Funnel Weaver Spiders

Description

Members of Agelenidae, the funnel weaver spiders, create layered sheet webs of non-sticky silk. They wait inside their homes until they sense the motion of prey touching the webs, at which time they use their tremendous running speed to rush out and capture their prey. Should they sense something larger than their prey touching the web (say, a human bumping into it), they recognize the danger and rush backward, deeper into their web an away from danger.

Species

Agelenopsis sp.

Notes

Members of this genus cannot be confidently identified without examination of microscopic genitalia, as several extremely similar species live in the USA. Additionally, this genus looks similar to Barronopsis, so I may have confused images of the two. However, each of these spiders was found in a lair in the grass, and this genus is known as "grass spiders". Additionally, these do not have the characteristic "smiley face" apparent on the Barronopsis.

Images of Agelenopsis sp.

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The first Agelenopsis I found, illuminated with a headlamp and captured with a Pixel 5.
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The second Agelenopsis I found in the woods near my home. Some of its eyes can be spotted by the reflection of my headlamp.
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Grass spider tightly packed in its lair in the grass. Like many web-living spiders, it will only flee if and when its web is touched.
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One of many other (likely) Agelenopsis living in a web lair in the grass that same day. In some areas, there were up to 6 lairs in arms' reach.

Barronopsis sp.

Description

This spider has regular dark bands on its legs as well as two dark stripes down the dorsal prosoma. It has dark spots around its eyes and a "mustache" or "smiley face" marking below.

Notes

Members of this genus cannot be confidently identified without examination of microscopic genitalia, as several extremely similar species live in the USA, but the images below are most likely Barronopsis texana based on its range. However, it is also possible some are Agelenopsis, "grass spiders," which looks similar. However, these two were found in lairs at chest height, in tree branches.

Images of Barronopsis sp.

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Captured with my Sony a7 II, this specimen can be better identified as a member of Barronopsis. Here its dorsal patterns are on display, clearly distinguishing it from another common genus Agelenopsis, which looks more similar to Rabidosa rabida.
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A second shot of the same specimen, focusing on its prosoma.
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This web was found at around chest height in urban woods.
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Another (likely) Barronopsis texana, photographed from the side, also found in tree branches.