Hobbies And Interests
Common House Spider
The common house spider exists all over the Southeastern United States, and is frequently found in Florida. This spider belongs to the same family as the black widow spider, but the common house is not dangerous to humans. It is yellow and brown in color, with dark rings on its legs and a white spot on its back. The female can be as large as eight millimeters, and the male is smaller at four millimeters. The male is also darker than the female. These spiders make webs to catch prey such as cockroaches and scorpions. According to the University of Florida Extension, these spiders are one of the main causes of cobwebs in Florida homes.
Southern House Spider
Male southern house spiders have been mistaken for the brown recluse due to a similar body shape and overall appearance. However, the southern house spider is not considered to be harmful to humans. These spiders are usually gray or light brown and are fairly large, with the female reaching lengths of up to 13 millimeters. They live in quiet places within houses, often building their nests in closets and corners of bookshelves. Only the female spins a web. The males instead spend their time searching for females. They can breed at any time, and eggs will hatch year-round.
Jumping Spider
There are several varieties of jumping spiders common in homes throughout Florida. These spiders are all less than 15 millimeters long. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, and are often very brightly colored. They can be identified by the fact that all jumping spiders have three rows of eyes. They do not build webs but instead are active hunters, searching for prey throughout the day and pouncing on whatever insects they can find. They usually live in or around houses, but are often hidden in crevices or behind objects.