Cardinal spider (Tegenaria parietina)
Web: Typical funnel web with a funnel-shaped retreat, often more “layered” than the web of the Cardinal spider and Barn funnel weaver.
Habitat: In and around buildings, sometimes in drier, less sheltered and sunny locations. Almost always close to buildings.
How to recognize:
- typical light drawing on top of the abdomen (two light oval spots stand out) and a dark coloured drawing on cephalothorax (with three dark spots on the sides)
- legs darkly annulated (less obvious in older spiders and often almost completely lost in adult males.
Looks similar to:
- Charcoal spider (Tegenaria ferruginea). This species has a more delineated drawing (also on the legs), is much smaller and has proportionally shorter legs. The Charcoal spider is more often found in forests and less in houses.
Size
♀: 11-20mm
♂: 10-17mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: August till October