Posted by Havvrone Rhodri on June 21, 2006

Q: I live in Saskatchewan.Last year my partner killed a large spider on our deck,-it had a large hump ,a sizeable one, on its back and I thought it looked as if that hump contained the web weaving silk .The web itself was sizeable too,preveting us from going through the door.

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Saskatchewan

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: I'm having a bit of trouble picturing what you mean by a "large hump" on its back. Could this be a large abdomen? Some of the spiders do indeed have a rather large abdomen and some also have abdomens that are unusually shaped too. All spiders are poisonous but only two are dangerous for humans - yours doesn't sound dangerous. Since spiders usually make a new web daily, removing one from your deck isn't a problem for the spider - it will simply make a new web elsewhere.

The Peterson Institute has a great book called the Golden Guide to Spiders and Their Kin that shows lots of different spiders. The book is paperback and inexpensive so this may be a book you'd like to order on line to have available. Thanks for asking and I hope my answer has helped a wee bit.

John Wiessinger ( June 22, 2006)