Agelenopsis, American grass spiders, are a genus of spiders that can be found around the world and in every US state. They are some of the fastest spiders in the United States and can be fun just to watch if you can trigger the web right.
Using a long piece of a weed or grass, try tickling the web as a bug would, if it was struggling across the web. If you do it right, the Grass Spider will run out with lightning speed, looking for a meal.
Then again, if you don’t mind seeing it, you can always throw a bug in its web.
Quick Overview: Agelenopsis – American Grass Spider
Medically significant: No
Body size: 3/4 inch (19 mm)
Main colors: brown, black
Range: Throughout the United States
Web: Funnel-shaped web
Agelenopsis Description
The abdomen is oblong, with long spinnerets at the end. Most species of the American Grass Spider have a pattern of stripes running from front to back. On the abdomen, there are often two white stripes, which are broken into many sections. The Cephalothorax on the other hand, has the lighter stripe running down the middle, dividing two dark stripes.

The grass spider is often confused with some similar looking species of the wolf spider or the American Nursery web spider.
Size
The bodies will grow to 3/4” (19 mm) from front to back, and approximately 1 ½” (38 mm) including the legs.
Web
They always spin their webs horizontally, creating a thick floor, which will feed into a funnel at one end. The spider hides in the funnel section, waiting for its next meal to crawl upon its web. However, the webs are not the sticky kind, which are used to trap prey. Instead, they trigger vibrations on the web, which the spider feels. The Grass Spider then uses its speed to charge and attack its prey.

Grass spider bites
The Grass Spider is considered quite harmless to humans. They stay in their webs and do not venture out unless forced to do so. A bite can cause some local swelling, redness and itchiness but is not dangerous.

Agelenopsis Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Agelenidae
- Genus: Agelenopsis
Other common names
The Grass Spider is also known as the American funnel-web spider or funnel weaver. It is not to be confused with the Funnel Web Spider, which is a very dangerous spider in Australia. To limit confusion, we strictly stick to the name American grass spider or grass spider.
Distribution of the American grass spider in the USA

Various species of the American grass spider can be found throughout the United States – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
This spider was found in my sons house that he rents in Withee Wisconsin.
I did not see it in person.
Wondering what kind it is. Thanks
Hello Lisa,
Thanks for getting in touch. It’s hard to make a 100% ID off this image alone but I am fairly certain that this is an American grass spider: http://usaspiders.com/agelenopsis-american-grass-spider/
It’s not a medically significant spider and poses no threat to humans or pets (and there isn’t a similar looking species in your area that is medically significant either).
Best regards
USAspiders
Did I identify this correctly? This is a Grass spider right?
PS: Plesse delete my first comment. I uploaded the less focused of my photos. Here is the right one.
Hello Gabriel,
Yes, correct. This is a grass spider. Thanks for uploading this picture.
there are several of these in the new home I am renting can you help me identify?
Hello Jess, this is an American grass spider. You were spot on with your guess.
Sioux Falls SD. Found dead on my garage stairs.
[email protected]
Hello Teresa,
This is an American grass spider that appears gravid (and dead). The spider is harmless. You can read more about it here: http://usaspiders.com/agelenopsis-american-grass-spider/
Found this guy on my wood pile outside. Hopefully its just a grass spider?
Hello Kalie,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, this is definitely a harmless grass spider.