Funnel  Web Weaver Spider - Agelenopsis sp.
Class Arachnida / Order Araneae / Family Agelenidae
Live adult spiders photographed in the wild at DuPage County, Illinois.
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Funnel  Web Weaver Spider - Agelenopsis sp

Funnel web weavers (Family Agelenidae) spiders often found in grassy fields, low shrubbery, or living among leaf litter in forests. They spin sheet webs of nonsticky silk with a characteristic funnel extending off to one side. The funnel is where the spider hides while awaiting prey.

There is a 3-dimensional barrier web spun above the sheet web, and when a prey item falls through onto the sheet web, the spider quickly runs out and bites its victim, then drags it back to the funnel to feed. These sheet webs are nearly invisible unless covered with dewdrops on a cool morning, and the spider can move very quickly over the surface. It almost looks as if the spider is walking on air. There are over 400 North American species.

Funnel  Web Weaver Spider - Agelenopsis sp
Male spider out hunting on a sheet web built in a juniper bush

This specimen is camped out in front of the funnel shaped hiding place in its namesake web. The web takes the form of a nearly invisible  large sheet of silk over which the spider can travel quite rapidly, capturing poor unfortunates who happen by. Prey is then wrapped in silk and dragged back to the funnel where it is consumed.

 

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