Examine individual changes

'{{Speciesbox | name = Giant house spider | taxon = Eratigena atrica | image = Hausspinne Tegenaria atrica.jpg | image_upright = 0.9 | image_caption = | authority = ([[Carl Ludwig Koch|C. L. Koch]], 1843)<ref name=WSC_s670/> | range_map = Distribution.tegenaria.atrica.1.png | range_map_upright = 1 | synonyms = {{Specieslist |Philoica atrica|(C. L. Koch, 1843) |Tegenaria atrica|C. L. Koch, 1843 |Tegenaria derouetae|Denis, 1959 |Tegenaria deroueti|Dresco, 1957 |Tegenaria duellica|Simon, 1875 |Tegenaria gigantea|Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 |Tegenaria hibernica|O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1891 |Tegenaria larva|Simon, 1875 |Tegenaria nervosa|Simon, 1870 |Tegenaria praegrandis|Fox, 1937 |Tegenaria propinqua|Locket, 1975 |Tegenaria saeva|Blackwall, 1844 }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name=WSC_s670/> }} The '''giant house spider''', now with the [[zoological nomenclature|scientific name]] '''''Eratigena atrica''''', is one of the biggest spiders of [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Northern Europe]]. It was previously placed in the genus ''[[Tegenaria]]'', where in addition to '''''Tegenaria atrica''''', it was also documented as '''''Tegenaria duellica''''', '''''Tegenaria gigantea''''' and '''''Tegenaria saeva''''', among others, all thought to be different species. It is now a member of the newly described genus ''[[Eratigena]]''.<ref name=Bolzern/> The bite of this species does not pose a threat to humans or pets, and it is generally reluctant to bite, preferring to escape. [[Image:Tegenaria.atrica.creating.eggsac.1.jpg|thumb|200px|female creating egg sac]] ==Description== {{no footnotes|section|date=April 2016}} There fucking huge. The two sexes do not differ in coloration or markings. Its coloration is mainly dark brown. On its sternum is a lighter marking, with three light spots on each side. The [[opisthosoma]] features a lighter middle line with six "spots" on each side. The giant house spider has the same coloration as the domestic house spider, ''[[Tegenaria domestica]]''; it has earthy tones of brown and muddy red or yellow. They also have conspicuously hairy legs, palps and abdomen. The female body size can reach {{convert|18.5|mm}} in length (despite its English name, the species is smaller than ''[[Tegenaria parietina]]''), with males having a slightly smaller body at around {{convert|12|to|15|mm}} in length. The female leg span is typically around {{convert|45|mm}}. The leg span of the male is highly variable, with spans between {{convert|25|to|75|mm}} being common. Its eight eyes are of equal size and are arranged in two rows. As the eyes contain fewer than 400 visual cells, ''E.&nbsp;atrica'' can probably only distinguish light and dark. ==Taxonomy== The first description of a spider now assigned to this species was by [[Carl Ludwig Koch]] in 1843, under the name ''Tegenaria atrica''. Other supposedly different species were described later, including ''Tegenaria saeva'' by [[John Blackwall]] in 1844, ''Tegenaria duellica'' by [[Eugène Simon]] in 1875 and ''Tegenaria gigantea'' by [[Ralph Vary Chamberlin]] and [[Wilton Ivie]] in 1935. ''T.&nbsp;gigantea'' was [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonymized]] with ''T.&nbsp;duellica'' in 1978. The three remaining taxa have been regarded as distinct species, particularly in Britain.<ref name=Bolzern/> Thus Roberts (1995) provides distinguishing characters for ''T.&nbsp;atrica'', ''T.&nbsp;duellica'' and ''T.&nbsp;saeva'',<ref name=Robe95>{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=Michael J. |year=1995 |title=Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe |publication-place=London |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-00-219981-0 |pp=243–245}}</ref> as does Oxford (2008) for ''T.&nbsp;duellica'' (as ''T.&nbsp;gigantea'') and ''T.&nbsp;saeva''.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Oxford |first=G. |date=2008 |title=Identification of ''Tegenaria gigantea'' and ''T. saeva'' |journal=Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society |volume=113 |pp=21–23 }}</ref> Others consider these three as part of a single morphologically variable species, for which the oldest name, and hence the senior synonym, is ''T.&nbsp;atrica''.<ref name=Bolzern/> A [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic study]] in 2013 concluded that ''Tegenaria'', as then defined, was not [[Monophyly|monophyletic]], and split off some species, including ''T.&nbsp;atrica'', into the newly created segregate genus ''[[Eratigena]]''.<ref name=Bolzern/> ==Distribution and habitat== ''E. atrica'' is found in [[Europe]], [[Central Asia]] and [[Northern Africa]]. It was unwittingly introduced to the [[Pacific Northwest]] of [[North America]] circa 1900 due to human activity and has strongly increased in numbers for the last century.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} In the last few years the spider has been found in several European countries in which it was previously not recorded, like [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]]. It is recorded in the checklist of Danish spider species.<ref>Checklist of Danish Spiders (Araneae). Version 26-10-2011 ([http://www.zmuc.dk/EntoWeb/arachnology/dkchecklist.htm list])</ref> The giant house spider's original habitat consists mostly of [[cave]]s, or dry forests where it is found under rocks, but it is a common spider in people's homes.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} ==Biology and behavior== [[Image:Tegenaria.atrica.spiderlings.on.egg.sac.jpg|thumb|200px|Spiderlings]] The [[spider web|webs]] built by the giant house spider are flat and messy with a funnel at one end. They do not contain sticky threads. The spider lurks in the funnel until a small invertebrate happens to get trapped in the web, at which point the spider runs out and attacks it. They usually build their webs in corners (on both the floor and ceiling), between boxes in basements, behind cupboards, in attics, or any other area that is rarely disturbed by large animals, or humans. Often found near window openings.