House spider - Tegenaria gigantea - Family: Agelenidae

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House spider - Tegenaria gigantea
© Roger Key/English Nature

There are 600 species of spider in Britain and many of these occur in gardens. There are only three species of typical 'house' spider. All are fairly large - up to five centimetres across the legs - and are mottled brown species.

They are found indoors in shady crevices, as well as in sheds and outhouses and in hollow trees and under loose bark. They have an untidy web, usually in a corner with the spider inhabiting a retreat in the deepest shadows. Although causing fear amongst arachnophobes, they are completely harmless to people and in fact beneficial, since they account for many unwelcome flies in houses.

Food

Predatory on many other invertebrates, including other spiders.

Plants

Michaelmas daisy

Prey

Aphids, Flies, Mosquitoes and midges, Moths, Ophion luteus, Spiders and harvestmen