Barn Funnel Weaver, Domestic House Spider
Tegenaria domestica
Agelenidae (Funnel-web weavers), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include long spinnerets and a characteristic sheet web ending in a funnel retreat.
Physical Description
Robust body with a clearly separated oval abdomen and a rounded carapace. The texture is covered in fine setae (hairs). Females are typically larger and sturdier than males, which have slightly thinner abdomens and enlarged palps.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges from 7 to 14 mm for females and 6 to 9 mm for males, with a substantial leg span of up to 45 mm.
Coloration & Markings
Mottled brown, beige, and greyish coloration. The cephalothorax features longitudinal dark stripes or markings, while the abdomen displays a chevron or herringbone pattern down the dorsal midline.
Web Type
Builds a flat, horizontal sheet web composed of non-sticky silk that leads into a tubular retreat where the spider waits for prey.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small eyes arranged in two slightly curved horizontal rows across the front of the carapace.
Leg Characteristics
Long, tapering legs with distinct dark banding or mottling, covered in fine hairs and spines. They are typically held flat in a sprawling posture against surfaces.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains mild venom used primarily to immobilize insect prey. Not specialized for defense against large vertebrates.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Bites are extremely rare, typically only occurring if the spider is trapped directly against the skin, resulting in minor localized pain similar to a mild bee sting.
Safety Recommendations
No special safety measures required. If relocation is desired, gently guide the spider into a cup using a piece of cardstock and release it outdoors.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution worldwide. Prefers human-made structures such as barns, basements, sheds, crawlspaces, and dark corners indoors.
Behavior & Temperament
Nocturnal, highly agile, and timid. They rush out of their funnel retreats to capture prey on the sheet web and will flee rapidly if disturbed.
Diet & Prey
Generalist insectivorous predator consuming crawling and flying insects such as flies, mosquitoes, roaches, and beetles.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, but adult males become noticeably more mobile and visible in late summer and autumn as they actively search for mates.
Description
The Barn Funnel Weaver is a common fixture in human habitations worldwide, known for constructing intricate sheet webs in quiet corners. Though their sprawling legs and rapid movements can startle homeowners, they are beneficial inhabitants that help control household insect populations.
Key Features
Distinguished by the mottled brown and beige chevron pattern on the abdomen, banded legs, long prominent spinnerets, and association with flat funnel-shaped webs.
Similar Species
Eratigena atrica (Giant House Spider), which is larger and darker. Can also be casually confused with wolf spiders, though wolf spiders do not build webs.
Life Cycle
Females produce several disc-shaped egg sacs in autumn, guarding them until they hatch. Spiderlings disperse in spring, molting multiple times to reach maturity within one to two years.
Ecological Importance
Serves as an effective natural pest control agent within buildings and outbuildings by suppressing populations of household insect pests.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but populations are secure, highly stable, and ubiquitous globally due to close association with human environments.
Interesting Facts
Despite their intimidating speed, these spiders have poor eyesight and rely almost entirely on vibrations transmitted through their sheet webs to detect the world around them.
Photography Tips
Photograph from above or a slight side angle to clearly capture the abdominal chevron pattern and leg banding. Use gentle lighting to avoid harsh shadows.
Identified: 2026-10-01T18:44:54.272868