They have a natural range extending from Scandinavia to North Africa and from Europe to Korea; there are also transplanted populations as far apart as Japan and Madagascar.

The young spiders are, after several instars (and in contrast to the adults), strongly attracted to light[2]—probably an evolutionary adaptation which ensures the spread of the species to new areas (see Life cycle for further details).

On the other hand, the two species seems to exhibit different tolerance to the microclimatic variations within the cave, which emerged as the main factors determining the differentiation of their niche.

Egg sacs are tear-shaped white pendants (sometimes with a slightly yellow centre) usually hanging from the roof of the habitat by a silk thread approximately 20 mm long.

[5][7] A media frenzy was caused when British Telecom engineers working in the grounds of Windsor Castle discovered a colony living in conduits and manholes.