Black House Spider

Badumna insignis

Family: Desidae  ID: Koch, 1872

Habitat and Biology
Commonly found around buildings in the corners of window frames and doors, in crevices of brickwork, under eaves, etc. In nature, they are found in holes in tree trunks, crevices in rocks, etc. The distinctive lacy web with funnels is sometimes confused with that of a funnel-web spider, but all species of funnel-web spiders found in Victoria build their retreats at or below ground level. The black house spider is a timid spider and will normally only venture from its retreat when prey is entangled in the web. The prey is then quickly seized and dragged back into the tube. Males wander at night during the mating period. After mating the female lays her silk-encased eggs within the tube. The maximum life span is around two years.

Colour
Male: Similar to female but often slightly paler.
Female: Cephalothorax and legs shiny black, abdomen duller black or grey-black.

Form
Robust, hairy spider with a typically blunt, square front end of the cephalothorax.

Body Length
Male: 10mm
Female: 20mm

Web type
Lacy sheet with one or two funnel-shaped entrances leading into a tubular retreat.

Bite
Because of its timid nature this spider rarely bites humans; however, the bite can cause general symptoms including nausea, sweating, localised pain and swelling.