Barn Funnel Weaver, Domestic House Spider
Tegenaria domestica
Agelenidae (Funnel Weavers), Order Araneae
Physical Description
The body is divided into a brownish-yellow cephalothorax and a patterned abdomen, showcasing typical funnel weaver proportions with slightly elongated spinnerets visible at the rear.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges from 6 to 12 mm for males and 9 to 15 mm for females, with a leg span extending up to several centimeters, appearing as a mature adult specimen.
Coloration & Markings
Features a yellowish-brown base color with distinct darker brown markings, including longitudinal stripes on the cephalothorax and a mottled, chevron-like pattern along the dorsal abdomen.
Web Type
Constructs a flat, sheet-like funnel web that extends into a tubular retreat where the spider waits for prey, typically built in corners, crevices, and along exterior walls.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small eyes arranged in two slightly curved horizontal rows across the front of the cephalothorax, characteristic of the Agelenidae family.
Leg Characteristics
Long, slender legs with distinct dark banding and prominent spines, held flat against the surface in a sprawling posture typical of running spiders.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Possesses mild, non-lethal venom used primarily to immobilize insect prey, which has little to no medically significant effect on humans.
Medical Significance
Not medically significant. Bites are extremely rare and typically only occur if the spider is directly trapped or squeezed against skin, resulting in minor, transient local irritation.
Safety Recommendations
Keep living areas clean and seal entry points if desired. If relocation is necessary, gently guide the spider into a container using a piece of cardstock rather than handling directly.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution found worldwide in temperate regions, frequently inhabiting human structures such as basements, barns, sheds, and exterior walls.
Behavior & Temperament
Fast-moving, nocturnal hunter that stays hidden within its funnel retreat during the day, rushing out rapidly to subdue prey that lands on the sheet web. Non-aggressive toward humans.
Diet & Prey
Feeds primarily on various insects, including flies, mosquitoes, beetles, and other small arthropods that become entangled in the horizontal web sheet.
Seasonal Activity
Active throughout the year indoors, with peak visibility and wandering behavior occurring during late summer and autumn when males search for mates.
Description
The Barn Funnel Weaver is a familiar and harmless inhabitant of human structures around the world. Recognizing them by their characteristic sheet webs with funnel-like retreats, these agile spiders play a beneficial role in controlling household insect populations while posing no threat to people.
Key Features
Flat sheet web ending in a tubular retreat, elongated spinnerets, long spiny legs with dark banding, and characteristic chevron markings on the abdomen.
Similar Species
Eratigena atrica (Giant House Spider) and grass spiders (Agelenopsis species), which can be distinguished by subtle variations in size, geographic range, and genital morphology.
Life Cycle
Females produce disc-shaped egg sacs in the autumn, guarding them through the winter. Spiderlings emerge in spring, undergoing multiple molts to reach maturity with a typical lifespan of several years.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an effective natural pest control agent by consuming large numbers of flying and crawling insects around human habitations.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but populations are secure, abundant, and widespread globally due to close association with human habitats.
Interesting Facts
Despite their intimidating speed and size, these spiders are extremely timid and spend the vast majority of their lives hidden inside their silken retreats.
Photography Tips
Use macro lenses with adequate lighting to capture dorsal markings and eye arrangement. Approach slowly to avoid triggering their rapid escape response into the funnel retreat.
Identified: 2026-09-05T20:05:05.266426