Tegenaria gigantea is probably not present as resident populations in Cornwall. All the specimens of Tegenaria 'gigantea' I have checked were Tegenaria saeva. Tegenaria gigantea has a pronounced easterly bias to its distribution in Britain. It is possible that Tegenaria gigantea could temporarily become established in Cornwall by importation (e.g. by holidaymakers, or in furniture of people moving to the county), but these populations are likely to hybridise with local Tegenaria saeva and eventually die out. There is molecular evidence supporting this eventuality from other parts of the UK.

Back to the Checklist