Fun Black House Spider Facts For Kids

Are you ready to find out all about the most common spider, the black house spider?

Black house spiders are found in black and brown colors, either on trees with rough barks, on logs or in houses on window frames and door crevices. A female spider, at about 0.7 in (18 mm) long, is generally longer than a male, but the legs of a male black house spider are much longer, reaching up to 1.18 in (30 mm). Their body is black or gray, with a carapace and abdomen that have a soft, silky hair-like cover. They have white markings that form a dorsal pattern that is sometimes indistinguishable.

Females have a larger appetite and a larger stomach than their male counterparts. This spider is primarily found in woods and houses and it is mostly not dangerous, unlike some other spiders, but they still create a nuisance with their messy webs! It is also called the window spider, and its nearest cousin is the grey house spider.

This article is full of information about the black house spider, why don't you check our other articles on the darkling beetle and the puss moth too?

What type of animal is a black house spider?

The black house spider is a robust spider that forms webs with funnel-shaped structures.

What class of animal does a black house spider belong to?

The black house spider belongs to the class of Arachnida.

How many black house spiders are there in the world?

Though the exact black house spider population is unknown, it is estimated that there are about one million spiders per acre of land. This number could be three times higher in tropical regions of the earth!

Where does a black house spider live?

The typical black house spider habitat is found in the woods as they are often found on trees with rough bark, where they prey on trapped insects like ants, bees, and beetles. They are also found in our homes, in widow panes or in doorways and crevices of walls, where they form webs to trap insects that they want to catch as prey. They also live in locations where light sources are present, which attract smaller insects as food. Giant house spiders live in caves, dry forests, and under rocks too.

What is a black house spider's habitat?

Black house spiders are distributed across southern and eastern Australia, New Zealand, and some parts of Japan. They live in forests in tree trunks and logs as their natural habitats, but they can also be found in buildings, in wall crevices and doorways.

Who do black house spiders live with?

Black house spiders generally live solitary lives and do not show tolerance even to their offspring or mates.

How long does a black house spider live?

The life span of a black house spider is approximately two years.

How do they reproduce?

The female spider generally stays secured within the web and does not leave this home unless required. When ready to mate, males go in search of females and pick at their webs to get the female's attention. Once it gains confidence that the female is happy, it approaches the female spider. Both of them may stay together for several days and mate frequently. This is the only time these spiders stay together, in an otherwise solitary life. The female spider creates white silk egg sacs and stays in the web until they hatch. Once they hatch, each new small black house spider preys on small insects in the web left by the mother and sometimes go on to live in the web as they grow up.

What is their conservation status?

Their conservation status is not listed on the ICUN's Red List as they are presently abundant in the ecosystem.

What do black house spiders look like?

The black house spider is black or brown in color, and its abdomen is a charcoal gray color. They have white markings as a dorsal pattern that are sometimes very light in color. Their legs are dark brown, and the legs of a male spider are longer than those of a female.

How cute are they?

They are not particularly cute. In fact, they are creepy to many.

How do they communicate?

Black house spiders have not got a unique communication method. In general, spiders use vibrations, called seismic communications, for courting, warning rivals, and mimicking their prey to catch it. They also use scent-based communication. A male releases a specific scented substance to attract a female.

How big is a black house spider?

They are about 0.35- 1.18 in (9- 30 mm) in length and the male black house spider is smaller than the female.

How fast can black house spiders move?

Not much is known about the speed of a black house spider specifically, but spiders, in general, can move pretty fast. The fastest spider can move at a rate of almost 1.18 mph (1.89 kph).

How much does a black house spider weigh?

The weight of spiders varies significantly based on their size, these spiders weigh close to 0, reaching a maximum weight of 0.035274 oz (1 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for male and female black house spiders.

What would you call a baby black house spider?

Black house spider babies are called 'spiderlings'.

What do they eat?

The black house spider diet consists of ants, bees, beetles, and flies.

Are they harmful?

A black house spider bite contains venom, but their bites are not lethal. They do not bite frequently, but bites may cause nausea, vomiting, and it may also cause local swelling symptoms. Multiple bites may require medical attention.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, black house spiders make excellent pets for beginners as they are not aggressive unless touched by hand. They can be housed in a glass jar with a lid, but more than one spider in a jar is not advisable as they can be cannibalistic. The jar can have a small hole for air to pass through and they need food once or twice a week. As they feed on insects, their food can be obtained from pet shops or online. They also need water, but, instead of spraying the jar with water, a small cap full of water can simply be placed inside the jar.

Did you know...

Some trees are attacked by insects which peck the wood causing sap to flow out. Black house spiders are more attracted to these kinds of trees, as their sap attracts flies, bees, and ants, which they can prey on easily.

Grey house spiders are a related species that are also mildly venomous.

How do their webs work?

They make silky, lacy funnel-like webs that resemble the web of a funnel-web spider. Their webs are usually messy and are used to attract insects, but they are also used by males for courting, as a female rarely leaves her web. The silk in their web is very strong and some spiders produce silk that is five times stronger than steel of the same size!

How to get rid of black house spider?

Black house spiders can be physically removed from your home using broomsticks or vacuum cleaners. Gaps and crevices near window or door frames should also be closed to prevent them from re-entering. It is also important to prevent the accumulation of their prey near sources of light in the home as these can attract black house spiders to your home. Killing them is not required, as they can be smoothly moved out of the house. They play a role in their ecosystem's food chain by controlling levels of insects, so killing them is not a good option. Pest control agencies can also help to remove them.

Here at Kidadl, we have created lots of family-friendly animal facts for everyone! Learn more about other insects including the cicada killer wasp, or the click beetle.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Black house spider coloring pages.