Found this in the shed. Is this the poisonous garden spider?

36 comments
  1. Cross spider. Will only bite if you catch him and hold him in your closed hands or something like that. Even than the bite will itch just a little for a few hours.

  2. No. From what I’ve found, the most poisonous spiders in our country are the [Gerande Oeverspin](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grote_gerande_oeverspin?wprov=sfla1) and the [Roodwitte Celspin](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roodwitte_celspin?wprov=sfla1). Both of these spiders can bite through human skin, but it’s only as painful as a wasp sting if you’re unlucky. They won’t kill you.
    There is also the non indigenous [Grote Steodota](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grote_steatoda?wprov=sfla1) which is a relative of the infamous Black Widdow and has been living in our country for a few years now. They’re not as poisonous as their famous relative though, not dangerous to humans, again comparable to a wasp sting.

  3. I don’t know if this is some sort of bias, but over the last years I feel like there’s way less bugs/critters in my garden (orbweaver spiders, butterflies,…). Is this true or am I just imagining things?

  4. Kruisspinnen are very common in September-October.

    It’s interesting to watch them grow if they have a nice web at the right location. They do a nice cleanup of insects in the autumn.

  5. I think there is a count going on of cross spiders in Belgian gardens. Similar to the bird counting. If you have the time, try to find and count your garden’s spiders.

  6. I’m on a silent agreement with one. He spun his web in front of a window I open up at night for ventilation, he makes sure not a mosquito comes through. Works like a charm, haven’t had a bite for the last week and his web has never been fuller. Spiders are bro’s.

  7. Venomous*
    And yes, most spiders carry a type of venom.
    However, this one doesn’t really bite humans and the venom is not medically significant.
    No worse than a mosquito bite.

  8. Nicely fattened up. They bite, but only defensively, and only the larger ones are even capable of breaking through skin. Not dangerous at all.

    But try to leave it be, it’ll take care of insects for you.

  9. According to ObsIdentify it is a normal Kruisspin.

    ObsIdentify is a free app uses AI to identify plants, insects and animals.
    Check it out it’s a Pokemon Go experience in the real world!

  10. Poisonous is when you bite / eat it and you get sick / die.
    Venomous is when it bites you and you die.

    If it eats you you die, regardless of venomous or poisonous.

    Now, there aren’t any spiders you have to be worried about in Belgium.

    Wild animals to be careful with: vipers, wolves.

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