Giant House Spider

Category:

Actual Size: ¾ with 2” leg span

Characteristics: Large bodies with brown, gray, or black pattern on back.

Legs: 8

Habitat: Primarily infests garages and basements near the ground. They are not good climbers and may get trapped in sinks or bathtubs while searching for water.

Habits:

  • Builds flat, messy webs with a funnel at one end. 
  • Mainly seen in the fall, when adults are fully-grown. 
  • May invade storage sheds, boxes, and firewood piles.

Giant House Spiders in Anaheim

The giant house spider is a common sight in Anaheim. It was once believed to be venomous, but research has shown that it has very low venom toxicity. You can find these large spiders in dark corners of rooms, storage sheds, barns, bridges, fences, and other structures. They typically build funnel-shaped webs in window corners and corners of rooms. While they prefer outdoor living, they can hitch a ride indoors by hiding in boxes, firewood, or other items

Giant House Spider Habitat

You can often spot giant house spiders in garages, basements, and outdoors, especially in gaps between bricks or stones or near firewood. They create webs with a funnel-shaped hole in the center, where they patiently wait for prey. These spiders are not agile climbers and are typically found on the floor indoors or sometimes trapped in sinks and bathtubs while searching for water. They prefer to stay out of sight during the day and are most active at night.

Giant House Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Giant house spiders are typically seen indoors during the autumn when they’ve grown to their largest size. These spiders are not confrontational and tend to flee quickly when startled. While it’s rare, they might bite if they feel threatened, but their bites are not serious, and their venom is only a concern for individuals with specific allergies. Besides their large size and intimidating appearance, giant house spiders don’t pose much of a threat to people.