The Agelenidae are a large family of spiders in the suborder Araneomorphae. Well-known examples include the common "grass spiders" of the genus Agelenopsis. The most widely accepted common name for members of the family is funnel weaver.

Description The body length of the smallest Agelenidae spiders is about , excluding the legs, while the larger species grow to long. Some exceptionally large species, such as Eratigena atrica, may reach in total leg span.

Agelenids have eight eyes in two horizontal rows of four. Their cephalothoraces narrow somewhat towards the front where the eyes are. Their abdomens are more or less oval, usually patterned with two rows of lines and spots. Some species have longitudinal lines on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax, whereas other species do not; for example, the hobo spider does not, which assists in informally distinguishing it from similar-looking species.

Biology

Most of the Agelenidae are very fast runners, especially on their webs. With speeds clocked at , the giant house spider held the Guinness Book of World Records title for top spider speed until 1987. A recent literature review found peer-reviewed accounts of several agelenid species achieving speeds in this range, though some other taxa have achieved higher speeds.

Agelenids build a flat sheet of nonsticky web with a funnel-shaped retreat to one side or occasionally in the middle, depending on the situation and species. Accordingly, "funnel weaver" is the most widely accepted common name for members of the family, but they should not be confused with the so-called "funnel-web tarantulas" or "funnel-web spiders" of mygalomorph families.

The typical hunting mode for most sheet-building Agelenidae is similar to that of most other families of spiders that build sheet webs in the open, typically on grass or in scrubland as opposed to under bark, rocks, and the like. They await the arrival of prey such as grasshoppers that fall onto the horizontal web. Although the web is not sticky, it is full of entangling filaments that the spider continually lays down when passing over. The filaments catch in the least projections on a prey insect's body or limbs. The web also is springy, and whether perching on the sheet or awaiting prey in its retreat, the spider reacts immediately to vibrations, whether from a courting male, the threatening struggles of dangerous invaders, or the weaker struggles of potential meals. They attack promising prey by rushing out at high speed and dealing a paralysing venomous bite. The agatoxin in their venom has been studied extensively in Agelenopsis aperta. Once the prey has been disabled, the spider generally drags it back into the retreat and begins to feed. This method of attack is consistent with the high speeds at which the Agelenidae run. Other sheet-web hunters such as some Pisauridae also are very fast runners.

Like any fast-running spider, the Agelenidae possess good vision, and are generally photosensitive (i.e. react to changes in the light), so they can successfully retreat upon perceiving a larger threat's shadow approaching. Some are also sensitive to air currents caused by motion. Males are less successful ambushers than females and are more likely to roam to new territory in search of prey. In September, males of outdoors species (such as Agelenopsis and Agelena) may seek refuge within houses, usually nesting on or underneath outer windowsills, or around a porch door. These spiders often are neither pest controllers nor pests themselves; they are very selective in their prey and do not consume large quantities; also, they return to their webs after being disturbed, unless the web is completely destroyed.

Parasocial species The type genus, Agelena, includes some parasocial spiders that live in complex communal webs in Africa. The best known of these is probably A. consociata. Social behaviour in these spiders comprises communal web-building, cooperative prey capture, and communal rearing of young. No trophallaxis occurs, though, nor does any true eusociality such as occurs in the social Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps); for example, the spiders have no castes such as sterile workers or soldiers, and all females are reproductive.

Genera , this family includes one hundred genera and 1,694 species:

