How to identify a spider

[DavidD_UK]

Are there any websites which help you identify a spider? I found a strange black/white striped on the other day and would like to know what it was. Thanks. David

[steve_nova]

This looks a good bet: http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Faculty_Staff/Ra
yor/Spiders/Resources/Spider_Identification.shtml

[steve_nova]

Just occoured to me. It could be a Salticus Jumping spider or Zebra spider which is quite common in the UK. Like all jumping spiders, it uses its excellent eyesight rather than webs to catch its prey. This, as the second epithet denotes has black and white stripes.

[flirty41]

Sure it wasn't a humbug???

[rustynails]

I have no answers at this stage. But I have found a horrific spider in my garden. It is/was all black and shiny and the body was about the size of my thumb nail. I was so frightened by it I sprayed it with flyspray and it turned over on the tarmac so I thought it was dying, but the next day I couldn't find it. I am worried as we have had such a hot summer that it may be something more sinister.