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Pennsylvania Grass Spider (Agelenopsis pennsylvanica)

These spiders look a little like wolf spiders, but have longer posterior spinnerets.

Description: This species is light brown with a dark v-shape on the sternum and a pair of dark bands on the back of its abdomen. It has brown legs with black bristles (hairs). The female grows from 10 to 17 mm in length. The male is somewhat smaller.

Habitat: Grass Spiders live in woodsy, brushy areas, and near buildings. It spins a sheet-like web with a funnel entrance. Above the sheet web is a network of threads that snags insects into the sheet, where they are pounced on. The female creates egg sacs, which she places under bark or in other crevices. This spider's range is from the northern United States as far south as Tennessee and Kansas.

Collection of the Illinois State Museum
Photograph by Bryan McGee
Accession #: 3

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