Giant House Spider, Barn Funnel Weaver, House Spider
Tegenaria domestica / Eratigena atrica complex (Giant House Spider / Barn Funnel Weaver)
Agelenidae (Funnel Weavers), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include three pairs of spinnerets with the posterior pair noticeably elongated, and characteristic funnel-shaped webs.
Physical Description
Robust body with a brown, oblong abdomen featuring mottled patterns and a lighter central cardiac mark. The cephalothorax is brownish with darker longitudinal stripes. It is covered in fine hairs rather than scales or spines, giving it a velvety appearance.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges from 10 to 18 mm for females (males slightly smaller with longer legs), with a total leg span reaching up to 45 to 75 mm. This specimen appears to be an adult or subadult.
Coloration & Markings
Muted earth tones including brown, beige, and yellowish-grey. The abdomen displays a chevron or herringbone pattern flanked by lighter spots. Legs are typically uniformly colored or very faintly banded.
Web Type
Constructs a flat, sheet-like web that leads into a tubular retreat or funnel in a corner, crack, or crevice where the spider waits for prey.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small, similar-sized eyes arranged in two slightly curved, almost parallel horizontal rows across the front of the carapace.
Leg Characteristics
Long, robust legs covered in fine setae and visible spines. The legs are held sprawled outward, giving the spider a wide stance, characteristic of fast-moving ground and wall hunters.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Neurotoxic venom used to immobilize insect prey. It is low in potency relative to humans and cannot easily penetrate human skin in most areas.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Bites are extremely rare, usually only occurring if the spider is trapped directly against the skin. Symptoms are typically mild and localized, akin to a mosquito bite.
Safety Recommendations
If found indoors, they can safely be left alone to control pests or gently relocated outside using a container and a piece of card. Wear gloves if handling woodpiles where they may hide.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Widely distributed across Europe and introduced to North America and other parts of the world. Prefers human-made structures, basements, sheds, garages, and dark corners indoors, as well as woodpiles and stone walls outdoors.
Behavior & Temperament
Fast and agile runner. Primarily nocturnal. Non-aggressive towards humans, choosing to flee rapidly when disturbed rather than bite.
Diet & Prey
Generalist predator feeding on crawling insects such as cockroaches, beetles, flies, silverfish, and other spiders caught in its sheet web.
Seasonal Activity
Most commonly seen in late summer and autumn when mature males actively leave their webs to search for females during the mating season.
Description
The Giant House Spider is a familiar and often misunderstood resident of cellars, garages, and quiet corners of homes. As one of the fastest running indoor spiders, it is an efficient hunter of household pests. Despite its intimidating size and speed, it poses no danger to humans and prefers to stay hidden out of sight.
Key Features
Long, hairy legs, elongated posterior spinnerets, a distinct chevron pattern on a brownish abdomen, and the construction of a flat sheet web ending in a funnel retreat.
Similar Species
Loxosceles reclusa (Brown Recluse) and other funnel-weavers like Agelenopsis species. Distinguished from the brown recluse by the absence of a violin pattern and the presence of prominent abdominal markings and hairy legs.
Life Cycle
Females construct silken egg sacs in late summer or autumn, depositing dozens of eggs. Spiderlings hatch and disperse. Adults can live for several years, overwintering in sheltered locations.
Ecological Importance
Acts as a natural pest controller inside buildings and outbuildings, significantly reducing populations of nuisance insects like flies, roaches, and mosquitoes.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but populations are secure, widespread, and frequently thrive alongside human habitation.
Interesting Facts
Giant house spiders are among the fastest terrestrial invertebrates, capable of reaching speeds up to 1.73 feet per second. Despite their indoor reputation, they are poor climbers on smooth vertical glass surfaces.
Photography Tips
Photograph from above or a slight angle in natural or diffused lighting to capture the detailed chevron markings on the abdomen. Maintain a stable distance to avoid startling the spider into fleeing.
Identified: 2026-09-19T18:21:23.304913