The giant house spider is a close relative of the hobo spider and the domestic house spider since it has the same color as that of the latter. Sometimes, their colors have earthy tones like yellow, muddy red and brown. This type of spider also have hairy legs, abdomen and palps. A pale mark can be recognized in the middle of the spider’s breastplate.
Appearance
The body of a female giant house spider can reach up to 18.5 mm in length, while a male has a slightly smaller body frame that ranges from 12 to 15 mm in length. The legs of the female giant house spider is approximately 45 millimeters while the leg span of the male highly varies from 25 to 75 millimeters.
Location
The giant house spider originated from the north western Europe and introduced to Pacific northwest of America through Vancouver in 1900 basically due to human inactivity.
Behavior
This kind of spider can create webs which are flat and messy and characterized by a funnel at one end. The spider waits in the funnel portion of the web for its prey until a small insect gets caught in the web. They build their webs normally in corners of the floor and ceiling, between boxes in basement, behind cupboards, in attics or in any area not frequented by large animals or humans.
Habitat
Giant house spiders are giant in a sense that they are the largest arachnid of the genus Tegenaria. They dwell in flowerbeds, wood piles and other sheltered, outdoor areas. They can also be found in dark crevices and basements. Some are found near shorelines or woods where they live beneath driftwood, rocks and logs. In the late summer and early autumn, male giant house spiders are known to wander around to look for a mate.