Agelenidae is the scientific name of one of the most common spiders found in Colorado. Better known as the funnel weaver or grass spider, this creature builds a thick funnel-shaped web in bushes, grass and building corners. The funnel weaver hides in the bottom of the funnel, waiting for its prey to become tangled in its web. Once the victim is caught, the funnel weaver moves in. This spider is often mistaken for the poisonous brown recluse spider. The funnel weaver is darker and does not share the same markings or tell-tale "violin" symbol found on the back of brown recluse. The funnel weaver also has four sets of eyes, not the three of the brown recluse. And unlike the brown recluse, this spider is not dangerous or aggressive.
The Hogna Carolinensis is the largest wolf spider found in Colorado. Its body can reach one inch with a leg span of nearly three inches. It is primarily nocturnal and not frequently seen during the day. These spiders hunt their prey instead of weaving a web and waiting for a meal. The females are a mottled brown, while the males have a grey body with black accents and a peach-colored mouth. This spider is venomous, but its bites are virtually harmless to humans.
The jumping spider, or Salticidae, hunts instead of creating webs to catch victims. Jumping spiders can leap anywhere from 10 to 40 times their body length. A jumping spider is typically two centimeters long, sporting bright colors on its hairy body. With four pairs of eyes it has exceptional vision and the ability to see 360 degrees. These spiders are not aggressive towards humans. Their bite might sting, but unlikely to cause anything more than a slight swelling.
