Southern House Spider
Kukulcania hibernalis
Southern House Spiders are shy crevice weavers that remove household insects and are often mistaken for brown recluses.
These spiders live in cracks around siding, shutters, soffits, masonry, sheds, and tree bark.
Females remain near woolly silk retreats while slender males wander in search of mates.
Habitat:
Urban and Residential Areas, Forests and Woodlands
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Moths, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, roaches, and other insects.
Behavior:
Females wait in crevices and rush out when web vibrations signal prey. Males wander mainly at night.
Night
Active Times:
Best time to see:
After dark around exterior cracks, sheds, garages, tree bark, and porch lights.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Common and secure throughout Florida and the Southeast.
Safety Level:
Low Risk
Safety Information:
Avoid bare-hand contact. Wash any bite and seek help for severe pain, swelling, breathing trouble, or allergy.
Benefits to Property:
They remove many flying and crawling insects without chemical treatment.
Property Concerns:
Webbing collects dust around cracks and eaves. Seal entry points and brush away old webs.
Fun Fact:
Woolly silk traps insects mechanically without sticky glue droplets.
Wildlife Laws:
Follow pesticide labels and avoid unnecessary exposure to people, pets, pollinators, and other wildlife.
Identification:
Females are robust, dark, and velvety. Males are slimmer and tan with long legs. Fuzzy silk radiates from a tube retreat.