Funnel Weaver Spider (or Grass Spider)
Scientific Name: Agelenopsis or other genera within Agelenidae
Order & Family: Araneae, Agelenidae
Size: Body length usually 8-20 mm, not including leg span. Females tend to be larger than males.
Natural Habitat
Often found in grassy areas, shrubs, and dense vegetation, including conifer bushes, where they build distinctive funnel-shaped webs.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly carnivorous; they primarily feed on insects that become trapped in their sheet-like web, such as grasshoppers, flies, and other small arthropods.
Behavior Patterns
These spiders are known for constructing sheet-like webs with a funnel-shaped retreat at one end. They typically wait in the funnel for prey to land on the web, then quickly rush out to capture it. They are very fast runners. They are not typically aggressive towards humans unless provoked.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial as they help control insect populations in gardens and natural areas. They are not considered dangerous to humans; their venom is not medically significant, and bites are rare and usually only occur if the spider is handled or trapped against the skin.
Identified on: 9/18/2025