Black House Spider

Badumna Insignis

Appearance

• This species is a robust spider, 1-1.5cm in body length
• Carapace and legs are dark brown to black and the abdomen is charcoal grey. The dorsal pattern of white marking is sometimes indistinct.

Lifecycle

• The female constructs several white silk eggs sacs, which are secured within the web retreat. The female stays with the eggs until they hatch. The spider lings then disperse
• The spiders mature during the summertime and live for about two years

Habits

• Black house spider webs form untidy, lacy sheets with funnel like entrances. They are found on tree trunks, logs, rock walls, and buildings (also in window frames and crevices)
• Commonly also found in urban areas, Black House Spiders also build webs in dark corners of windows, veranda’s, sheds of fences
• The female spider never leaves her web unless forced to, but keeps on repairing it – old webs can look grey and woolly from the constant additions of silk
• Poisonous but no fatalities