Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2141593
Black Laceweaver
Amaurobius feroxAlso known as Black Lace-weaver, Lace Webbed Spider, Black Amaurobiid Spider
Black laceweavers construct woolly, bluish silk retreats under rotting logs, stone foundations, and in dark basements. Females demonstrate extreme maternal care, luring spiderlings to consume unfertilized eggs before ultimately allowing the young to consume her body in a process called matriphagy. Mature males wander actively in autumn searching for females, often bringing them into human habitations.
NocturnalSubsocialSilk Weaver
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Woodlice
- Beetles
- Flies
Predators
- Centipedes
- Ground beetles
- Birds
ThreatsHabitat disruption and indoor pesticide application
HabitatsWoodlands, dark cellars, stone walls, beneath logs, and bark crevices
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyAmaurobiidae
- GenusAmaurobius
- SpeciesAmaurobius ferox
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a painful defensive bite if cornered; capture gently in a container if relocating.
- Why it is dangerous
- Delivers a painful bite with localized swelling and irritation when squeezed, handled directly, or pressed against skin.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a stocky, dark brown to black spider with a pale, lace-like mark on its broad abdomen.
- What to do
- Transfer indoor wanderers using a glass cup and card rather than handling directly.
Responsible observation
- Finding Retreats: Look along old stone walls, foundations, and wood piles at night using a soft flashlight.
- Relocating Indoors: Scoop wandering spiders into a cup with a sheet of card to move them outside safely.
Competitor (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Tone Killick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tone Killick · cc-by
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