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Photo#32859
HOUSE SPIDER???  Isn't it too big?? - Tegenaria gigantea

HOUSE SPIDER??? Isn't it too big?? - Tegenaria gigantea
Tacoma, Washington, USA
February 24, 2005
Size: 3.5"x2.5" legs included
just hanging out on the porch at 9pm on the winter and THIS monster crawled down the wall! WHAT IS IT??

Images of this individual: tag all
Is this a HUGE Aggressive House Spider?? - Tegenaria gigantea HOUSE SPIDER???  Isn't it too big?? - Tegenaria gigantea HOUSE SPIDER???  Isn't it too big?? - Tegenaria gigantea HOUSE SPIDER???  Isn't it too big?? - Tegenaria gigantea

That would be...
A female Giant House Spider. Don't be fooled by the pattern on the abdomen. It's often confused with the Barn Funnel Weaving Spider, and (the more dangerous one)the Hobo Spider. It originated in England which is probably why the ol' chap who commented on this before myself has one as well. Lucky him, he doesn't have to worry about the Hobo Spider like we do. The Giant House Spider, and the Hobo Spider are very much alike, but you can tell that one there is a Giant House Spider due to the two dark lines down the cephalothorax.

From an 11yr old spider enthusiast
Hi, I only suscribed a second ago

I am currently holding a similar spider(to the one in you 2nd and 3rd picture) captive. I live in london, and I think yours must be a giant house spider (Tegenaria gigantea) too because of the distinctive pattern on its abdomen. And no, i don't think it's too big,; my one is about 2.5 cm in length in total. It's web is similar to the funnel web, but it can't crawl up totally smooth surfaces (I keep mine in a plastic tub without a lid.

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