Ally's Eight-Legged Journey

Whilst going about my work day this Monday, I happened across this Wild Spood. She might be difficult to identify in this photograph, as she is a very dark brown - almost black - Steatoda species of spider. My first thought was a false widow, but she seems a little too dark for that. Regardless, what we have here is a very defensive mama spider who is protecting her egg sac. After running towards me once I picked her home up, she turned around and ran back to her sac - putting several long legs over it to keep it safe. It's okay Mama, I'm not going to touch your brood. But what this does do is give me the chance to talk about one of the aspects of my work - insect sampling. This spider has unfortunately made it's nest inside the cover that I use to test trigger the moth light trap that I use at work. I'm not sure whether this is more unfortunate for me, as it leaves me open to getting bitten whenever I test my moth trap, or the spider, who is going to be disturbed...