Giant House Spider
(Tegenaria gigantea)
(Tegenaria gigantea)
Giant House Spiders are of importance because they are often confused with the Hobo spider and because of their size. This spider is large; sometimes 2 inches or more from leg tip to leg tip. It resembles the Hobo spider as it is related, but is twice as large. This spider is the cause of many panic phone calls from home owners about the “huge spider” in their sink or bathtub.
This spider commonly crawls into these places but cannot get out because of the polished surfaces. Giant house spiders, although terrifying in appearance, are usually completely harmless.