Black House Spider
Badumna insignis
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Desidae
- Size
- Females typically 10-18 mm; males 8-10 mm.
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.