Common House-spider - Tegenaria domestica

Description

Length Female 9 to 10 mm, male 6 to 9 mm. Fairly large and hairy, it has long legs and varies in colour from pale to dark brown. The abdomen has variable sooty markings. Males have a more slender abdomen than the females and longer legs. The genus Tegenaria has recently been split: Tegenaria spp. have banded legs, Eratigena spp. have plain legs. Beyond this distinction, species can only be identified by examination of the genitals of mature specimens. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

This species can only be confirmed by examination of the genitals of mature specimens. 

Habitat

In homes and outbuildings etc.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

It makes a flat sheet-like silk web, typically with a tubular retreat at one corner. Male spiders are usually seen more often than females, as they wander widely in search of a mate. After a male has found a female's web he will stay with her for a number of weeks, mating with her repeatedly during this time. He then dies and the female eats him; the nutrients within the male contribute to the development of his young.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Further Information

1168 British records to Jan 2013

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Common House Spider
Species group:
Spiders
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Agelenidae
Records on NatureSpot:
12
First record:
01/05/2009 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
13/11/2020 (Higgott, Mike)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records