Tegenaria genus of the funnel weaver family has a total of 106 species as recorded in April 2019. Most of the spiders occupy a large part of the Northern Hemisphere apart from Indonesia and Japan. The genus had even more species than its present numbers, with the majority of them like the hobo spider and giant house spider shifted to the Eratigena genus.
Size: Most spiders of this genus measure 0.39 – 0.78 inches (1 to 2 cm) on average, minus the leg span. Like always, the female species are bigger than their male counterparts.
Color: Most of them appear brown, black, and gray with spots and bands on their legs and abdomen. The barn funnel weaver (Tegenaria domestica), for example, has a dark orange, beige, or brown body with black stripes on its cephalothorax.
Other Characteristic Features: They have eight eyes mostly arranged in straight rows.
The pale white, round eggs remain safely encased within the sac.
Spiderlings go through several molting phases before reaching adulthood.
Tegenaria spiders spin a sheet web within which lie a tubular retreat.
The spiders bite only if provoked, which, however, is not dangerous.
| Distribution | Entire northern hemisphere (except Indonesia and Japan) |
| Habitat | Between the walls and backyard |
| Diet | Insects |
| Web Type | Funnel-web |
| Lifespan | Males: 1 year Females: 1.5 years; some species live for up to seven years especially if kept in undisturbed and temperate areas, like basement, storage rooms, and attics |
Image Credits: aesgsf.free.fr
Tegenaria genus of the funnel weaver family has a total of 106 species as recorded in April 2019. Most of the spiders occupy a large part of the Northern Hemisphere apart from Indonesia and Japan. The genus had even more species than its present numbers, with the majority of them like the hobo spider and giant house spider shifted to the Eratigena genus.
Size: Most spiders of this genus measure 0.39 – 0.78 inches (1 to 2 cm) on average, minus the leg span. Like always, the female species are bigger than their male counterparts.
Color: Most of them appear brown, black, and gray with spots and bands on their legs and abdomen. The barn funnel weaver (Tegenaria domestica), for example, has a dark orange, beige, or brown body with black stripes on its cephalothorax.
Other Characteristic Features: They have eight eyes mostly arranged in straight rows.
The pale white, round eggs remain safely encased within the sac.
Spiderlings go through several molting phases before reaching adulthood.
Tegenaria spiders spin a sheet web within which lie a tubular retreat.
The spiders bite only if provoked, which, however, is not dangerous.
| Distribution | Entire northern hemisphere (except Indonesia and Japan) |
| Habitat | Between the walls and backyard |
| Diet | Insects |
| Web Type | Funnel-web |
| Lifespan | Males: 1 year Females: 1.5 years; some species live for up to seven years especially if kept in undisturbed and temperate areas, like basement, storage rooms, and attics |
Image Credits: aesgsf.free.fr
Sahana Kanjilal on September 11, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
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