- Joined
- Apr 2, 2004
- Messages
- 646
I caught a spider in my house that has been identified as a funnel web (agelenopsis spp) and I son't know what to feed it.... do you all think pinheads are small enough? ( posted pic but it will probably get removed because of copyright infringement, so I will post my own pic tomorrow. Good pic at the link I provided.)
Agelenopsis spp.
Funnel Web Weavers, Family Agelenidae
The sheet web up to three feet wide with a funnel is characteristic of these species and is more often noticed than the spider itself. The funnel portion of the web may be over one foot long and leads to shelter-a rock crevice or dense vegetation. These spiders typically build webs several inches above the ground in short grasses and in the window wells of outbuildings.
Funnel weavers hide in the concealed area of the funnel and then dash out onto the sheet portion of the web to capture an insect caught in or walking across the silk platform. Beetles, harvestmen, moths and small butterflies are frequent food items.
A pair of broad, dark, brownish bands runs lengthwise adjacent to a lighter mid-band on the lightly haired and roundish carapace. The legs are cream and dark yellowish-brown. The oblong abdomen is brown with a broad, reddish-brown, zig-zag stripe with a cream-colored border on both sides. The spinnerets are noticeably long. The funnel web spider is a relatively large one, females averaging 10-20mm and males slightly smaller. Two species of funnel weavers are found in Missouri, a naevia and a. pennsylvanica. Although the former is usually larger and darker, their similar color patterns make them difficult to distinguish.
Missouri distribution: presumably statewide.
Agelenopsis spp.
Funnel Web Weavers, Family Agelenidae
The sheet web up to three feet wide with a funnel is characteristic of these species and is more often noticed than the spider itself. The funnel portion of the web may be over one foot long and leads to shelter-a rock crevice or dense vegetation. These spiders typically build webs several inches above the ground in short grasses and in the window wells of outbuildings.
Funnel weavers hide in the concealed area of the funnel and then dash out onto the sheet portion of the web to capture an insect caught in or walking across the silk platform. Beetles, harvestmen, moths and small butterflies are frequent food items.
A pair of broad, dark, brownish bands runs lengthwise adjacent to a lighter mid-band on the lightly haired and roundish carapace. The legs are cream and dark yellowish-brown. The oblong abdomen is brown with a broad, reddish-brown, zig-zag stripe with a cream-colored border on both sides. The spinnerets are noticeably long. The funnel web spider is a relatively large one, females averaging 10-20mm and males slightly smaller. Two species of funnel weavers are found in Missouri, a naevia and a. pennsylvanica. Although the former is usually larger and darker, their similar color patterns make them difficult to distinguish.
Missouri distribution: presumably statewide.
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