Fauna
Arachnid

Southern House Spider

Kukulcania hibernalis

Also known as Crevice Spider, Southern Crevice Spider

Southern house spiders weave messy, woolly cribellate silk retreats in dark crevices, masonry gaps, and tree hollows across warm regions of the Americas. Females are robust and dark brown or charcoal, remaining inside a single chosen shelter for up to eight years. Males travel widely in search of mates during warm months, often entering human homes where their slender brownish bodies and long leg spans lead to mistaken identity.

NocturnalWeb-BuildingDimorphic
Southern House Spider reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCockroaches, Flies, Beetles
Predators
  • Mud dauber wasps
  • Lizards
  • Birds
ThreatsPesticide application, direct human persecution due to recluse confusion
HabitatsStructures, barns, masonry cracks, dark crevices, tree bark
Life spanFemales up to 8 years; males 1–2 years
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyFilistatidae
  3. GenusKukulcania
  4. SpeciesKukulcania hibernalis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans; may deliver a mild, non-toxic defensive bite only if pinched or crushed.
Responsible observation
  • Distinguishing Males: Look for long forward-pointing pedipalps and an absence of a violin pattern to rule out brown recluses.
  • Observing Webs: Shining a flashlight on dark wall crevices at night reveals their distinctive fuzzy silk webs.
  • Relocating Indoors: Use a glass jar and stiff paper to safely capture wandering males and move them outside.
Related species
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