Male Southern House Spiders Look Like Brown Recluses

The southern house spider, and more specifically the male southern house spider, is often mistaken as a brown recluse spider. Due to the male’s body shape and size they greatly resemble a brown recluse. However, their habits are much different. Eagle Pest Services will go into detail about the southern house spider and their habits that help separate them from the brown recluse spider.

Spider Webs

One of the major behavioral patterns that help distinguish a southern house spider from a brown recluse spider is the fact that the southern house spider will build its web in high places, and typically in the cracks and crevices in homes, garages and sheds. The brown recluse spider prefers to hide in dark places. The southern house spider will also spin their webs outside in plants and vegetation as well. Their webs resemble nets in which to catch their prey. Nevertheless, unlike most webs that capture prey by its sticky surface the southern house spider webs are fluffy and tangles their prey. Their webs do have a funnel and the center of the funnel is where the southern house spider will retreat during the day. Female southern house spiders will incase their eggs and hide them in her funnel until they hatch. The females can have up to 200 eggs and they can reproduce all year long if the conditions remain suitable. A southern house spider can live up to eight years and when they are born, the spiderlings remain together. They are considered social as they help each other and even feed together until they reach maturity.

Female Southern House Spiders

Female southern house spiders are much easier to identify than the males. The females have a rounder and more robust abdomen and is light brown in color. On the other hand, their thorax is a dark brown to almost black color. The top of their legs are white, while the rest of the legs are brown or black. Their body is covered with tiny hairs which make them look as if they are almost covered with velvet. The male southern house spider has the same velvety body but their whole body is one solid color typically a light tan color. They too have robust legs with an oval thin looking abdomen that is similar in shape of that of a brown recluse.

Southern House Spider Bites

The southern house spider will eat any other insect that they can over power, or capture. They typically keep to themselves and are not considered an aggressive species of spider. They have no problem entering homes and once inside, they make messy webs everywhere. They are not known to be toxic or venomous. However they are a rather large species of spider so if provoked, their bites can hurt. There are also those who may be allergic to their bite. Therefore if you are bitten and feel any symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should seek medical aid.

Spider Control

To prevent southern house spiders from entering your home, it helps to spray pesticide both in and outside your home. In addition, you should make sure the window screens are secured and that the weather stripping around the doors are in good condition. If you’re having a major spider problem or a problem with any other pest invading your home or business, Eagle Pest Services can help maintain a pest control program to fit your needs. Contact Eagle Pest Services today to be spider free.