Barn Funnel Weaver, Domestic House Spider
Tegenaria domestica
Agelenidae (Funnel Weavers), Order Araneae
Physical Description
A medium-sized spider with an oval cephalothorax and a bulbous, tapering abdomen. The body is covered in fine, short hairs (setae), giving it a velvety texture. It has a slightly flattened appearance suited for crevices.
Size Estimate
Body length 7–12mm for females, 6–9mm for males. Total leg span typically ranges from 25–45mm (about 1 to 1.75 inches). This specimen looks to be a sub-adult or adult.
Coloration & Markings
Pale to dark brown or grey base. The cephalothorax features two dark longitudinal stripes. The abdomen has a distinctive 'chequered' or mottled pattern of dark and light spots, often with a series of chevrons toward the rear.
Web Type
Builds a flat, sheet-like funnel web. The spider sits in a silk tube at the back of the funnel waiting for vibrations. Webs are often placed in corners, behind furniture, or in basement rafters.
Eye Arrangement
Six or eight eyes (usually eight) arranged in two rows of four. The rows are often nearly straight or slightly curved, typical of Agelenids designed to detect motion along a horizontal plane.
Leg Characteristics
Long, slender legs with visible fine hairs and occasional spines. They lack the heavy banding seen in Giant House Spiders (Eratigena) but may show faint mottling. Often held in a spread-out, flat posture.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Neurotoxic venom designed for small insects. It is not considered toxic to humans. Potency is very low and unable to cause significant systemic issues in mammals.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Bites are extremely rare because the spider is timid; if a bite occurs, it typically results in mild redness and slight swelling similar to a mosquito bite. No special treatment required.
Safety Recommendations
If found on a glue trap (as pictured) or in an unwanted area, they can be relocated using the cup-and-paper method. They do not pose a danger to pets or children and are best left alone to catch pests.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution; found worldwide. Common in human dwellings, barns, sheds, and dark, undisturbed corners of houses. Outdoors, they hide under rocks or logs.
Behavior & Temperament
Extremely shy and non-aggressive. They are lightning-fast runners that will retreat to their silk funnel at the slightest vibration. They are active hunters within their webs, primarily nocturnal.
Diet & Prey
Feeds on a variety of household insects including flies, gnats, moths, and mosquitoes. They use their speed to dash out and bite prey that lands on the sheet portion of their web.
Seasonal Activity
Visible year-round indoors. In late summer and autumn, males are often seen wandering away from webs in search of females.
Description
The Barn Funnel Weaver is one of the most common 'roommates' humans have. It is a master architect of sheet webs, often found in the quiet corners of our homes. While its speed can be startling, it is a beneficial predator that provides free pest control by catching flying insects.
Key Features
Funnel-shaped web, two dark stripes on the cephalothorax, chequered pattern on the abdomen, and long, thin legs without heavy spines.
Similar Species
Eratigena duellica (Giant House Spider) which is much larger; Agelenopsis species (Grass Spiders) which have much longer spinnerets; Loxosceles reclusa (Brown Recluse) which lacks the mottled abdomen and has a distinct violin shape.
Life Cycle
Females produce several lens-shaped egg sacs containing up to 50 eggs, often hung in or near the web. Spiderlings disperse via ballooning or crawling. Adults can live for 1–2 years.
Ecological Importance
Act as a natural pest control agent in urban and suburban environments. They help regulate populations of disease-carrying insects like flies and mosquitoes.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN; widespread and face no significant threats. Population is stable.
Interesting Facts
Despite being called 'Domestic,' they can survive outdoors in temperate climates. They are one of the few spiders that can survive in the low-humidity environments of modern centrally-heated homes.
Photography Tips
Focus on the dorsal (top) pattern of the abdomen and cephalothorax. If possible, photograph the spider within its funnel web to show its habitat, as this is a key ID feature.
Identified: 2026-06-15T01:37:01.726277