Grass spiders (Agelenopsis) are native to North America and commonly spotted on lawns or inside homes.
According to Extension.psu.edu, they are seen in homes more often in August than at other times of the year because seek refuge from the dropping temperatures.
Most of the time, their webs are seen before they are because of their funnel-weaving abilities. On Planetnatural.com, it says they are usually in the tunnel of their webs to keep a lookout for insects.
When their prey walks on their web, the spiders can feel the vibration, rush out from their tunnel, and feast on their prey.
As stated on Westernexterminator.com, only female grass spiders construct webs and make a white sac of spiderling eggs around late summer or fall.
Female spiders usually die after creating their eggs and as the cold approaches, their eggs stay intact throughout the winter and hatch in the springtime.
Male spiders are more nomadic, search for mates for most of their lives, and die shortly after mating. Their lifespans are short, living roughly a year.
Though grass spiders bite and are poisonous, biting is rare.
Michepestcontrol.com explains that grass spider poison has been adapted over time to immobilize and digest small insects.
If they happen to bite someone, symptoms would be mild: swelling, redness, and itching. The symptoms can be treated with basic first aid and are usually over in 10 days. Most bites do not inhibit regular activities, so students can resume participating in clubs and sports.
Grass spiders help control insect populations and stabilize ecosystems all over America.