Hobo spider

Hobo spider
Female hobo spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Agelenidae
Genus: Eratigena
Species:
E. agrestis
Binomial name
Eratigena agrestis
Distribution in North America in green
Synonyms[1]
  • Aranea agrestis Walckenaer, 1802
  • Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer, 1841)
  • Philoica agrestis (Karsch, 1873)
  • Tegenaria rhaetica Thorell, 1875
  • Tegenaria magnacava Exline, 1936
  • Tegenaria osellai Brignoli, 1971
  • Tegenaria trinacriae Brignoli, 1971

The hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis, formerly Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the family of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders, but not to be confused with the Australian funnel-web spider. Individuals construct a funnel-shaped structure of silk sheeting and lie in wait at the small end of the funnel for prey insects to blunder onto their webs. Hobo spiders sometimes build their webs in or around human habitations. Despite past claims, there is no clear evidence that the hobo spider has venom that is dangerous to humans.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ a b "Taxon details Eratigena agrestis (Walckenaer, 1802)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-01-03
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Crawford was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CDC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CFP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).