Acutipetala Dankittipakul & Zhang, 2008 – Thailand Aeolocoelotes Okumura, 2020 – Japan Afrotrix Haddad, Zamani & Marusik, 2026 – Botswana, Namibia, South Africa Agelena Walckenaer, 1805 – Africa, Asia, Russia, Europe to Central Asia, Spain to Central Asia Agelenella Lehtinen, 1967 – Yemen Agelenopsis Giebel, 1869 – North America. Introduced to Kyrgyzstan, China, Ukraine, Russia Ageleradix Xu & Li, 2007 – China Agelescape Levy, 1996 – Algeria, Tunisia, Western Asia, Albania, Greece, Spain Ahua Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Allagelena Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2006 – China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Russia, Europe to Central Asia Alloclubionoides Paik, 1992 – China, Japan, Korea, Russia Anatextrix Kaya, Zamani, Yağmur & Marusik, 2023 – Turkey Asiascape Zamani & Marusik, 2020 – Iran Aterigena Bolzern, Hänggi & Burckhardt, 2010 – China, Italy, France Azerithonica Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005 – Azerbaijan, Iran Baiyuerius Zhao, B. Li & S. Li, 2023 – China, Vietnam Bajacalilena Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2017 – Mexico Barronopsis Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941 – Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, United States Benoitia Lehtinen, 1967 – Africa, Asia, Russia, Cyprus, Spain, North Africa Bifidocoelotes Wang, 2002 – China, Taiwan Brignoliolus Ovtchinnikov, 1999 – Asia, Russia Cabolena Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2017 – Mexico Calilena Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941 – Mexico, United States Callidalena Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2017 – Mexico, United States Coelotes Blackwall, 1841 – Asia, Europe, Mexico Coras Simon, 1898 – Korea, North America Curticoelotes Okumura, 2020 – Japan Dichodactylus Okumura, 2017 – Japan Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999 – Asia Eratigena Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013 – Algeria, Morocco, Laos, Madeira, North America, Europe to Central Asia Femoracoelotes Wang, 2002 – Japan, Taiwan Flexicoelotes Chen, Li & Zhao, 2015 – China Gorbiscape Zamani & Marusik, 2020 – Algeria, Morocco, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Canary Islands, Western Mediterranean Griseidraconarius Okumura, 2020 – Japan Guilotes Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2018 – China Hadites Keyserling, 1862 – Croatia, Slovenia Hellamalthonica Bosmans, 2023 – Turkey, Greece Hengconarius Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2018 – China Himalcoelotes Wang, 2002 – China, Bhutan, Nepal Histopona Thorell, 1870 – Europe Hoffmannilena Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2016 – Guatemala, Mexico Hololena Chamberlin & Gertsch, 1929 – North America Huangyuania Song & Li, 1990 – China Huka Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Hypocoelotes Nishikawa, 2009 – Japan Inermocoelotes Ovtchinnikov, 1999 – Europe Iwogumoa Kishida, 1955 – Eastern Asia, Russia Jishiyu Lin & Li, 2023 – China Kidugua Lehtinen, 1967 – DR Congo Lagunella Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2017 – Mexico Leptocoelotes Wang, 2002 – China, Taiwan Lineacoelotes Xu, Li & Wang, 2008 – China Longicoelotes Wang, 2002 – China, Japan Lycosoides Lucas, 1846 – Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Jordan, Canary Islands, Southern Europe Mahura Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Maimuna Lehtinen, 1967 – Western Asia, Europe Malthonica Simon, 1898 – Kenya, Greece, Portugal Melpomene O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898 – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Mexico, United States Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967 – Africa Namagelena Haddad, Zamani & Marusik, 2026 – South Africa Neorepukia Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Neotegenaria Roth, 1967 – Guyana Neowadotes Alayón, 1995 – Hispaniola Nesiocoelotes Okumura & Zhao, 2022 – Japan Notiocoelotes Wang, Xu & Li, 2008 – China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam Notoagelena Tanikawa, Into & Petcharad, 2025 – Thailand Novalena Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942 – North America Nuconarius Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2018 – China Olorunia Lehtinen, 1967 – Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana, South Africa Oramia Forster, 1964 – Australia, New Zealand Oramiella Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Orumcekia Koçak & Kemal, 2008 – China, Thailand, Vietnam Papiliocoelotes Zhao & Li, 2016 – China Paramyro Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Persilena Zamani & Marusik, 2020 – Iran Persiscape Zamani & Marusik, 2020 – Western Asia, Greece Pireneitega Kishida, 1955 – Asia, Russia, Andorra, Italy, Spain, France Platocoelotes Wang, 2002 – China, Japan Porotaka Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Pseudotegenaria Caporiacco, 1934 – Libya Robusticoelotes Wang, 2002 – China Rothilena Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2013 – Mexico Rualena Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942 – Mexico, United States Sinocoelotes Zhao & Li, 2016 – China, Thailand, Vietnam Sinodraconarius Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2018 – China Spiricoelotes Wang, 2002 – China, Japan Tamgrinia Lehtinen, 1967 – China, India Tararua Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Tegecoelotes Ovtchinnikov, 1999 – China?, Japan, Korea, Russia Tegenaria Latreille, 1804 – Worldwide Textrix Sundevall, 1833 – Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Turkey, Europe Tikaderia Lehtinen, 1967 – Himalayas Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992 – China Tortolena Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941 – Costa Rica, Mexico, United States Troglocoelotes Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2019 – China Tuapoka Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand Urocoras Ovtchinnikov, 1999 – Europe Vappolotes Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2019 – China Wadotes Chamberlin, 1925 – North America Yunguirius B. Li, Zhao & S. Q. Li, 2023 – China

A number of fossil species are known from Eocene aged Baltic amber, but their exact relationship with extant members of the clade is unclear.

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