Hobbies And Interests
Black Widow
The black widow spider is the most recognizable and feared species in the Houston area. Females bear a signature red hourglass shape on the abdomen of their otherwise midnight-black bodies, and the males are brown. Their bite is extremely poisonous, 15 times more potent than a rattlesnake's, yet it is rarely permanently harmful to adults. Like many spiders, black widows spin webs in which they hang cocoons of their eggs and sometimes catch prey.
Brown Recluse
Like the black widows, brown recluse spiders have an extremely poisonous bite. They are golden-brown, have relatively long legs and are slightly larger than a quarter. When living in houses, they are commonly found in basements and garages in small creviced areas such as piles of clothes in dark, quiet nooks. Generally they are non-aggressive, but when they attack their bites can be extremely harmful.
Jumping Spider
Many species of jumping spiders live in Houston and throughout Texas. They often have bright colors and grow to no more than eight-tenths of an inch in length. Some have bold stripes, such as black and white or black and yellow. As a species, they eat large amounts of harmful insects and thus have a large value in the local ecosystem. Their name derives from their magnificent ability to quickly catapult themselves using spring-like legs.
Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders grow to be about one-half to 2 inches in length. They are commonly brown or grey. Their name derives from an early but false belief that they hunted in packs like wolves. With excellent vision and touch, they hunt during the day and night. Wolf spiders are poisonous, though their bites are not lethal. They tend to be shy and rarely attack people. Unlike other cocoon-weaving species, the mother carries her eggs with her until they hatch.