Cardinal spider

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