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Spider Photos - Southern House Spiders

The Southern House Spider, Kukulcania (Filistata) hibernalis Hentz, is a conspicuous arachnid  due to its relatively large size and distinctive flat, tangled web. It is common throughout Florida and much of the southern United States in human populated areas. Females are rarely seen and don't venture far from their web. The females are dark brown or black and more compact. Both sexes may grow to be roughly two inches across (legs extended), with the males typically having longer legs, and the females often having larger, bulbous bodies. The abdomen of the southern house spider is covered with fine velvety light grey hair. Males of this species are often mistaken for the notorious Brown Recluse Spider, Loxosceles reclusa because of their colour and general shape. Males wander in search of a mate and will crawl over anything not because they are aggressive but because they are nearly blind! Southern House Spiders are not known to have a dangerous bite. However, two reported bite cases caused the victims pain and swelling for a few days.  Here's some photos sent in by viewers.

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Unidentified Spiders 2008 (1) Unidentified Spiders 2008 (2) Unidentified Spiders 2007 (1)
Unidentified Spiders 2007 (2) Unidentified Spiders 2007 (3) Unidentified Spiders 2006 (1)
Unidentified Spiders 2006 (2) Unidentified Spiders 2006 (3) Unidentified Spiders 2005 (1)
Unidentified Spiders 2005 (2) Unidentified Spiders 2005 (3) Unidentified Spiders 2004 (1)
Unidentified Spiders 2004 (2) Unidentified Spiders 2003 Unidentified Spiders 2002
Unidentified Spiders 2001 Spiders in Amber Closeups
Ant Mimicking Spiders  Argiopes/St. Andrew's Cross Black House Spider
Brown Recluse Spiders Crab Spiders Daddy Long Legs
Fishing Spiders Funnel Web (Aus) Garden Orb Weavers
Golden Orb Weavers Grass spiders/Funnel Weavers Hobo Spiders
Huntsman Spiders Jewelled Spiders Jumping Spiders
Leaf Curling Spiders Long Jawed Orb Weavers Lynx Spiders
Marbled Orb Weavers Mouse Spiders Mygalomorphs
Nursery Web Spiders Parson Spider Redback/Black Widow
Solfugids/Camel Spiders Southern House Spider Spined Micarathena
Spitting Spider Steadota Tailless Whip Scorpions
Tarantulas Trapdoor Spiders Venusta Orchard Spiders
Wandering Spiders Wolf Spiders Woodlouse Hunters
Yellow & Broad faced Sac Spiders    

SOUTHERN HOUSE SPIDERS

5 August,  2008:
Hi Glen, Here are some pictures of a female Southern House Spider that was in my grandmother's living room. Feel free to use them if you want. --Damy

...
Reply: This looks like a Southern House Spider.

29 July,  2008:
hello... What is this monster? (black one in pics. I attached) It was in the tin roof of the school i work at! They won't let me kill all the Brown widows there, (schools won't allow toxic sprays) and there are hundreds under the soffit/ ceiling of overhang, but when I show them this one, I'm sure the'll change their mind and spray the cracks in the roof!

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Reply: This looks like a male Southern House Spider.

22 July,  2008:
So me and my boyfriend have been about an hour outside of gainesville in Bell florida (which is in the middle of the woods) and we have been getting mammoth spiders! Please help us tell who they are and if they are harmful!

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Reply: This is a female Southern House Spider.

10 July, 2008:
So me and my boyfriend have been about an hour outside of gainesville in Bell florida (which is in the middle of the woods) and we have been getting mammoth spiders! Please help us tell who they are and if they are harmful!

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Reply: This looks like a female Southern House Spider.

10 July, 2008:
I found this spider in my garage, and like a lot of people are deathly afraid of them! Of course he disappeared shortly after (while I was getting the kids out of the garage and getting all the toys so they would go play) So this makes me even more nervous! I know it is not the best picture, but any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! Pearland, Texas (suburb of Houston) Angie

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Reply: This looks like a female Southern House Spider.

22 June, 2008:
I got bit this morning by a spider. It hurt like he&%. There was a photo of it on your website from someone else but I couldn't see where you had identified it?

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Reply: This is a female Southern House Spider.

