I received an email from an arachnipedia visitor called Tony in West Yorkshire, Birstall, to be exact, asking for identification of the spider you see here.
It's not a spider I've ever seen in the flesh, but I know it's a Steatoda Bipunctata - distant relative of the Australian Red Back and the fearsome Black Widow. The distinctive dual dimples in a large abdomen confirm to me this is a female!
But it's also a relative of many Steatoda or (false widow) spiders in the UK.
The Bipunctata tends to lurk in and favour animal compounds/habitats (it doesn't eat animals - it eats the flies) hence its nickname, 'The Rabbit Hutch Spider'.
It's a harmless spider, but, one capable of a nip which may sting a bit!
Stay webwise!
The Natural History Museum has a detailed description of Steatoda species HERE
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