Tegenaria parietina

Tegenaria parietina is a rather rare European spider with a distribution from Northern Africa to Central Asia and has also been found in Uruguay and Argentina.^[1] In the UK is sometimes known as the cardinal spider because of the legend that Cardinal Woolsey was terrified by this species at Hampton Court.^[2]

Appearance

Females grow up to 20mm, males up to 17mm. Legs are approximately three times longer, although some specimens have legs as large as 7.5 cm with a span between front and rear legs of 14 cm.[1] They are reddish brown. Females can live for up to eight years, while males die shortly after mating. These spiders live mostly in buildings or walls. They look rather similar to T. ferruginea.

References

1. ^ Ramírez, M. J., C. Grismado & T. Blick. 2004. Notes on the spider family Agelenidae in southern South America (Arachnida: Araneae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. 9: 179-182.
2. ^ Arlott, Norman; Richard Fitter, Alastair Fitter (1981-05-11). Complete Guide to British Wildlife (illustrated ed.). Collins. ISBN 0002192128.