Black House Spider

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in and around human dwellings. They build messy, funnel-shaped webs in crevices, corners of windows, doorways, sheds, and under bark.

Diet & Feeding

Preys on a variety of insects that get caught in its web, including flies, mosquitoes, moths, and other small invertebrates.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal hunters, they wait in their funnel retreat for prey to become entangled in the web. They are generally shy and non-aggressive, preferring to retreat when disturbed. Females are known to live for several years, while males have a shorter lifespan.

Risks & Benefits

Potential Risk: The bite of a Black House Spider can be painful, causing localized swelling, redness, and nausea, sweating, and headache in some sensitive individuals. It is not considered life-threatening. Benefit: They help control populations of various insect pests around homes.

Identified on: 11/20/2025