If you live in the Southern United States, like Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana, you may have come across a Southern house spider.
These crevice spiders are known for their large size, long legs, and dark coloring, which often leads to them being confused with more dangerous species of spiders like the brown recluse spiders. Their presence around man-made structures can make homeowners uneasy.
But should you be worried?
Key Takeaways
- Southern house spiders are not poisonous because their venom is too weak to hurt humans.
- These spiders look like brown recluses, black widows, wolf spiders, and cellar spiders but are not dangerous.
- Southern house spiders hide in their webs, while other common spiders may hunt or have stronger venom.
- Professional pest control companies can help remove spiders and prevent them from coming back.
SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT SOUTHERN HOUSE SPIDER BITES?
The simple answer is no—Southern house spiders are not dangerous to humans. While they do have venom, it’s not strong enough to puncture deeply into human skin.
A spider bite might cause mild irritation, but it’s nothing like the effects of a brown recluse bite or a black widow envenomation. These spiders aren’t aggressive, and they don’t bite unless provoked.
If you think you’ve spotted a small tarantula in your home, take a closer look.
It might actually be a male Southern house spider searching for a mate. While males tend to wander, female Southern house spiders stay hidden in their webs and are rarely seen.
Even if you do get bitten, the effects are minimal, and there’s no real danger.
SPECIES COMMONLY MISTAKEN FOR SOUTHERN HOUSE SPIDERS
Southern house spiders are also known as crevice weavers because they hide in tight spaces. They spin cobwebs in windowsills, overhangs, tree bark, and other undisturbed areas. Due to their dark color, long legs, and large size, they are often mistaken for more concerning spider species.
Here are a few common lookalikes, and how to tell them apart:
Brown Recluse Spider
The brown recluse spider is a true concern for homeowners, as its bite can cause necrotic wounds. It is much smaller than a Southern house spider, usually growing only to about the size of a quarter, including its leg span.
The easiest way to identify this venomous spider is by looking for the violin-shaped mark on its cephalothorax. Unlike Southern house spiders, they have a smooth, uniform body without hair.
Black Widow Spider
Another widow spider commonly found in North America is the black widow. These spiders are instantly recognizable due to their shiny black bodies and the red hourglass marking on their abdomen.
Unlike Southern house spiders, they prefer to build their webs in undisturbed habitats, such as basements, garages, and outdoor sheds.
Their venom is potent enough to cause serious symptoms, so if you suspect a widow spider infestation, it’s best to contact pest control professionals.
Wolf Spiders
Like Southern house spiders, wolf spiders are often seen scurrying across floors and walls. However, they are hunters that do not build webs to catch prey. They are usually bulkier, have excellent eyesight, and carry their spiderlings on their backs.
A quick way to differentiate them from Southern house spiders is by their eye arrangement—they have two large eyes in the front, whereas Southern house spiders have smaller, less noticeable eyes.
Cellar Spiders
Commonly known as “daddy longlegs,” cellar spiders are another species of spiders that homeowners frequently mistake for Southern house spiders. They are much more delicate in appearance, with thin legs and a tiny body.
Unlike Southern house spiders, which build cobwebs in hidden spaces, they often hang upside down in their webs, waiting for prey.
Take Back Your Home from Unwanted Spiders
Even though Southern house spiders can be unsettling with their large size and long legs, they’re not dangerous to you or your family. In fact, they help keep other pests like cockroaches and flies in check.
That said, we know that having too many spiders around—especially inside your home—can be a problem.
That’s where we come in.
At LaJaunie’s Pest Control, we offer professional spider control to keep your home free of unwanted arachnids.
Our team is trained to identify spider infestations, remove spiders and egg sacs, and treat man-made structures like attics, garages, and basements where spiders like to hide. We also provide ongoing pest control to reduce their food source, making your home less inviting to all types of spiders.
If you’re tired of seeing cobwebs in your windowsills or crevices, give us a call.