Barn Funnel Weaver (or Domestic House Spider)
Scientific Name: Tegenaria domestica
Order & Family: Araneae, Agelenidae
Size: Body length typically 6 to 11 mm (males smaller, females larger), with a leg span up to 2.5 cm.
Natural Habitat
Commonly found in dark, sheltered areas like basements, barns, caves, and corners of wooden structures where they can build flat, horizontal webs with a funnel-shaped retreat.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; they eat various small insects, including flies, moths, and mosquitoes that land on or get caught in their funnel-like webs.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal hunters that wait in the back of their silk funnel for vibrations. They have a relatively long lifespan (up to 7 years in females) and are known for their speed when darting out to catch prey.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: Provides natural pest control by eating common household insects. Risks: They are generally harmless to humans; while they can bite if trapped against skin, their venom is not considered medically significant and they are not aggressive.
Identified on: 3/29/2026