Black House Spiders - All you need to know!

Last Updated: May 6, 2026

Gordon Reidy

spider control, Spider information

The black house spider, Badumna insignis, is one of the more common spiders found around Australian homes. Although their bite is quite painful, the main concern for homeowners is that they build unsightly, dense webs around windows, doors and eaves. Fortunately, this makes it very easy for the homeowner to carry out their own pest control treatment.

Black house spider bite

Black house spider bite symptoms

Black house spiders are actually quite timid and will often retreat into their web when disturbed. However, their bite can be quite painful and cause local swelling around the bite area. Nausea, vomiting and sweating has been recorded in a few cases. Although their webs have a funnel-web appearance, it’s important not to confuse the black house spider with a funnel web spider, as the treatment is different. Following a black house spider bite you should follow the standard spider bite first aid, rather than applying snake bite first aid which is required to deal with a funnel web spider bite.

Standard spider bite first aid:

The patient should sit down and try to relax
Clean the bite with water and disinfectant
Apply an ice pack to the bite area
If possible, collect the spider or take a picture for identification (if medical treatment is required)
If symptoms worsen seek medical attention

If you are unsure about spider identification, treat the bite as per a funnel-web spider or snake bite, and seek medical attention.

Medical Disclaimer: While we make every effort to make sure the information in this website is accurate and informative, the information does not take the place of professional or medical advice.

Black House Spider Identification

What do black house spiders look like?

Black house spiders are a charcoal / black colour, although the abdomen appears grey (sometimes brownish) with white markings. Their legs can be brown and black. Females can have a body of up to 18 mm long with a leg span of 30 mm. Males are noticeably smaller and slimmer. Their dense, obvious webs are a key identifying feature, if the spider cannot be located.

What’s the difference between a black house spider and funnel-web?

Black house spiders are sometimes confused with funnel-webs spiders, mainly due to their funnel-shaped web, but it is quite easy to tell the difference.

Black house spider:

Generally lives above ground level and builds webs above ground (under eaves, around windows)
Builds obvious, dense funnel shaped webs
Body up to 18 mm, leg span up to 30 mm
Mottled abdomen, brown legs
Small jaws

Funnel-web spiders:

Lives on or below ground (apart from less common tree-dwelling species
Builds partially hidden webs around their burrows in the ground (in tree holes for tree-dwelling species)
Larger than black house spider (body up to 50 mm, leg span up to 100 mm)
Uniform black colour – shiney carapace, dull abdomen
Massive jaws

Where do black house spiders live?

In their natural environment, black house spiders build their webs on tree trunks, logs and under rocks – any place where there is a crevice to hide. Around buildings, they build their webs around window and door frames, in vents and under eaves.

Black house spiders build dense webs, often with a funnel-like shape which leads to their hiding place. Their webs are not actually sticky but make up of a dense network of silk, which is designed to snag the spiny legs of insects.

Female spiders will never leave their web unless they are forced to, and will keep on adding layers of silk, making the web denser over time.

Black house spider webs

Black House Spider Lifecycle

How long do black house spiders live?

Spiderlings moult as they grow. According to the Australian museum they mature during the warmer months (having grown on plentiful prey) and live for about 2 years.

What does a black house spider eat?

Black house spiders feed predominately on insects (both crawling and flying), which get caught in their dense, stick webs. They will often build their webs on houses near sources of artificial light, which attracts flying insects.

Other interesting facts…

Males leave their webs to find females and will pluck strands on the female’s web to make sure she is receptive to mating. The males will often remain with the female for several days and mate several times – they are not consumed after mating as is often the case with redback spiders!

Black house spiders are one of the favourite prey items of white-tailed spiders. So, carrying out a treatment for black house spiders will make your property less attractive to white-tail spiders due to the lack of food.

Black House Spider Australia – FAQ

Are black house spiders poisonous / venomous?

People ask whether black house spiders are poisonous, but what they really mean is, are they venomous? (Poison = something injested, inhaled or absorbed through skin, venom = something injected).

Black house spider bites are moderately venomous, although there is no need for an anti-venom. The standard spider bite treatment is generally all that’s required, although seek medical attention if concerns or unsure about spider identification.

Are black house spiders dangerous?

Although black house spiders are moderately venomous, they are not considered particularly dangerous, as bites are not that common because they are quite a timid spider. When disturbed they typically retreat quickly into their hiding place. They will generally only bite if picked up (intentionally or by accident).

What are the black house spider bite symptoms?

Black house spider bites are moderately venomous, in that the can cause pain with swelling around the bite. Sometimes they can cause sweating, nausea and dizziness.

How to get rid of Black House Spiders?

A general insecticide spray around the perimeter of the home, particularly around windows and doors, under eaves and in vents, will prevent black house spiders building their webs for many months.

If you already have black house spiders living around the outside of your home, make sure you spray the webs and into their hiding places. Leave the webs in place for at least 24 hours before brushing down the webs. Don’t wash the webs down with a hose, as it will also wash the insecticide away.

To get rid of black house spiders in the house, best to spray it directly and coat the web with PestXpert Pro-Spray Spider Blast. Once the spider has died, simply brusg the web away.

PestXpert Pro-Spray Outdoor Perimeter is the idea product for whole of house treatment, although PestXpert Pro-Spray Spider Blast is a great option for spot treatment.

More information on spider pest control…

Originally Published: November 11, 2023

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