Species Tegenaria domestica - Barn Funnel Weaver

Common House Spider (in the Pacific Northwest), Barn Funnel Weaving Spider, Drain Spider (becomes stuck in sinks and can't crawl out), Lesser European House Spider

Te-je-NAR-ee-ah doe-MES-tic-a

(te"j[schwa]-nar'e-[schwa] do·mes'tic·a)

See the World Spider Catalog.

All measurements are for only the body, and do not include the legs.

Female: approx. 12 mm

Male: typically much smaller than female.

Coloration of the domestic house spider varies from greyish-brown to dark chocolate brown. Most T. domestica appear at first glance as a smaller, darker spider (when compared to its cousins). It has banding or stripes on its legs (which can be very faint), but will distinguish it from the hobo spider and the giant house spider.

Male

Palp (ventral/lateral)

Epigynum

Sternum

Juvenile

T. domestica is well established throughout North America.

Often darker areas, such as flower beds, wood piles, and areas where it can weave a funnel-web. When it is found in homes, it often is found in the basement, in the darker recesses such as closets and corners. It is a nocturnal spider, so generally it is discovered when the lights are turned on and the spider darts for cover (and/or its web).

These spiders are not seasonal, but rather, can be found year round (if in a survivable environment).

Egg sacs are covered with organic debris and somewhat suspended in (or near) the web; see Lynette's image below:

This spider was imported from Europe into the shipping ports when large numbers of settlers immigrated from Europe (starting around the 1600s), and it has steadily spread throughout the United States and Canada. Because it lives in such close proximity to humans, it has also successfully been imported to nearly every country on Earth. It is one of the only species in the genus Tegenaria that ranges into the Southern Hemisphere.

This spider is not dangerous to people, but is often confused with Eratigena agrestis (Hobo Spider), which may or may not be dangerous. If you are unsure of the exact species, just be mindful of this confusion, and use caution when dealing with the spider.