Funnelweb Spider

Attribution: Evanherk at nl.wikipedia [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Characteristics

Size:

The funnelweb spider has a body that is usually 1/2-inch to one inch in length.

Color:

Most species are brown in color. They usually have darker stripes on the cephalothorax (head region).

Behavior:

The funnelweb spider’s web is easily recognizable, consisting of a large, flat horizontal web at the end of which is a silken funnel. The spider sits in the funnel waiting for prey to become ensnared in the web. The spider will venture out, subdue the prey and then feed. If the web is disturbed, the funnel is open at the opposite end permitting the spider to escape.

Habitats

These spiders are often called grass spiders because they construct their webs in tall grass, heavy ground cover and the branches of thick shrubs. Rarely will a funnelweb spider be seen indoors, except for an occasional wandering male. The hobo spider, however, which belongs to this spider family, is a regular invader of homes in the Pacific Northwest states.

Tips for Control

Other than the hobo spider, which may live and breed indoors, members of the funnelweb spider family require few treatments to control. The following tips may be helpful in reducing the number of spiders around the home:

• Remove or limit heavy, ground-covering vegetation near the building.
• Seal cracks and holes in the building’s exterior.
• Install tight fitting screens on all attic and foundation vents.
• Seal holes around pipes indoors, especially those plumbing lines leading from basements and crawl spaces, to prevent spiders from entering your home.