Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica) lives in dark corners across Europe, North America. It feeds on insects and flies.
Fascinating facts about the Barn Funnel Weaver
- Barn funnel weavers can spin a single web that stretches over 100 square metres, and it may be shared by thousands of individuals. This massive, communal structure was discovered in the Sulfur Cave between Greece and Albania, where the darkness and sheer scale keep the larger T. domestica from preying on the resident Prinerigone vagans.
- Six out of eight of the barn funnel weaver's eyes stare forward, giving it a sharp forward-looking vision that helps it spot prey moving across its web. When a vibrating thread signals a trapped insect, the spider darts from the funnel's rear, grabs the victim, and drags it back to its hideaway. This precise, burst-style hunting strategy lets the spider capture insects quickly while staying protected at the web's end.
- Female barn funnel weavers grow to a body length of 7.5-11.5 mm, while males are slightly smaller at 6-9 mm, making them among the smaller members of the Tegenaria genus. Their bodies are about half as long as their legs, a ratio that gives them a lanky, agile look suited for rapid sprints across their webs.
- Barn funnel weavers hatch from egg sacs and reach adulthood within a single year, but their lifespans differ sharply by sex. Males peak in numbers during June and July, mate, and usually die by autumn, rarely living past a year. In contrast, indoor females can survive one to two years on the same web, and some have been recorded living up to seven years in undisturbed, temperate corners like attics or basements. Females may produce multiple egg sacs over several seasons.
- When its web is left untouched, the barn funnel weaver will hide at the funnel tip and ignore any movement. If the web is damaged, the spider either flees or curls into a ball against the nearest surface. Because bites are rare and usually harmless, the spider's main strategy is avoidance rather than aggression.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEurope, North America
HabitatDark corners
DietInsects and flies
About the Barn Funnel Weaver
In the secret lives of our homes, a diminutive emperor weaves its domain, the Barn Funnel Weaver spider spinning intricate webs in the shadows. With deliberate, calculated movements, it navigates the crevices and corners of our abodes, a master architect of the microscopic realm. As it moves, the soft glow of dawn or dusk danced across its body, illuminating the remarkable industry of this tiny, eight-legged sovereign.
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