House spiders often evoke mixed reactions, from mild curiosity to outright fear. But what if we told you that some house spiders can actually make fascinating and low-maintenance pets? While the term “house spider” is broadly used and can refer to various species, not all are created equal when it comes to pet potential. Let’s delve into the world of house spiders and discover why one particular kind, the Southern House Spider (Kukulcania hibernalis), stands out as a surprisingly good candidate for a unique pet.
What exactly comes to mind when you hear “house spider”? For many, it might be the long-legged cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides) gracefully hanging in corners, the common American house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) with its bulbous abdomen, or perhaps the triangulate cobweb spider (Steatoda triangulosa), a smaller relative. These are all common sights in homes across many regions, diligently keeping insect populations in check. They are amazing in their own right, each playing a role in our indoor ecosystems. However, when we talk about a “house spider” that’s truly captivating as a pet, we’re shifting our focus southward.
Enter the Southern House Spider, Kukulcania hibernalis. This spider is a world apart from its more common, smaller cousins. Imagine a spider that resembles a miniature, velvety tarantula, boasting a rich chocolate brown to black coloration and a gentle disposition. This is Kukulcania hibernalis. Its scientific name itself is intriguing, and it’s crucial to use it because common names like “house spider” can be misleading and apply to numerous different species. Mistaking one house spider for another is easy, but the Southern House Spider is in a league of its own.
My first encounter with a Southern House Spider was during a vacation in Cherry Grove, South Carolina. It was a typical humid July evening, and my sister, knowing my fascination with spiders, excitedly alerted me to a “huge spider” on the house. What I found was love at first sight. This spider was noticeably thicker and more substantial than any house spider I had seen before. Its prominent palps (the leg-like appendages near the mouth) and the lighter cuticle at its leg joints were immediately striking. The clustered eyes on a raised mound hinted it might be related to wolf spiders, but it was clearly something unique. Carefully collecting her, she quickly became a highlight of my impromptu spider collection for that vacation week.
With the help of a field guide, I confidently identified her as Kukulcania hibernalis. These spiders belong to the Filistatidae family, a relatively small group with only seven species found north of Mexico. Primarily found in the southern and southwestern United States, encountering a Southern House Spider is a rare treat for those living in northern regions. They are cribellate spiders, meaning they produce a unique, woolly silk. This silk isn’t sticky in the traditional sense, but its highly tangled, “frizzed” structure provides “mechanical stickiness,” making it incredibly difficult for prey to escape. This cribellate silk is also distinctively white and opaque, unlike the often invisible silk of other spiders.
Southern House Spiders are typically reclusive, residing in crevices and creating a tangled, silken “welcome mat” radiating from their hidden entrance. Why my vacation specimen was out in the open remains a mystery, but I was certainly grateful for the encounter! The diversity of spider lifestyles is truly fascinating. On one end of the spectrum, you have active hunters like jumping spiders, boldly displaying themselves in daylight. On the other, you have these nocturnal, crevice-dwelling spiders, content in their secluded homes, rarely venturing out. This reclusive nature is both a plus and a minus when considering keeping a Southern House Spider as a pet. The downside is that sightings are infrequent, usually limited to feeding times or enclosure maintenance. However, these moments are a rewarding glimpse into the hidden life of a truly beautiful creature.
The Southern House Spider possesses a calm temperament and is completely harmless to humans. They are sometimes mistaken for recluse spiders due to their brown color and reclusive habits, despite being only distantly related. Having experience with both, including keeping a captive-raised brown recluse for educational purposes, allows for a clear comparison.
Size comparison is one key differentiator – Southern House Spiders are generally larger and more robust. However, the most crucial difference lies in their eye arrangement. Brown recluse spiders have six eyes arranged in three pairs (dyads), while Southern House Spiders have eight eyes clustered together. This eye arrangement is a definitive characteristic for identification.
My experience with Kukulcania hibernalis spans over three years now. They have proven to be long-lived compared to many common house spiders and incredibly easy to care for, making them ideal as pets. Their gentle nature and larger size also make them excellent for educational presentations, allowing people to observe and appreciate spiders up close without fear. It’s worth noting that male Southern House Spiders have remarkably long palps, sometimes giving the illusion of having ten legs! While I haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet a male in person, it’s certainly on my spider-watching wish list.
So, can you keep a house spider as a pet? If you’re considering a fascinating, low-maintenance, and harmless spider pet, the Southern House Spider is an excellent choice. While they might not be as readily visible as some other pet spiders, the unique charm and gentle nature of Kukulcania hibernalis make them a rewarding addition to any invertebrate enthusiast’s collection. Embrace the less-seen wonders of the spider world and you might just find yourself captivated by the Southern House Spider.
References
Bradley, Richard. Common Spiders of North America. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press; 2013.
Foelix, Rainer F. Spider Biology, third ed. New York, New York: Oxford University Press; 2011.
Ubick, D., Paquin, P., Cushing, P.E. and Roth, V. (eds). 2017. Spiders of North America: an identification manual, 2nd Edition. American Arachnological Society, Keene, New Hampshire, USA.
World Spider Catalog (2021). World Spider Catalog. Version 22.5. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, accessed on {Dec 2021}. doi: 10.24436/2
