Question
This just happened this past week .....I walked outside to see spider webs all over my lawn...How do I get rid of these..Does this have something to do with how hot this is now? I have a sugar maple in my front yard which keeps my front yard fairly shady...

Answer
These are called funnel spiders, (Family Agelenidae) are small to medium sized spiders often found in grassy fields or living among leaf litter in forests. Grass Spider" is a name used for the common funnel weaver spiders that build their webs in lawns and grassy fields. In many species, the second pair of spinnerets are twice the length of the first pair. They spin sheet webs of nonsticky silk with a characteristic funnel extending off to one side. The funnel is where the spider hides while awaiting prey. There is a 3-dimensional barrier web spun above the sheet web, and when a prey item falls through onto the sheet web, the spider quickly runs out and bites its victim, then drags it back to the funnel to feed. These sheet webs are nearly invisible unless covered with dewdrops on a cool morning, and the spider can move very quickly over the surface. It almost looks as if the spider is walking on air.

Funnel weaver and grass spiders are beneficial predators.  They very rarely leave their webs, so they don't often enter homes.  They will only bite if provoked, and are not considered dangerous.

MYTHS - LEGENDS - FOLKLORE

An old saying about grass spiders: when there is dew on thier webs in the lawn in the morning, it will be a beautiful day.  


These will not harm anyone and do eat insects in the lawn. There is no need to treat for these spiders outside.