10 June, 2008:
I found this spider in a cardboard shipping box. It frightened me beyond description. I would really like to know what it is. Yes, thanks me recoiling in the background while my brave husband takes pictures of the scarey thing. It was not harmed, but it was relocated very far away from my place of work.

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Reply: This photo is a good example of why many people get these male southern house spiders confused with brown recluse. Note though that it has longer front legs and nor distinct violin shape like the brown recluse has.

24 May, 2008:
Hi Glen, Hoping you could help me ID this spider. I live in Cleveland, OH. Found this in my house. I have no clue what kind of spider it is, but someone mentioned Brown Recluse. Please help.

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5 May, 2008:
Hello, Came across your website and was wondering if you could identify this spider I found in my warehouse today. I live in Daytona Beach, FL. Is this a Brown Recluse? Thank you in advance and look forward to your reply! Have a great day! Tim

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30 April, 2008:
Hi Glen, I am pretty sure this was a male Southern House Spider, as I got a chance to observe it's mating practices the other night. I even took a length video I plan to upload to youtube eventually. The males could be observed crawling haphazardly about the brick wall, feeling for the ends of the females' webs. When he would locate a web, he'd follow it to the the crevice it led to, and feel inside with his front legs for a female. I saw one male actually make contact with a female. When he felt inside a mortar joint for a female, she popped out and then quickly back in. The male followed her. He emerged again a few minutes later. Very cool to watch. You can use the pictures if you want.  --Damy

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16 March, 2008:
Hi Glen, I just saw this little guy with his girlfriend over my living room curtain. He lured out a big female I didn't even know was there. I couldn't get pictures of them together, as the female retreated as soon as I got too close. But I did capture the male and managed a good shot or two. During this ordeal though, I've lost all trust in my Samsung S730 camera. It bugged out and deleted a whole day's worth of material, including some shots I had taken of the male spider while he was on the wall. I had to format the memory card. Very frustrating. Anyway, here are the pics I did get. Feel free to use them, of course. Oh, and I just have to say that from looking in detail at this spider, and the great photos of Brown Recluses on your page, I can see how some people (including me) could mistake a Male Southern House for a Brown Recluse. If I'd not seen him courting a female Southern House Spider, I would have probably panicked.--Damy 

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10 April, 2008:
Hello Glen, This spider was found up in the rafters of our barracks building. Would mind telling me what it is? You may post it to your web site if you'd like. Thank you, SK1 Bekki Koci, U.S. Coast Guard ARSC Elizabeth City, NC

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16 March, 2008:
Hi Glen, I just saw this little guy with his girlfriend over my living room curtain. He lured out a big female I didn't even know was there. I couldn't get pictures of them together, as the female retreated as soon as I got too close. But I did capture the male and managed a good shot or two. During this ordeal though, I've lost all trust in my Samsung S730 camera. It bugged out and deleted a whole day's worth of material, including some shots I had taken of the male spider while he was on the wall. I had to format the memory card. Very frustrating. Anyway, here are the pics I did get. Feel free to use them, of course. Oh, and I just have to say that from looking in detail at this spider, and the great photos of Brown Recluses on your page, I can see how some people (including me) could mistake a Male Southern House for a Brown Recluse. If I'd not seen him courting a female Southern House Spider, I would have probably panicked.--Damy 

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4 March, 2008:
Hi Glen, I know I'm bogging you down with Spitting Spider and Southern House spider photos, but I just had to let you see this monster Southern House Spider in my grandmother's basement. I had to go down there with only a tiny flashlight to get these Southern House Spiders, and some very large Steadota that are extremely sensitive to light. You really have to take the pictures quick once you get the light on them. I have 2 more .zip folders with Southern House Spider pics on the way, then that's all for now. Feel free to use them as always if you want --Damy

These photos aren't the best ever, but I thought you might like to see them anyway. You can at least see that this little Southern House Spider was moulting. I've been tracking the progress of this one, and this seems to be the first time it's moulted. I've noticed that Southern House Spiders grow fast and moult often. All the webs around here have at least a couple dried skins in them at any given time. Damy

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7 February, 2008:
Hi Glen, I have attached two photos of a super-tiny spider that I found crawling on my leg tonight. It looks just like the big Southern House Spiders that fill every crevice in my grandmother's house. The photos make this spider look big, but he was very, very tiny! I estimate about 4.5 millimeters for the legspan. You can actually see the threads in my blue jeans in the photos. Feel free to use these photos if you want.  
Thanks, Damy,

