House Spider

House Spider - Eratigena duellica sensu stricto

Description

Males 10 to14 mm, females 11to16 mm. Prosoma yellowish-grey, with 2 broad, dark brown-black longitudinal stripes. Sternum grey-brown, with brighter median part and bright spots near coxa. Legs yellowish-grey. Opisthosoma grey-brown, dorsally with 2 longitudinal rows of yellow spots and slender, yellow median stripe. The "Giant House Spiders" - Eratigena gigantea, E. saeva, and E. atrica - cannot be told apart from their overall appearance. E. duellica is the common species in Leicestershire, although E. saeva and hybrids do occur. E. atrica is nationally rare. 

Similar Species

Other Eratigena species. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Examination of the genitalia is required to confirm this species, and some specimens may be intermediate hybrids. If in doubt, record to genus only as Eratigena or as Giant House-spider agg.

Habitat

In hollow trees, under stones in warm locations, often in buildings.

When to see it

All year. 

UK Status

Common in Britain

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records