House spider, genus Tegenaria
House spider, genus Tegenaria (submitted by NaturePlus user dryopteris)
There are 6 species of ‘house spider’ in the group Tegenaria that are native to the UK. Tegenaria duellica is the most common.
Adult house spiders are grey-brown with long legs. The leg span of the largest, Tegenaria parietina, can reach over 12cm.
Although the natural habitat of these spiders is caves and hollows in trees, they readily adapt to buildings. They prefer to live outdoors in the garage or shed, but between August and October male spiders are often seen indoors, on their search for a mate.
House spider cobwebs are made up of a silken sheet that funnels into a retreat at the back. The webs are permanent and can become quite large and dusty if left in an undisturbed corner.
