False black widow queries

[Susie]

I have a couple of queries regarding the false black widows I have living around the outside of my house. I am not sure if they are the native or southern european type but wonder if they survive the winter and, if they do, will they try to come into the house to keep warm or do they prefer to stay outside?

Many thanks for any help you can provide.

Susie

[No.9 Spider]

They'll overwinter usually no problem, and are quite happy indoors as they are out. They shouldn't be a problem, just treat with repect and remove them from the house if you're not happy with them inside.


No.9 Spider

[John_M]

Hi Susie.
I'm assuming you're referring to the genus Steatoda. Males will live for at most a couple of years, and often die after mating. Females can live for several years, maybe as much as six or seven. I'm not too sure whether spiders move indoors during the winter, I think it's unlikely they make a deliberate effort to do so, but I would think that any that found their way indoors would quite happily stay, given the advantageous conditions compared to outdoors.
Female spiders are fairly sedentary animals, and most of the spiders you see wandering around are probably males in search of a mate.

[Susie]

Thank you for the information, it's much appreciated.

I am surprised that they are so long lived, I thought their lifespan woulb be perhaps six to eight months, not measured in years.

A female on the back of the house had made a short tunnel of silk which leads into a hole into the house and is fronted by a scruffy typical tangled web. She has recently made an egg sac and I didnt want the babies getting indoors and spreading everywhere.

[John_M]

I had a mating pair of Steatoda nobilis in my kitchen last year, and presumably the female laid eggs. I wouldn't say there are noticeably more in the house this year, so I don't think you need worry too much.

[Susie]

that's reassuring to know.

Thanks again for your help.

Susie

[Susie]

Just another quick query, are steatoda grossa mainly nocturnal as mine never seem to come out of their holes during the day time.

Thanks,

Susie

[John_M]

Yes, they're mainly nocturnal, it can be quite scary going out into my garden with a torch at night, the shadows of the spiders are very menacing! I don't often see them during the day, unless I entice them out with vibrating tweezers; this is one of my daughters favourite pastimes at the moment.

[Susie]

Ahh, that would explain a lot! Thanks, John.

I have tried twanging the web with a twig which usually works for other spiders but these critters are obviously a bit brighter than the average eight leg and haven't fallen for it so far.

[John_M]

Quite a few books recommend a tuning fork, but I find that long tweezers work well, plus tweezers have other uses!