What is this?

[Chu'Wuti]

I'm not sure about the species--there are so many spiders!! The spider in the photo does appear to not be one of the hairy species, and I'm not really sure it's a house spider, but that's probably close enough. The important thing is that it isn't a danger to humans. All spiders are venomous, but only a few (black widow, brown recluse/fiddleback) are dangerous to humans, though bites can be painful. And actually, the fiddleback is dangerous less because of its venom and more because of bacteria it transfers to skin when it bites.

Those "feelers" are pedipalps:

a spider's pedipalps are part of its mouth, and are located just between the chelicerae and first pair of legs on the cephalothorax. Pedipalps are jointed, and look somewhat like small legs. They are not used like legs, though. Instead, they are more like antennae: pedipalps help the spider sense objects that it encounters. Some spiders also use their pedipalps to shape their webs and to aid in prey capture and feeding.

Pedipalps are used by male spiders to transfer sperm to female spiders. In fact, you can usually distinguish a male spider from a female because of the male's enlarged pedipalps.

(info from Spiders of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Department of Entomology)

Spiders are such fascinating creatures! The variety of colors and shapes is astonishing.

[beckdg]

thank you chu... i did know about the pedipalps, but sometimes words escape me. also was not sure about this users knowledge and wanted to use generic conversation so as not to confuse as this post was a safety concern.

[Chu'Wuti]

i did know about the pedipalps, but sometimes words escape me. also was not sure about this users knowledge and wanted to use generic conversation so as not to confuse as this post was a safety concern

My addition/explanation wasn't intended to make you feel you should have id'd them more accurately, and you're correct that ensuring adequate ID for safety was primary.

I just find all this stuff fascinating. I drive my children crazy by always wanting to look up things . . . right in the middle of dinner even! I have to run for an encyclopedia or a dictionary or I have to google something . . . I love learning more about all kinds of things!

It's funny; even my friends' kids bring me stuff to ask about. The other day (well, actually Thanksgiving Day when I had 50 people at my house) a friends' daughter brought me two rocks to identify--and of course, being me, I have a rock id guide. It's all my dad's fault! Too bad he's not around to laugh with me about it.

[beckdg]

don't worry about it. i'm the same way!

[phearamedusa]

Thank you all for the info and the fact you didn't make me feel foolish about a simple house spider. I haven't seen him/her since that night, so haven't been able to get a better picture. The links did show a couple that looked a lot like my visitor, but I think the house spider or wolf was the closest in looks. All I was really concerned about, was that it wasn't dangerous to humans(namely me.. ) And its always nice to have someone to go to that is willing to look up info and teach a child/less knowledgeable person(namely me.. ). I don't see anything wrong with your passion for learning and sharing that info Chu'Wuti and beckdg. Again thank you, and hope you have a great Christmas and a safe, prosperous New Year.

[Chu'Wuti]

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, to you also!

IDK about Beck, but my passion for learning & sharing is only a problem when my kids want a simple answer and I go into a long one! Ah, well! They'll survive!

[beckdg]

well happy holidays to you guys also! thank you and your welcome!

btw, i am a child at heart. and never consider yourself less knowledgeable until it is proven (i had no clue myself )!!!

edit: don't worry about the post... it's stuck till a mod gets to it... best you can do is change what it says!

[phearamedusa]

already changed it, and when it comes to spiders I'm not even in the Noob category. I won't hurt them but don't know all that much about them. Here's the sum total of my knowledge on spiders, eat bugs, spin webs, can build traps, can be venomous, lays eggs by the thousands in an egg sack, and are found pretty much everywhere accept Arctic and Antarctic. They vary in size and color from itsy bitsy to oh wow HUGE spider. On other subjects I'm pretty knowledgable, this is just not one of them.

[froggsong]

Got rid of those posts for you! Glad your spider turned out to be an ok one. I know they are good for getting rid of bugs in the house and whatnot, but I will freely admit, if I see one and it is inside my house (or in the shed or garage), if it doesn't run fast it's getting stomped. If it's to high to be stomped, it's getting squashed somehow. I live on a "don't give it time to hide so you can find out if it is dangerous" policy. Of course, I am allergic to so many things, spider bites included, so that may be why I am so harsh about it. Plus, I just don't want them occupying my space. I like to watch them when they are outside, I only kill them in the house.

[Chu'Wuti]

Well, I know it can be disconcerting to find you're sharing your space with unwanted visitors. I catch them and deposit them outside.

sum total of my knowledge on spiders, eat bugs, spin webs, can build traps, can be venomous, lays eggs by the thousands in an egg sack, and are found pretty much everywhere accept Arctic and Antarctic.

That's actually a lot more than most people know! Good for you! Re the venomous part--ALL spiders are venomous. It's just that the venom of most doesn't bother humans, so we don't think of them as venomous even though they are.

They are actually really cool. I especially love the jumping spiders--they are so cute with such big eyes! and the Micrathenas--the most interesting shapes! Like this: File:MicrathenaSagittataJune03CU.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And did you know that some spiders can change color like a chameleon to match their background?

ooops. There I go again . . . Wheeeee!