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4 February, 2008:
I think this is a female Southern House Spider. Bullhorn

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Reply: Southern house spiders live in the darker areas of the home and the females rarely move far from their web. Obviously they have been disturbed by the water leak. I couldn't say how many of them there are there but they are not a dangerous spider and will probably settle down once the hole has been filled back in.
5 January, 2008:
Hello, I hope you can help with this problem. In a rental condo on the coast we saw many black spiders and they have been identified as kukulcania filistatid. When a water leak in the ceiling caused a hole these spiders crawled out. Do they live in the walls (framing) and would there be many of them in the home? Thank you, Barbara
 

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22 November, 2007:
Please help….I have hundreds of these in my home with my small children present. Can you identify and let me know what you think. I do not think it is a recluse, but I am not positive. Thanks soooo much for your help!!! Pictures are attached.
Andy,

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8 September, 2007:
I have these kinds of spiders all over and in my house. I was wanting to know what kind they are because I am going to have a baby.If you know what kind of spider it is and if they are dangerous please let me know. birdee22088@yahoo.com
Thank you.

 
Click for a larger view.

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Another reply from Becky: These are very common spiders here in Florida where I live. They are both southern house spiders. The lighter coloured one is the male, the darker one is female. Hope this helps some. Love your site.

Reply: The dark one looks like a Southern House Spider, not sure of the other one.

24 August 2007:
They were not fighting each other. they look completely opposite but they were being very friendly to each other. i even took a video of them but the file might be too big for this email. i dunno. anyway let me know so next time i step onto the steps with no shoes ill know hat to do. thanks. -erin

...

14 August, 2007:
Hi there I live in mesa Arizona. VERY HOT Very dry. Under my patio cover in the back yard I found this guy he’s pretty big. The diameter of the hole in his web is approx. a little larger then a half dollar. It hangs out only at night and doesn’t travel far gets scared when a lot of noise or light stays on. I Hope you can identify it. Here are some pics of FREDDY (we named it after Freddy Kruger) Thanks

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30 July, 2007:

I live in florida (tampa bay area) i'm really curious what kind of spider this is.I found it outside on the over hang of the roof this afternoon.It kinda looks like the black house spider even the web looks to me like a funnel from what i could see. I know nothing about spiders,i've just been looking arond your site for some info.cool site by the way.so if you could help out? Thanks Jill

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24 July, 2007:

Hello, Can you please tell me what you think when you see this spider. We saw it in our stairwell at 2 in the morning. Thank you! JL

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20 May, 2007:

Dear Glen, Here is a picture of a spider on my recreation patio in Las Vegas Nevada.
Any advice I would appreciate, I am worried if it is poisonous it may bite me or my small dogs. He only moves at night, and the web is very thick like a tube. Thanks in advance for any ideas on what he (she?) maybe is as far as species, and what measures could be taken that would be best for us and the spider. Best Wishes, Belita Adair

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29 September, 2006:

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27 August, 2006:
Hello Glen you helped me identify a type of Brown widow spider a short while ago. I live in Cape Coral Florida Perhaps you can help me with this one. I found a couple that look kind of similar but there too different types. I was sitting at my kitchen table and looked down and seen this guy 2 inches from my foot I about had a heart attack. I dont know how it could of got in my house being its so big! I thought my house was tighter than that. Thank you very much for any help on identifying John Gabriel

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26 August, 2006:
Glen, Thought you could use a couple photos of a Southern House Spider I ran across near my home in Georgia. I used a photo imaging software to zoom in on the head and body of the second photo. Once again, great site!! - Jason
Click for a larger view.

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13 July, 2006:
Can you help me identify this spider? We live in Gold Canyon, Arizona--40 east of Phoenix. There are actually 2 spiders living behind the frame of the door on the outside of our house. They've been there about 4 months or so and don't seem to bother anything. Everybody tells me to squish them dead but I believe they eat other bugs and scorpions...is that true? What would be the best way to handle these or should I just let them be? I do have an indoor cat but like I said inside the house nobody is bothered by them. Thanks!
Laura

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3 July, 2006:
Dear Glen, I am thankful for your website. It has been very informative on finding out what some of the spiders are around my place. I am a little confused as to what kinf of spider this one is though. I have included two photos. I hope they turn out clear enough. It measures two inches long. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciative. Thank you.
Sincerely, C. H. of NE Florida

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Reply: This is a Southern House Spider.