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} ''E. atrica'' normally lives for two or three years, but lifetimes of up to six years have been observed. While the female only leaves its nest to feed, males can often be seen wandering around houses during the late summer and early autumn looking for a mate. Males can be found from July to October, adult females occur all year.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} At least 60 spiderlings emerge from an egg sac. Unusual for spiders, they are subsocial at this stage: they remain together for about a month, but do not cooperate in prey capture. The amount of cannibalism correlates with the amount of available food.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pourié |first1=Grégory |last2=Trabalon |first2=Marie |date=1999 |title=Relationships Among Food and Contact Signals in Experimental Group-Living Young of ''Tegenaria atrica'' |journal=Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology |volume=42 |pp=188–197 |lastauthoramp=yes }}</ref> ''E. atrica'' molts seven or eight times before reaching the immature adult state, and after a final molt reaches maturity.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Collatz |first1=K.G. |last2=Mommsen |first2=T. |date=1975 |title=Physiological conditions and variations of body constituents during the moulting of the spider ''Tegenaria atrica'' C.L. Koch (Agelenidae) |journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology |volume=52 |pp=465–475 |lastauthoramp= }}</ref> Like most spiders, the spider possesses venom to subdue its prey. Since ''E. atrica'' bites can penetrate human skin on occasion, the effects of [[agatoxin]] might be felt by bite victims, though these spiders will not bite unless provoked.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} With speeds clocked at {{convert|1.73|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} (1.18&nbsp;mph), the giant house spider held the [[Guinness Book of World Records]] for top spider speed until 1987 when it was displaced by [[sun spider]]s (solifugids) although the latter are not true spiders as they belong to a different order.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zoo.org/document.doc?id=203 |title=Giant House Spider (''Tegenaria gigantea'')|publisher=Woodland Park Zoo |accessdate=20 August 2013}}</ref> ==Relationship with ''Eratigena agrestis''== [[File:Tegenaria duellica and dollar bill.JPG|thumb|right|250px|''E. atrica'' can attain a leg span of up to {{convert|4|in|mm}}. This specimen is approximately {{convert|3|in|mm}}.]] [[Image:T duellica Moulting.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|A [[moult]]ing ''E. atrica'']] A population of giant house spiders is popularly thought to be a deterrent to the establishment of ''[[Eratigena agrestis]]'', known in North America as the "hobo spider", and considered by some to be more likely to bite humans. Giant house spiders may compete with hobo spiders for the same resources. Hobo spiders grow no more than a body size of {{convert|15|mm|in}} long whereas the larger female giant house spider can have a body size of {{convert|18|mm|in}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bugguide.net/node/view/31446 |title=Species ''Tegenaria agrestis'' - Hobo Spider|work=BugGuide |publisher=Iowa State University|accessdate=20 August 2013}}</ref> but has proportionately much longer legs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bugguide.net/node/view/31449|title=Species ''Tegenaria gigantea'' - Giant House Spider|work=BugGuide |publisher=Iowa State University|accessdate=20 August 2013}}</ref> ==In popular culture== Humorist [[David Sedaris]] has written about his relationship with ''E. atrica''. His essay "April In Paris" documents his growing affection towards and domestic association with giant house spiders, particularly one named April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/03/24/april-paris|title=April & Paris|publisher=The New Yorker|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> The essay can be found in the collection ''[[When You Are Engulfed in Flames]]''. ==References== {{reflist|refs= <ref name=Bolzern>{{Cite journal |last=Bolzern |first=Angelo |last2=Burckhardt |first2=Daniel |last3=Hänggi |first3=Ambros |year=2013 |title=Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the ''Tegenaria−Malthonica'' complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=168 |issue=4 |pages=723–848 |doi=10.1111/zoj.12040 |lastauthoramp=yes }}</ref> <ref name=WSC_s670>{{citation |title=Taxon details ''Eratigena atrica'' (C. L. Koch, 1843) |work=World Spider Catalog |publisher=Natural History Museum Bern |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/670 |accessdate=2016-04-28 }}</ref> }} ==Further reading== * Prouvost, O.; Trabalon, M.; Papke, M. & Schulz, S. (1999). "Contact sex signals on web and cuticle of ''Tegenaria atrica'' (Araneae, Agelenidae)". ''Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol.'' '''40''': 194-202. * Pourié, Grégory; Ibarra, Fernando; Francke, Wittko & Trabalon, Marie (2005). "Fatty acids mediate aggressive behavior in the spider ''Tegenaria atrica''". ''Chemoecology'' '''15'''(3): 161-166. {{doi|10.1007/s00049-005-0308-6}} ==External links== {{commons}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQotdGRpgl8 Video of a feeding ''E. atrica''] [[Category:Agelenidae]] [[Category:Fauna of North America]] [[Category:Funnel-web spiders of Europe]] [[Category:Animals described in 1843]]'