Barn Funnel Weaver, Common House Spider
Tegenaria domestica / Eratigena atrica complex
Agelenidae (Funnel-web weavers), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include three pairs of spinnerets with the posterior pair notably elongated, and a distinctly funnel-shaped retreat leading from a flat sheet web.
Physical Description
The spider exhibits a robust body with a distinct oval-shaped abdomen and a well-developed, slightly flattened cephalothorax. The overall texture is smooth yet covered in fine setae. They feature prominent pedipalps and long, tapered legs designed for rapid running across surfaces.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges typically from 6 to 18 mm for females (males slightly smaller), with a total leg span reaching up to 40 to 60 mm. The specimen appears to be an adult or sub-adult based on proportion.
Coloration & Markings
Typically displays earthy tones of brown, beige, and dark grey. The cephalothorax often features longitudinal dark stripes, while the abdomen exhibits a mottled chevron or mottled pattern with alternating lighter and darker patches.
Web Type
Builds a sheet web that terminates in a tubular retreat or funnel where the spider hides, usually constructed in dark corners, along baseboards, or behind furniture.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small, similar-sized eyes arranged in two slightly curved, nearly parallel horizontal rows across the anterior portion of the cephalothorax.
Leg Characteristics
Long, relatively slender legs equipped with noticeable spines and distinct dark banding or rings. They lack specialized climbing pads like scopulae, relying instead on claws to traverse rough indoor surfaces and carpets.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Produces a mild venom used primarily to immobilize small invertebrate prey. It is not considered medically significant to humans.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. A bite is rare, typically comparable to a mild bee sting or local irritation, and does not pose a health risk.
Safety Recommendations
Keep living areas clear of clutter, seal cracks around doors and windows, and gently capture and relocate wandering spiders using a cup and piece of paper if they are in unwanted locations.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution, frequently found worldwide in human habitations, basements, garages, and sheds, preferring dark, undisturbed microhabitats close to the ground.
Behavior & Temperament
Timid and fast-moving. They are primarily nocturnal hunters that retreat rapidly into their funnels when disturbed. They are not aggressive toward humans and will only bite if trapped directly against the skin.
Diet & Prey
Carnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of household insects and arthropods including silverfish, flies, cockroaches, and beetles, ambushing them as they cross the sheet web.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, with wandering adult males becoming particularly noticeable in late summer and autumn as they actively search for mates.
Description
Commonly encountered indoors, the barn funnel weaver is a stealthy resident of quiet corners and baseboards. Though its rapid scurrying can startle homeowners, it serves as a beneficial, silent predator that helps control household pest populations.
Key Features
Elongated posterior spinnerets visible at the rear of the abdomen, banded legs, a mottled chevron abdominal pattern, and association with a flat sheet web ending in a retreat.
Similar Species
Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) which do not build webs and have a distinct eye arrangement with two very large posterior median eyes; Giant House Spiders (Eratigena spp.) which are generally larger and more robust.
Life Cycle
Females construct silken egg sacs near their web retreats, depositing dozens to over a hundred eggs. Spiderlings disperse shortly after hatching. Lifespan typically ranges from 1 to 3 years.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an effective natural pest control agent within human dwellings, keeping populations of nuisance and disease-carrying insects in check.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, highly secure, abundant, and widespread globally due to human commensalism.
Interesting Facts
These spiders are exceptional runners over short distances and have inhabited human structures for centuries, adapting seamlessly to indoor climates.
Photography Tips
Use a macro lens with adequate lighting or flash to highlight leg banding and abdominal patterns. Keep a safe distance and photograph from above while the spider is stationary against a neutral background.
User Notes
In bedroom
Identified: 2026-10-05T21:35:04.492313