25 May, 2006:
Hi Glen, If anyone can help me identify this spider that would be great! I found him in my linnen closet in my home in Las Vegas, NV. It is about the size of a 50 cent piece coin.

Click for a larger view.

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25 May, 2006:
I found this on my house next to my door. The picture does not do it justice, it was very dark outside. The upper body and legs are more shiny, almost like glass and the bottom is fuzzy. About the size of a 50 cent piece. Anyway, do you know what it is? Thanks

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2 April, 2006:
Hi, tonight we found this spider crawling on our wall. Needless to say having a fear of spiders, this was NOT a welcome site in my home. We live in Virginia Beach, VA. PLEASE help us identify this spider. Thank you so much,  Weiss Family

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2 April, 2006:
 I have had Southern House Spiders ( I think ) living with my family. Unfortunately I can't be sure if it's a house spider or a brown recluse. The pictures I've seen of male and female recluses and house spiders are confusing. I have a two year old and would hate if she got bit because I like spiders. These webs are on every window pane in my house. Can you try and see what spider I have. The pictures suck, I'll try to get better ones. Thank You, Brooke

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17 March, 2006:
I love your spider site! Here are a couple of spider pics I took around my  house.
Porch_spider_031606.jpg: While preparing to paint my back porch, I  vacuumed up a neat, funnel-shaped web that I thought was
unoccupied. Shortly afterward, this spider crawled out from behind a beam
where the web had been. I assume she's some variety of Funnel Weaver, but
am not sure.

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25 Sept, 2005:
Found this little guy on our cardboard recycle bag in our garage. This is one of the bigger spiders I've seen up here. Most
are very small. Can you identify him? I've attached three pictures.

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24 August, 2005:
This spider has been living in my garage for about 6 months now. She always comes out at night. I think form your website it is a southern house spider.

thank you for any information!

Beth Hansen
Stuart Florida

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Reply: That is Kukulcania hibernalis, the southern house spider. It is not dangerous. Nathan Hepworth

18
June, 2005:
Hey, I was browsing your website and I hope I can get some insight as to what kind of spider this is. I moved into another apartment in my complex, and I've been catching these things (smaller ones INSIDE my apartment) for the last 2 months I've lived here. I'm terrified of them, but I also worry about if they're poisoness because my cats love to catch bugs, etc. From browsing, I think it's a brown recluse. This is the biggest one; it lives outside in a hole in the patio ceiling that some carpenter bees drilled out. You can see a very thick sticky web all the way around the hole. Oh, and it's about the size of an Eisenhower silver dollar if you have one. Huge to me.
p.s. I've been asking my complex if the apartments have been bug sprayed on schedule and they claim so. If this thing doesn't respond to pesticides, this might be why. :)

16 October, 2004:  
Glen - I live in Las Vegas, NV, USA. There are several of these in my garage - they're up to 2" in diameter, dark brown on black, hairy, kind of shy and very fragile. I think they have four large eyes. They seem to be nocturnal, as they hide a few minutes after I turn on my garage light or open the garage door. I have had them come in my house (seems more common now in the fall) - one crawled up the back of my couch and over my arm - scared the bejeezus out of me. In one of the pics you see another kind of spider - not sure what it is…some kind of funnel spider? Light brown/caramel colored…lots of those too. Not sure if the big dark one was trying to prey on it. Anyway, a little stress and these things curl up and die - I chased the one in the picture around with the Bic pen to get it to pose for a picture, and two days later it was dead, never leaving this corner. They like dark corners and are usually *near* irregular webs, but I never see them in one - in one of the pics it seems to be tangled up in some webbing. What are they? Thanks,  Brian

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Reply:
The photo donated by Barb on June 16, 2003 looks like a female Kukulcania hibernalis (southern house spider)
http://floridanature.org/species.asp?species=Kukulcania_hibernalis
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/spiders/southern_house_spider.htm
Josh Hillman, FloridaNature.org

16 June, 2003:
This is Lucy Legs, a filistid spider who lives in my bedroom window. These spiders use a unique web to trap prey, rather than sticky web, they comb the web into loops which catch unwary insects.
barb
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