Barn Funnel Weaver, Common House Spider
Tegenaria domestica
Agelenidae (Funnel-Weavers), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include three pairs of spinnerets with the posterior pair notably elongated, and typical construction of funnel-shaped sheet webs.
Physical Description
Elongated body with a distinct oval-shaped abdomen and a somewhat flattened, violin-patterned or mottled brown cephalothorax. The spider has a slightly hairy texture and shows moderate sexual dimorphism with females typically having slightly larger, bulkier abdomens while males possess enlarged pedipalps used for mating.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges from 6 mm to 14 mm, with a leg span reaching up to 30 mm to 45 mm, making it a medium-sized house spider.
Coloration & Markings
Base coloration is brownish to greyish with distinct mottled patterns. The cephalothorax features darker brown markings, and the abdomen displays a characteristic pattern of darker chevron-shaped or mottled markings along the dorsal surface.
Web Type
Constructs a characteristic dense sheet web that funnels into a tubular retreat where the spider hides, typically built in corners, basements, or dark structural crevices.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small eyes arranged in two slightly curved horizontal rows of four, all of generally uniform dark color and size, typical of the Agelenidae family.
Leg Characteristics
Long, slender, tapering legs covered with fine setae and visible spines. The legs are typically spread out flat against the surface in a wide hunting stance.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains mild neurotoxic and proteolytic venom primarily used to immobilize small insect prey. It poses no significant danger to human health.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Bites are extremely rare because the spider is docile and avoids contact. If a bite occurs, it typically results in only minor local irritation, redness, or mild swelling similar to a mosquito bite.
Safety Recommendations
No special safety measures are required as these spiders are harmless. 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 found worldwide, particularly in temperate regions. Prefers human-made structures such as houses, barns, cellars, and sheds, inhabiting dark, undisturbed corners near ground level.
Behavior & Temperament
Timid and fast-moving. Primarily nocturnal, it rushes out from its funnel retreat when vibrations are detected on the web sheet. It is non-aggressive and prefers to flee rather than bite when disturbed.
Diet & Prey
Generalist predator feeding on household insects including flies, mosquitoes, roaches, and other small arthropods caught in its web.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, with mature males frequently wandering out in late summer and autumn in search of mates.
Description
The Barn Funnel Weaver is a familiar and harmless indoor resident known for its intricate sheet webs spun in quiet corners. With its slender legs and mottled brown patterning, it serves as an efficient pest controller in homes and outbuildings without posing any threat to humans.
Key Features
Elongated posterior spinnerets, mottled brown chevron patterns on the abdomen, and the construction of a distinct flat sheet web terminating in a silky funnel retreat.
Similar Species
Often confused with Eratigena atrica (Giant House Spider) and Loxosceles reclusa (Brown Recluse). Unlike the Brown Recluse, Tegenaria domestica lacks the true violin marking and has a distinctly patterned, hairy abdomen rather than a uniform violin-shaped cephalothorax and plain body.
Life Cycle
Females produce disc-shaped silk egg sacs in autumn, guarding them through the winter. Spiderlings hatch in spring, undergo multiple molts to reach maturity, and typically live for one to several years.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an effective natural pest control agent in domestic and agricultural settings, regulating populations of nuisance insects.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but the species is secure, widespread, and thriving globally alongside human habitations.
Interesting Facts
Despite their intimidating speed, these spiders are extremely reluctant biters and play a beneficial role by keeping household insect populations under control.
Photography Tips
Use macro lenses with adequate lighting to capture the fine setae and abdominal patterns. Photograph from above while the spider is resting on its web or a flat surface to maintain a safe and stable focal distance.
Identified: 2026-08-12T14:55:42.982080