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.
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.
They appear in a silken sac, the number being between 60 and 100.
They pass through several molting phases before maturation, after which they disperse to be on their own.
Most of them build messy and untidy webs resembling a funnel.
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.
| 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 |
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.
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.
They appear in a silken sac, the number being between 60 and 100.
They pass through several molting phases before maturation, after which they disperse to be on their own.
Most of them build messy and untidy webs resembling a funnel.
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.
| 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 |
Image Credits: parfaitimage.com
