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. Domestic house spiders range worldwide from as north as Sweden to as south as Greece in Europe and from as north as Maritime Canada to as south as Louisiana in North America.
The large, hairy house spiders commonly seen in the UK belong to the Tegenaria genus.
House spiders in your bath are normally males who are trapped having fallen off the walls while looking for a female to mate with. Females usually stay in their webs, which are often found under the shed, and await a suitor. After a male has found a female's web he will stay with her for a number of weeks, mating with her repeatedly.
The female then overwinters with stored sperm, and the next spring she can produce 10 egg sacs, each containing around 40 to 60 eggs.
Like most spiders, Tegenaria species subdue their prey with venom. The house spider provides a service for home owners, eating flies and other unwanted insects. They are also ecologically important as food for birds and other animals.
Tegenaria house spiders are not the only species found indoors, and other common species include the daddy-long-legs spider, Pholcus phalangioides (which is not to be confused with the daddy long legs or crane fly, a completely harmless type of fly).
Why not visit the weblink below and get involved with the House Spider Survey being run by the Society of Biology:-
https://www.societyofbiology.org/get-involved/biologyweek/house-spider-survey
Or read more at:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_house_spider
No comments:
Post a Comment