Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Species here were all previously in the genus Tegenaria.
Recognition of
Eratigena atrica as three separate species (
E. atrica,
E. duellica, and
E. saeva) restored via Oxford & Bolzern, 2018.
(1)Explanation of Names
Eratigena is an anagram of the genus
Tegenaria (Bolzern, Burckhardt, & Hänggi, 2013)
(2) Numbers
3 species in BugGuide's range (North America north of Mexico).
(3)Identification
The US/Canada Eratigena species (agrestis, atrica, and duellica) can be separated from most other funnel weaver genera in their range by the absence of banded patterning on the legs, though it should be noted that certain Tegenaria domestica can have leg banding faint enough to be barely visible.
E. atrica and E. duellica are largely similar in appearance, but can usually be separated by range. However, it is not clear which species the giant house spiders seen in Colorado are.
In the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest where E. duellica and E. agrestis can both be found, separating the two visually can be a challenge.
E. duellica generally has a darker color palette with very dark background coloration on the chevron patterning over the heart.
The legs are longer than those of
E. agrestis, especially in males.
E. agrestis generally has a lighter color palette with mottled/sandy background coloration on the abdominal chevron patterning.
Range
Eratigena agrestis: Europe to Central Asia. Introduced to USA, Canada
(3) - CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY, AB, BC, ON (Rouge River area of Pickering, Ontario is a recent accidental introduction)
(4)(5)
Eratigena atrica: Europe. Introduced to Canada, USA
(3) - BugGuide has photos of
E. atrica from NS and ON.
Eratigena duellica - Canada, USA, Europe
(3) - main population located in BC, OR, & WA.
(4)
Also collected from isolated populations in AB, SK, QC, NS, NF.
(5) - Access needed to cited material to sort out which species this line refers to now that the synonymy between
E. atrica, duellica, and saeva has been undone.
Giant house spiders have been observed and collected in Colorado, but at this time it is not completely clear if these spiders are E. duellica, E. atrica, or both.
Remarks
Eratigena atrica is the type species.
(3)
E. duellica and
E. saeva can hybridize with one another.
(1) Internet References
See individual info pages for each species.
World Spider Catalog (2018). World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 19.0, accessed on 04/17/2018.
Contributed by
Mandy Howe on 17 September, 2013 - 12:30am
Additional contributions by
Laura P.,
chuuuuungLast updated 9 April, 2023 - 7:00pm
