Funnel Weaver (Agelenopsis naevia)
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Funnel Weaver spiders are seen much less often than their webs. These are built on shrubs, around rocks or in branches of trees, and consist of a large sheet that surrounds a deep tube-like retreat. The web contains no sticky silk to capture prey and the spiders rely on their quick reflexes to capture insects that are temporarily hindered by the maze of lines that surrounds the web.
The view above shows how these spiders are usually seen, hiding within its funnel tube. This one is a male, as determined by his enlarged pedipalps, appendages that are located to the sides of his jaws. These organs on females look more like little legs.
The spider below is also a male, uncharacteristically exposed out in the open. He is courting a female that is still hiding within her web in the upper right corner of the picture. Needless to say, he has to be very careful to make his intentions clear so that he does not become her next meal before they can mate.
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class: Arachnida / order: Araneae / family: Agelenidae / genus: Agelenopsis / species: naevia
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