Eratigena

Eratigena is a genus of the Agelenidae family spread throughout Europe, Africa, and North America. Species initially belonging to the Malthonica and Tegenaria genus is presently a part of the Eratigena.

Eratigena Spider

Scientific Classification

Spiders Belonging to This Genus

  • Hobo (Eratigena agrestis)
  • Eratigena arganoi
  • Giant House (Eratigena atrica)
  • Eratigena balearica
  • Eratigena barrientosi
  • Eratigena bucculenta
  • Eratigena feminea
  • Eratigena feminea
  • Eratigena fuesslini
  • Eratigena herculea
  • Eratigena hispanica
  • Eratigena incognita
  • Eratigena inermis
  • Eratigena laksao
  • Eratigena montigena
  • Eratigena picta
  • Eratigena sardoa
  • Eratigena sicana
  • Eratigena vidua
  • Eratigena vomeroi

Physical Description& Identification

Adult

Size: Theyare moderately big, though this varies from one species to the other. For instance, theGiant House spider (Eratigena atrica) is between 15mm and 18mm (0.59 inches -0.70 inches). The hobo, on the other hand, is smaller, being 7 mm to 14 mm (0.27 inches -0.55 inches), long.  Females are larger than their male counterparts.

Color: The species belonging to this genus mostly have a brown body, though the stripes, spots, or dots vary.

Other Characteristic Features: They have approximately six teeth with those nearer the spider’s body being small in size. The giant house has hairy legs, palps, and abdomen, while, the hobo has an oblong abdomen.

Eggs

They appear in a silken sac, the number being between 60 and 100.

Spiderlings

They pass through several molting phases before maturation, after which they disperse to be on their own.

The Web

Most of them build messy and untidy webs resembling a funnel.

Are the Species of the Eratigena Genus Venomous and Do They Bite

Most spiders of this genus are harmless to humans and attack only when provoked with their bite equivalent to a bee sting. The hobo spider is known to be the most aggressive among the lot, though according to the latest research, their bite may be painful but not venomous.

Quick Facts

Lifespan 2-3 years
Distribution Continents of Europe, Africa, America, and Central Asia
Habitat Rocks, caves, fields, basements, dark, dingy areas; the Giant house and hobo build webs in human habitation
Predators Wasps, ants , and other spiders
Diet Wasps, moths, and other spiders

Did You Know

  • The hobo and giant house spiders initially belonged to the Tegenaria genus.

Image Credits: parfaitimage.com

Eratigena is a genus of the Agelenidae family spread throughout Europe, Africa, and North America. Species initially belonging to the Malthonica and Tegenaria genus is presently a part of the Eratigena.

Eratigena Spider

Spiders Belonging to This Genus

  • Hobo (Eratigena agrestis)
  • Eratigena arganoi
  • Giant House (Eratigena atrica)
  • Eratigena balearica
  • Eratigena barrientosi
  • Eratigena bucculenta
  • Eratigena feminea
  • Eratigena feminea
  • Eratigena fuesslini
  • Eratigena herculea
  • Eratigena hispanica
  • Eratigena incognita
  • Eratigena inermis
  • Eratigena laksao
  • Eratigena montigena
  • Eratigena picta
  • Eratigena sardoa
  • Eratigena sicana
  • Eratigena vidua
  • Eratigena vomeroi

Physical Description& Identification

Adult

Size: Theyare moderately big, though this varies from one species to the other. For instance, theGiant House spider (Eratigena atrica) is between 15mm and 18mm (0.59 inches -0.70 inches). The hobo, on the other hand, is smaller, being 7 mm to 14 mm (0.27 inches -0.55 inches), long.  Females are larger than their male counterparts.

Color: The species belonging to this genus mostly have a brown body, though the stripes, spots, or dots vary.

Other Characteristic Features: They have approximately six teeth with those nearer the spider’s body being small in size. The giant house has hairy legs, palps, and abdomen, while, the hobo has an oblong abdomen.

Eggs

They appear in a silken sac, the number being between 60 and 100.

Spiderlings

They pass through several molting phases before maturation, after which they disperse to be on their own.

The Web

Most of them build messy and untidy webs resembling a funnel.

Are the Species of the Eratigena Genus Venomous and Do They Bite

Most spiders of this genus are harmless to humans and attack only when provoked with their bite equivalent to a bee sting. The hobo spider is known to be the most aggressive among the lot, though according to the latest research, their bite may be painful but not venomous.

Quick Facts

Lifespan 2-3 years
Distribution Continents of Europe, Africa, America, and Central Asia
Habitat Rocks, caves, fields, basements, dark, dingy areas; the Giant house and hobo build webs in human habitation
Predators Wasps, ants , and other spiders
Diet Wasps, moths, and other spiders

Did You Know

  • The hobo and giant house spiders initially belonged to the Tegenaria genus.

Image Credits: parfaitimage.com

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