The Agelenidae are a large family of spiders in the suborder Araneomorphae. Well-known examples include the common "grass spiders" of the genus Agelenopsis. Nearly all Agelenidae are harmless to humans, but the bite of the hobo spider may be medically significant, and some evidence suggests it might cause necrotic lesions, but the matter remains subject to debate. The most widely accepted common name for members of the family is funnel weaver.
Image: Grass spider (Agelenopsis naevia)
Image: Tegenaria agrestis 070903
Female Agelena labyrinthica in her web funnel in Belgium.
female E. atrica at the mouth of her retreat
The Araneomorphae are an infraorder of spiders. They are distinguishable by chelicerae (fangs) that point diagonally forward and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae, where they point straight down. Araneomorphs comprise the vast majority of living spiders.
Araneomorphae
This Atrax robustus shows the orientation of Myglamorphae fangs.
This Cheiracanthium punctorium shows the orientation of Araneomorphae fangs.