Southern House Spider

Actual Size: 13 mm to 19 mm

Characteristics:

Males are brown or amber.
Females are black, or charcoal and look like small tarantulas.

Habitat: Constructs webs at higher elevations around cracks and crevices on the exterior of homes, barns, and other structures. Will also spin webs in outdoor vegetation.

Habits:

Sometimes referred to as the crevice spider.
Looks similar to brown recluse, but their venom is not toxic.
Has an unnerving tendency to crawl across anything in their path, including human skin.

Southern House Spiders in Louisiana

Southern house spiders, sometimes referred to as crevice spiders, are common in Louisiana. Males have eight eyes squeezed together, and females are velvety black and look more like small tarantulas. They are frequently mistaken for brown recluse spiders.

Southern House Spider Habitat

The southern house spider is partial to spaces within the masonry of buildings; especially dark recesses of window sills, shutters, and overhangs. Females and juveniles make specialized webs that are occasionally found under tree bark but are frequently seen on houses, barns, bridges, and other man-made structures.

Southern house spiders will build webs in high places, and typically in the cracks and crevices of homes, garages, and sheds. These spiders will also spin their webs outside, in plants, cactus, and vegetation. The webs of this spider are flat and tangled, having a woolly texture.

Southern House Spider Behaviors

Southern house spiders have an unnerving tendency to crawl across anything in their path. Male southern house spiders sometimes appear aggressive, but they do not bite unless trapped and their mouthparts are too small to easily penetrate human skin. The southern house spider can be a particular pest during the winter, building up populations in unkept areas of houses, outbuildings, warehouses, and similar structures in addition to outdoor habitats.

Are Southern House Spiders Poisonous?

Southern house spiders are venomous – not poisonous. But don’t worry, their venom is weak. If a southern house spider bites you, you may experience some pain similar to a bee sting. You should feel better in a day or two.

Are Southern House Spiders Harmful?

Not really. Most southern house spider bites are the result of accidental contact, such as when a spider crawls into clothing and then gets pressed against skin. These spiders are mostly frightened of humans and retreat if they feel threatened.

Southern house spiders are not harmful unless you’re a pest. If you don’t mind the presence of spiders, having a few around can actually be a good thing. Southern house spiders enjoy eating pests that are much more annoying like flies and ants.

What is the Difference Between a Brown Recluse and a House Spider?

There is a huge difference between brown recluses and southern house spiders, but sometimes it can be hard to tell. They have similar brown coloring and they’re similar sizes, but brown recluses are much more dangerous than house spiders. Brown recluse spiders have extremely potent venom and their bites are considered medically significant.

Many harmless house spiders are killed in the belief that they’re the much more dangerous brown recluse, but there’s an easy way to tell the difference. Brown recluses have a telltale violin marking on their back.

How Big Can Southern House Spiders Get?

Most house spiders you see can get as big as about the size of a quarter, but very rarely you will run into a huge one. Yes, they can get quite big sometimes. If you run into one of these, it means it’s been eating plenty of pests that would have otherwise been bothering you.