Giant house spider
Encyclopedia
The Giant house spider (Tegenaria duellica; formerly known as T. gigantea) is a member of the genus Tegenaria
and is a close relative of both the Domestic house spider
and the infamous Hobo spider
. The bite of this species does not pose a threat to humans or pets, although it is the only species of the whole Agelenid family to be able to bite through human skin proper (altogether).
The Giant house spider has the same coloration as the Domestic house spider; it has earthy tones of brown and muddy red or yellow. They also have conspicuously hairy legs and abdomen.
of North America
circa 1900 due to human activity and strongly increased in numbers for the last decade.
The webs
built by the Giant house spider are flat and messy with a funnel at one end. The spider lurks in the funnel until a small invertebrate happens to get trapped in the web, at which point the spider runs out and attacks it.
They usually build their webs in corners (on both the floor and ceiling), between boxes in basements, behind cupboards, in attics, or any other area that is rarely disturbed by large animals, or humans. Often found near window openings.
Males can often be seen wandering around houses during the late summer and early autumn looking for a mate.
are more likely to be felt by the victim. No medically significant reports of its bites exist up to the present date.
Hobo spiders grow no more than a body size of 15 millimetre (0.590551181102362 in) long as where the larger female giant house spider can have a body size of 18 millimetre (0.708661417322835 in), but has proportionately much longer legs.
has written about his relationship with Tegenaria duellica. His essay "April in Paris" documents his growing affection towards and domestic association with Giant House spiders, particularly one Sedaris named April. The essay can be found in the collection When You Are Engulfed in Flames
.
Tegenaria
House spiders of the genus Tegenaria are fast-running brownish funnel-web weavers that occupy much of the Northern Hemisphere except for Japan, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. Of all Agelenids, Tegenaria possesses the largest species of funnel weavers: the dust spider , the Cardinal spider ...
and is a close relative of both the Domestic house spider
Domestic house spider
The spider species Tegenaria domestica, commonly known as the barn funnel weaver in North America and the domestic house spider in Europe, is a member of the funnel-web family Agelenidae and a close relative of the hobo spider...
and the infamous Hobo spider
Hobo spider
The hobo spider is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders, but not to be confused with the Australian funnel-web spider. It is one of a small number of spiders in North America whose bites are generally considered to be medically significant...
. The bite of this species does not pose a threat to humans or pets, although it is the only species of the whole Agelenid family to be able to bite through human skin proper (altogether).
Appearance
Female body size can reach 18 mm in length (making it the largest members of the family), with males having a slightly smaller body at around 12 mm to 15 mm in length. The female leg span is typically around 45 mm. The leg span of the male is highly variable, with spans between 25 mm to 75 mm being common.The Giant house spider has the same coloration as the Domestic house spider; it has earthy tones of brown and muddy red or yellow. They also have conspicuously hairy legs and abdomen.
Habitat
The Giant house spider is indigenous to north western Europe. However, it was unwittingly introduced to the Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
circa 1900 due to human activity and strongly increased in numbers for the last decade.
The webs
Spider web
A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web or cobweb is a device built by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets....
built by the Giant house spider are flat and messy with a funnel at one end. The spider lurks in the funnel until a small invertebrate happens to get trapped in the web, at which point the spider runs out and attacks it.
They usually build their webs in corners (on both the floor and ceiling), between boxes in basements, behind cupboards, in attics, or any other area that is rarely disturbed by large animals, or humans. Often found near window openings.
Males can often be seen wandering around houses during the late summer and early autumn looking for a mate.
Toxicity
Like most spiders, the spider possesses quite a potent venom to subdue its prey, which is not known to harm humans. Since T. duellica can penetrate regular human skin on normal occasions, the effects of agatoxinAgatoxin
Agatoxins are a class of chemically diverse polyamine and peptide toxins which are isolated from the venom of various spiders. Their mechanism of action includes blockade of glutamate-gated ion channels, voltage-gated sodium channels, or voltage-dependent calcium channels...
are more likely to be felt by the victim. No medically significant reports of its bites exist up to the present date.
Speed
With speeds clocked at 1.73 ft/s (0.527304 m/s), the giant house spider held the Guinness Book of World Records for top spider speed until 1987 when it was displaced by sun spiders (solfugids) although the latter are not true spiders as they belong to a different order.Relationship with Tegenaria agrestis
A population of Giant house spiders is popularly thought to be a deterrent to the establishment of Tegenaria agrestis, known in North America as the hobo spider, and considered by some to be more likely to bite humans. Giant house spiders may compete with hobo spiders for the same resources.Hobo spiders grow no more than a body size of 15 millimetre (0.590551181102362 in) long as where the larger female giant house spider can have a body size of 18 millimetre (0.708661417322835 in), but has proportionately much longer legs.
Taxonomy
This species was referred to as Tegenaria gigantea until 1995, when it was first realized that this name was a synonym of T. duellica (published in 1875), making the latter the oldest available name. Other authors suggested that T. gigantea was a synonym of T.saeva, but molecular evidence that these are distinct taxa, not synonyms.In popular culture
Humorist David SedarisDavid Sedaris
David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist, writer, comedian, bestselling author, and radio contributor....
has written about his relationship with Tegenaria duellica. His essay "April in Paris" documents his growing affection towards and domestic association with Giant House spiders, particularly one Sedaris named April. The essay can be found in the collection When You Are Engulfed in Flames
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
When You Are Engulfed in Flames is a collection of essays by bestselling American humorist David Sedaris. It was released on June 3, 2008.-Synopsis:...
.