Can anyone identify this spider?

Question

We're in the UK and my daughter nearly gave me a heart attack by screaming when a spider descended from the interior of the car roof. It was light yellow (almost white) with black spots on its abdomen and about a centimetre long. It's hiding out somewhere in the car - and we don't know where now. We've never seen anything like it before in the UK. Thanks.

Answer 1

I reckon it's a Common Orb Weaver and quite possibly a male, as they have darker markings on their backs.

They will reside in foliage or any structure where they can spin a web.

Answer 2

You might find it here.

http://www.pbase.com/lejun/spiders

Answer 3

Could it have been a yellow garden spider. I've put a link below for you to look at!?

Answer 4

Small yellow spider with black spots ?  It could be - Enoplognatha ovata

WIKIPEDIA says:

Enoplognatha ovata

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Enoplognatha ovata

female

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia



Phylum: Arthropoda



Class: Arachnida



Order: Araneae



Suborder: Araneomorphae



Family: Theridiidae



Genus: Enoplognatha



Species: E. ovata





Binomial name

Enoplognatha ovata

Clerck, 1757

Enoplognatha ovata is a species of spider belonging to the family Theridiidae. It is native to Europe and has also been introduced to North America.

This spider, reaching a length of 6 mm (excluding legs), has translucent legs and the globular abdomen is extremely variable in colour and pattern: the background colour is white, cream or green and can be marked with a row of dark spots, a broad red stripe or with two red stripes in a v-shape. Despite its small size, this is a formidable predator which can prey on insects many times its size. The female deposits its eggs in a grey sac. This is secreted within a rolled-up leaf fastened with silk and the female guards it until the eggs hatch.

Answer 5

Learn to ID them yourself at -

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1954

http://www.arachnology.be/pages/Pictures...

http://www.spideridentification.org/