Black house spiders are found in urban areas, building webs around window frames. It is this habit that gives them the common name of window spiders. These pests are often confused with funnel web spiders because of their similar look. Like funnel-web spiders, these spiders build elaborate, lacy webs with funnel-shaped entrances. The webs created by black house spiders are more funnel-like than those made by funnel web spiders.
About Black House Spiders
Belonging to the Desidae family, the black house spiders are dark robust creatures with grey hairs on their carapace. Male spiders are smaller than females, and both have carapaces and legs that are dark brown to black. In addition, their abdomen is charcoal grey, and their upper has white markings.
Black house spiders can be found across southern and eastern Australia. They are spotted by many on tree trunks, logs, rock walls, and buildings. In homes, these creatures can be found in window frames, wall crevices, etc. The juvenile spiders are usually exposed, but the adults, in most cases, acquire a secure retreat below a bark or deep crevice.
Life History Cycle of Black House Spiders
The female black house creates multiple white silk egg sacs that they keep securely within the web retreat. The female stays with her eggs until hatching, after which the spiderlings disperse. These tiny creatures mature during summertime and live for approximately two years.
Breeding Behaviours
The female black house never leaves her web until forced. They keep adding new layers of silk to their web; therefore, their old webs begin to look grey and woolly. Males, when they mature sexually, go to females in their webs. They pluck the web of the female to draw her attention. Once the male receives a response from the female, he inseminates her with the stored sperm in his palps. They may stay together for some days and may mate multiple times again.
Let Us Take Care of Black House Spider Removal from Your Property
Black house spiders are bad for your residential and commercial properties; therefore, their removal is essential. At Tom’s Pest Control Melbourne, we have an expert pest management team that can care for all your pest removal needs.
Be it a black house spider or any other annoying pest, we can design a customised pest removal plan for your property and implement it safely and effectively to get you the desired results.
Our services are prompt, professional, and affordable, so you shouldn’t hesitate to trust us with the job. We promise to use environment-friendly techniques and products to cause no harm to you or your surroundings. Once we complete the pest control job, we will share some hassle-free preventative strategies with you, so you can follow them to avoid the pests returning to your property.
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The key to success is managing all areas of pest control efficiently. No matter what your concern is, feel free to discuss it with us. Please speak to us today for immediate assistance
FAQs
Are Black House Spiders dangerous?
Black house spiders are timid and do not bite people often. If they do bite humans, they may cause intense pain and local swelling. In rare cases, a bite from a black house spider may cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sweating, and giddiness. If there are multiple bites by this spider, skin lesions may develop. It is recommended to use a cold pack to relieve local pain and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
How To Prevent Black House Spiders from Entering Your Property?
To prevent the black house spider from entering your home, you must seal all cracks, gaps and crevices that may serve as an entry point for them. In addition, you must use a vacuum or broom to remove other spiders, webs and their eggs to prevent these spiders from getting attracted to your home. It is also essential to ensure that spider food sources are kept to a minimum and that any harbourage sites are removed.
What do Black House Spiders Eat?
Black house spiders feed upon insects like moths, beetles, ants, flies, bees, and termites. These insects are found in many homes, so black house spiders enter residential properties to catch their prey.