Barn Funnel Weaver, Common House Spider
Tegenaria domestica
Agelenidae (Funnel-Weavers), Order Araneae. Characterized by elongated spinnerets and the construction of sheet-like funnel webs.
Physical Description
The spider has a distinct pear-shaped cephalothorax and an oval-shaped abdomen, covered in fine hairs. It has a robust build typical of funnel weavers, with visible spinnerets projecting from the rear of the abdomen.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges from 6 to 12 millimeters for females, with males slightly smaller. Leg span is roughly 25 to 45 millimeters.
Coloration & Markings
Base coloration is typically brownish or yellowish-grey. The abdomen features mottled patterns with dark brown or black chevron markings and pale spots. The cephalothorax often displays distinct longitudinal dark stripes.
Web Type
Builds a characteristic flat, sheet-like web that leads into a tubular retreat or funnel where the spider hides, usually constructed in corners near the ground or ceilings.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small eyes arranged in two slightly curved horizontal rows across the front of the cephalothorax.
Leg Characteristics
Long, slender legs covered in fine hairs and prominent spines, typically spread out flat against the surface in a wide posture when resting.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains mild neurotoxic venom used primarily to subdue small insect prey. It is not considered dangerous to humans.
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 redness.
Safety Recommendations
No special precautions needed. If relocation is desired, gently guide the spider into a container using a piece of card and release it outdoors.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution, widely found worldwide in human dwellings, basements, sheds, barns, and dark corners of outbuildings.
Behavior & Temperament
Timid and non-aggressive; rapidly retreats into its tubular web when disturbed. Strictly nocturnal hunters.
Diet & Prey
Feeds primarily on household insects such as flies, mosquitoes, silverfish, and other small arthropods caught in its sheet web.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, with wandering males becoming most noticeable in late summer and autumn as they search for mates.
Description
A common and harmless resident of homes and barns, the barn funnel weaver constructs intricate sheet webs in quiet corners. Though its appearance can occasionally startle homeowners, it serves as a beneficial predator by controlling populations of pest insects.
Key Features
Elongated spinnerets at the rear of the abdomen, brown chevron markings on the back, and the characteristic sheet web leading to a tubular retreat.
Similar Species
Can be confused with other Agelenidae species like Eratigena atrica (Giant House Spider) or wolf spiders, though funnel weavers are distinguished by their web type and prominent spinnerets.
Life Cycle
Females produce disc-shaped egg sacs in autumn, guarding them through the winter. Spiderlings emerge in spring, undergoing multiple molts to reach adulthood within one to two years.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an effective natural pest controller inside human habitations by intercepting and consuming numerous flying and crawling insects.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but highly abundant and secure globally due to its close association with human habitations.
Interesting Facts
Despite living almost exclusively indoors in modern times, their ancestral species originated in caves and rock crevices, predisposing them to dark, sheltered architectural spaces.
Photography Tips
Use macro lenses with adequate lighting to capture the fine details of the abdominal markings and spinnerets while maintaining a safe distance from the web.
User Notes
Ceiling
Identified: 2026-08-23T06:45:15.353516