Appearance
Cryptic or camouflage gray with lighter and darker disruptive markings make these spiders inconspicuous in their natural habitats.
Size
Range from a little less than 1 mm to more than 2 centimeters. The bodies of males are about as long as females but tend to be more slender and have much longer legs.
Web
The web is a large horizontal sheet
extending from a tubular silk-lined retreat. The sheet is draped over and amongst surrounding vegetation and
frequently has overhead supports or trip-lines, which knock flying
insects down on the surface of the web.
Predatory Behavior
The web is not sticky but, like a
trampoline, it is difficult to walk and most insects cannot escape very
rapidly.
The spider typically waits deep within its retreat or at the opening and detects prey by vibrations or tugging from the insects.
Funnelweb spiders have special adaptations for running on the silk and
will rush out towards the insect, possibly stopping once or twice to get
its bearings before they attack the prey. Larger and potentially
dangerous insects may be given several rapid but careful nips while
smaller prey are simply picked up and hauled smaller insects back to the
spiders retreat.
Habitat
Agelenopsis aperta can be found in a
wide range from habitats, from bone dry desert dunes to soggy estuaries
and riparian habitats.
Range
SW USA
Season
Agelenopsis aperta mature and mate
in late spring and early summer. Most of the males die off by the end of
July or August and the females may continue to lay eggs until late
September, when they also die off. They overwinter as juveniles.
Courtship behavior
The male spider typically abandons his web a few days or weeks after maturing to search for females. He will court and mate with the female in her web.
For typical courtship behavior, allow the female to establish a web first and feed her well for a few days before introducing males. Introduce the male gently at a far edge of her web or in a part of the cage without webbing, giving him the choice of whether or not to enter the web.
Watch for courtship or avoidance behavior and remove the male immediately if he does not start to court the female as soon as he touches the web or is attacked by the female. The female may not be receptive and the male is probably a better judge of this than you.
Food
In nature, these spiders feed on a
very wide range of insects.
In captivity, small hatchlings are
large enough to take fruit flies, which will get them through the first
few instars. Larger juveniles and adults can be fed with fruit flies,
houseflies and crickets.
Container
Agelenopsis aperta adapt to almost any size and type of container with good aeration (air flow).
Large (10 gallon or larger) aquarium or clear plastic storage containers are recommended for fully developed adult webs and behavior.
Small juveniles can build a complete web in pint or quart-sized containers.
Safety
Agelenopsis are not considered to be
dangerous to humans and there no reports of serious bites by these
spiders. However, they can bite and some of the bites may be painful.
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