hobo spider

Description:

Adult house spiders are grey-brown with long legs and can be thought of as quite large, by UK standards. There are 6 species of house spider native to the UK, all in the genus Tegenaria. The leg span of the largest, Tegenaria parietina, can reach over 12cm (5 inches). It is known as the Cardinal spider because Cardinal Wolsey was afraid of them. The intermediate-sized Tegenaria agrestis and Tegenaria gigantea can only be distinguished by looking at microscopic details. House spiders feed on flies, beetles, earwigs and cockroaches.

Habitat:

The natural habitat of the house spider is caves and hollows in trees, but they readily adapt to buildings. Their cobwebs are permanent and can become quite large, and dusty, if left in an undisturbed corner. They are made up of a silken sheet that funnels into a retreat at the back.