Baby Tarantula?

it appears to be either a hobo spider, or a trap-door spider.
there is a spider that has a white abdomen, and a red torso commonly called the sowbug killer with very powerful large fangs and is identicle in shape and size of the hobo spider.
the hobo spider got its name from the fact that its always wandering around like a hobo

I've looked at just about every online spider identification guide I've been able to find, but I still have seen this *exact* spider. The pictures of hobos that I've seen make them look "skinny" by comparison. This spider is really "meaty" and has a lot more body mass than I'm used to seeing in spiders around here. The fangs on this spider are impressive. They look like shiny black plastic. I haven't been able to count the number of eyes, and that might narrow down my search.

I'll look at more hobos and trap doors and see if I can find a match.

Any other comments welcome!

Thanks!

Jamey

Jamey
what you have there appears to be a male purse web spider
which is a type of theraphosid

I think you may have found my spider! After searching for "purse web" spiders online, I found this page (http://www.rochedalss.qld.edu.au/spider/purseweb.htm), and the photos are VERY much like what I have here, especially the last picture, except these are said to live in Europe and Australia?

Oh well. At least I was somewhat close about the "tarantula" description, since Purse Webs *are* members of the same family. It's just disturbing that these live in colonies, so I know there are more around!

Thanks!

this spider looks much like the purse web spider thats true but this spider may be in relation to the purse web and is known as the ravine trap door spider and is found in georgia, alabama and tenn. it is also commonly mistaken by the sydney funnel web spider that is the most deadly sipder in the world

I would definately say trapdoor spider. Pursewebs generally have more hair than the spider in your pic, and aren't as bulky as you are describing this spider to be. Trapdoors are very heavily built spiders, with large fangs, and short legs. Looks like a trapdoor spider to me.

I never would have thought of a ravine trapdoor... I guess because they build in the ground and this one was hanging from the top of my porch. Good eye!

BTW, since my initial post 18 months ago, I've seen maybe 4 more of these on our porch, all in webs, and all dead. Most appear Sept. - Nov.

Any ideas why they're in webs on my porch, and why they're picking my porch as their place to die? ;)

I think the answer to that is fairly simple. You porch is the ideal home for web-spinners like house-spiders and such. Trapdoor spiders can and will climb from time to time, like most spiders. And it has been my experience that web-spinning spiders are very skillful at getting the jump on larger, more powerful terrestrials. I don't know how many times I have seen common little splotchy spiders (not sure of the name) feeding on large wolf spiders. It's just my opinion, but I think that's what you've got happening there. I'll add that the dead spiders are probably males searching for females, which is why they are not in their retreats.