| Dust Spider (Eratigena atrica (C.L. Koch, 1843)) |
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Scientific name: Eratigena atrica (C.L. Koch, 1843) Common name: Dust Spider Other names: Dustbunny Spider, Giant House Spider, Western House Spider. The Dust Spider (Tegeneria atrica) C.L. Koch, 1843, the Giant House Spider (Tegeneria duellica) Simon, 1875 and the Western House Spider (Tegeneria saeva) Blackwall, 1844 are finally grouped into a single species: Eratigena atrica. French name: Tégénaire noire Order: Araneae Family: Agelenidae Size: Females: 20mm. Males: 15 mm. Leg span up to 10 cm. Biotope: Houses, cellars and attics and also in the surroundings of houses. Cool and humid places. Web: Usually a flat triangular shape, in a corner, with a funnel where the House spider can take refuge. At some places you can find a great number of webs very close to each other. Observation period: All year long. Geographic area: Widespread in Europe, including cold countries. It has been introduced to all temperate areas in the world because it was carried on transport ships. |
Dust Spiders are large size spiders with uniform coloured legs and with dark markings on the cephalothorax and on the abdomen. The cephalothorax shows a pale median stripe and pale patches on both sides. Dust Spiders often walk far from their web. Females let a silk thread that males can detect. They feed on insects, flies, moths, etc. Dust Spiders can over winter without feeding. Among other Tegeneria/Eratigena species, with uniform coloured legs, let's mention the Hobo Spider (Eratigena agrestis) which is a slightly smaller size. It is rather found outside buildings (in Europe) in waste lands or low grasses. You can confirm the species identification with a view of the sternum (located on the underside between the base of the legs). It shows a broad median stripe which strongly tapers at the rear tip. Malthonica picta also shows uniform coloured legs but is a very smaller size. |
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This Dust Spider observed inside the house shows impressive jaws. However these spiders are totally harmless for humans. |
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The position of this Dust Spider on its webs allowed me to shoot an underside view. The sternum (area between the base of the legs) shows a pale median band tapering at the rear with three spots on each side. |
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I think that the pedipalps indicate one male here. |
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I have observed this rather large size Dust Spider under one stone in my garden. |
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Here is a closer view. You can clearly see that the legs are not ringed. |
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I have observed this Dust Spider in my compost heap. |
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The large size, the uniform coloured legs, the markings on the cephalothorax and on the abdomen seem to indicate a Dust Spider species. |
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The Great Spring Cleaning disturbed the quiet life of this Dust Spider in my garage. But is the House Spider's life so quiet in my garage? This one has already lost two legs on the left side! |
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This Wall Lizard must have been locked inside the house and I don't know if it died naturally or if this Dust Spider had a little to do with it. However, it showed its strength by hoisting in its web this prey which must be much heavier than the spider itself! |
André Bon October 2021