Barn Funnel Weaver, Common House Spider
Tegenaria domestica / Eratigena atrica complex
Agelenidae (Funnel Weavers), Order Araneae
Physical Description
Robust body with a distinct oval-shaped abdomen and a slightly flattened, longer cephalothorax. The texture appears moderately hairy with visible long tactile hairs and spines on the legs.
Size Estimate
Body length approximately 10 to 18 millimeters with a total leg span reaching up to 40 to 60 millimeters. This appears to be an adult or sub-adult specimen.
Coloration & Markings
Muted earthy tones featuring shades of brown, grey, and dull yellowish-tan. The abdomen typically displays chevron or mottled patterns, while the cephalothorax often shows longitudinal dark stripes.
Web Type
Sheet web characterized by a flattened horizontal silk sheet leading into a tubular retreat or funnel where the spider waits for prey.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small eyes arranged in two slightly curved horizontal rows across the front of the carapace, typical of the Agelenidae family.
Leg Characteristics
Long, robust legs covered in prominent spines and hairs, held in a sprawling posture typical of ground and funnel-weaving spiders.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Neurotoxic venom primarily used to immobilize small insect prey. It is mild and generally ineffective against human skin.
Medical Significance
Not medically significant. Bites are extremely rare, non-toxic to humans, and typically result in nothing more than minor localized irritation similar to a mild mosquito bite.
Safety Recommendations
No special safety threats posed. 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 found worldwide in temperate regions. Frequently inhabits human dwellings, basements, sheds, garages, and sheltered outdoor corners.
Behavior & Temperament
Skittish and fast-moving. Spends most of its time hidden within its funnel retreat, bolting out rapidly only to capture prey trapped on the sheet web.
Diet & Prey
Generalist predator feeding on a variety of household and garden arthropods including flies, beetles, roaches, and moths.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, with mature males frequently wandering out in search of females during late summer and autumn.
Description
The Barn Funnel Weaver is a frequent and harmless indoor roommate across many temperate regions. Known for constructing characteristic sheet webs with tubular retreats in quiet corners, basements, and window frames, this spider acts as a diligent natural pest controller.
Key Features
Sprawling leg posture, drab brown coloration with mottled patterns, funnel-shaped retreats, and rapid bursts of speed when disturbed.
Similar Species
Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae) which do not build webs, and Giant House Spiders (Eratigena species) which are larger and generally require close microscopic examination to definitively separate.
Life Cycle
Females produce flat, silken egg sacs hidden near the retreat. Spiderlings hatch and disperse, undergoing multiple molts over a multi-year lifespan reaching up to several years.
Ecological Importance
Serves as an effective biological control agent by consuming common household insect pests and participating in local food webs.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN; widespread, highly adaptable, and extremely common globally.
Interesting Facts
House spiders possess incredible sensitivity to air currents and vibrations, allowing them to detect the exact movement of prey across their sheet webs instantly.
Photography Tips
Use natural or diffused side lighting to highlight leg spination and abdominal markings. Maintain a steady hand or use a tripod as these spiders can dart away suddenly.
User Notes
In a house
Identified: 2026-09-03T04:50:11.958097