensively aggressive
is there a particular breed of house spider that is more aggressive?
thanks for info

[Clare A]

Hi tali, as the others have said, British spiders may bite but don't usually harm in a serious way. What we consider to be 'house' spiders are really 'garden' spiders who have come in to find some warmth and a drink (aaah!). They can be aggressive in their tiny, arachnid way. I've seen one who lived under a radiator cover dash out to challenge the vacuum cleaner every time it passed! I used to feed him/her freshly-killed flies. Seemed to appreciate them. Who wouldn't? 'Takeaway for Ms Arachne!'.

[netibiza]

They sure as hell scare the life of out me!!!

[pjm007]

Two common house spiders are called Tegenaria gigantea and Tegenaria domestica.

[tali122]

thanks clare-i ve seen garden spiders- they seem to be significantly different from house spiders(tegenaria) and also have a more inquisitive and gentler temprament

[gingerflaps]

the most terrifyin spider ive seen in my old house was a red spider wiv little fangs, we put a glass over it because it was tryin to bite whoever went nr it wiv its front legs in the air and fangs stuck out. i later looked it up and it was called a wolf spider and can be quite dangerous if it bit u, it would leave a mark anyway, so just beware.

[netibiza]

Have just researched wolf spider and they are not known in Britan only in USA and they are not aggressive.  They are garden spiders and only come inside in autumn for warmth - they do not have fangs.

[gingerflaps]

no honestly i had 1 in my old house, then again a few yrs later in the old flat i had, i didnt believe it at 1st but after investigating it looked 100% like the wolf spider, i just wish i never see 1 again.

[tali122]

surprisedat how aggressive everday british spiders can be according to replies here.
expert opinion has them all as completely harmless.the only poisonus spider which is also quite aggressive is the woodlouse spider