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Family
Agelenidae
Characteristics –
Size: The funnel web spider has a body that is usually
1/2-inch to one inch in length.
Color: Most species are brown in color. They usually have
darker stripes on the cephalothorax (head region).
Behavior –
The funnel web spider’s web is easily recognizable, consisting of
a large, flat horizontal web at the end of which is a silken funnel.
The spider sits in the funnel waiting for prey to become ensnared in
the web. The spider will venture out, subdue the prey and then feed.
If the web is disturbed, the funnel is open at the opposite end
permitting the spider to escape.
Habitat – These spiders are often called grass
spiders because they construct their webs in tall grass, heavy
ground cover and the branches of thick shrubs. Rarely will a funnel web
spider be seen indoors, except for an occasional wandering male. The
hobo spider, however, which belongs to this spider family, is a
regular invader of homes in the Pacific Northwest states.
Tips for Control – Other than the hobo spider,
which may live and breed indoors, members of the funnel web spider
family require few treatments to control. The following tips may be
helpful in reducing the number of spiders around the home:
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Remove or limit heavy, ground-covering vegetation near the
building.
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Seal cracks and holes in the building’s exterior.
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Install tight fitting screens on all attic and foundation
vents.
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Seal holes around pipes indoors, especially those plumbing
lines leading from basements and crawl spaces, to prevent
spiders from entering your home.
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