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Achaearanea tepidariorum | Agelenopsis aperta | Larinioides cornutus | Physocyclus mexicanus | Hazardous Species

Agelenopsis aperta

Western Grass Spider

 Family Agelenidae: Typical Funnelweb Weavers

A grass spider can be an excellent, almost ideal introduction to spiders and this is also a very versatile animal for use in a wide range of projects.

• These species are common, fairly large and relatively easy to observe in nature and in captivity

• They readily adapt to almost any kind of containers and a wide range of environmental conditions

• They are hardy and tolerant spiders, which are very easy to breed and raise in captivity

• There is a large body of fascinating literature about the behavior, biology and ecology of these spiders

Grass spiders are easiest to find in the summer or early fall, when the webs are large and conspicuous and can typically be found in grassy fields, brush land or similar habitats. These habitats include almost anything from our driest deserts to soggy swamps and sea-side estuaries.

The web is a large sheet extending from a hidden tubular retreat and extending over surrounding vegetation. The retreat extends into an abandoned rodent burrow, under a rock, into brush piles, packrat dens or almost any kind of protected space. The sheet is not sticky and may have a superstructure of guy lines, helping to support the web, and trip lines, which can knock insects down on to the sheet.

Seasons

Agelenopsis over-winter in as juveniles and mature in the spring or early summer. The males abandon their webs and mate mid-summer and egg-laying starts mid to late summer and may continue into the fall.

Observing spiders

Grass spiders are most active at night, but can be found at the entrance to their retreats early in morning or before dusk. They may be hidden, inactive slow to respond to prey during the rest of the day when the sun is high.

Catching spiders

You can need to use any of a number of tricks to catch these spiders and even dig out the retreats, but our favorite is to tease the spider out of the retreat with a goody, such as a maggot, cricket or grasshopper. Simply drop the prey in an exposed areas of the web and scoop the spider out of the web and into a large pail when it comes out.

Environment

We usually work with a desert variety of Agelenopsis, which is accustomed to very dry conditions and does not tolerate high humidity very well. Other varieties may require more humidity and/or access to water.

In general, try to keep the humidity below 65% RH and water sparingly. They can get most of the water they need from their food. They tolerate cold well but seem to prefer, will be active and grow faster at temperatures at or above 85 ^oF.

Food

It is much more interesting and informative to feed these spiders with a wide range of locally caught prey and see and learn what they will and won't take. However, it is also good to have a reliable food source.

Larger juvenile and adult grass spiders readily take adult crickets, which are frequently available from pet and bait shops. Babies small juveniles will take smaller crickets, about their own size, though these may be hard to get locally. Try Fluker's, Armstrong Crickets or other sources.

We usually feed ours with flies, giving them maggots which they may eat as maggots or take as adults later. Hatchlings will get fruit flies and graduate to houseflies as they get larger.

Use an eye dropper or squirt bottle to place a few drops of water on the webs a few times of week if the spiders are thirsty or hungry. Normally, they will be able to get all the water they need from their prey but may be need water if the feeding schedule is interrupted.

Containers

Almost any kind of container may be used for these spider, from large plastic vials, soda and milk bottles to large terrariums and custom cages. Larger cages will provide more space for web construction and give you an opportunity to see more typical and elaborate behaviors, but the spiders can also do well in very small containers, only slightly larger than themselves.

Containers should have good aeration (air flow) and DO NOT need water dishes.

Products

Adult female

Adult male

Study mount, preserved in glycerin gel