Grass Spider (Funnel-web Spider)

Natural Habitat

Grassy areas, low shrubs, and corners of buildings; often seen in lawns where their sheet-like funnel webs are visible in the morning dew.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; they eat insects and other small arthropods that land on their web, quickly rushing out of the funnel to bite and drag prey back inside.

Behavior Patterns

They are known for building flat, sheet-like webs with a funnel-shaped retreat at one end. They are extremely fast runners and use their speed rather than stickiness to capture prey. They are most active in late summer and fall.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem by controlling pest insect populations; they are generally not aggressive toward humans. While they have venom to submerge prey, their bite is typically harmless to humans unless there is a rare allergic reaction.

Identified on: 4/25/2026