Harmless

Southern house spider

Kukulcania hibernalis

Also called crevice weaver, southern crevice spider

Harmless: the long-legged tan males are often mistaken for brown recluses, but this spider is reluctant to bite and its venom is not medically significant.

Photo: brunogiozza, CC0, via iNaturalist

SizeFemales about 13–19 mm (1/2 to 3/4 inch); males about 8–12 mm (1/3 to 1/2 inch), with long legs making them look bigger

Where in the houseWindows and walls, garage, basement, attic, outside near the house

WhenYear-round in the South; wandering males are noticed most in warm months.

Check these features

Female: velvety charcoal-gray to dark brown, heavy-bodied, found at a flat, messy web around a crack
Male: tan to amber with very long, thin legs and long palps that look like an extra pair of legs
Eight eyes clustered together on a small bump at the front of the head
Woolly, flat, radiating web around a crevice in window frames, shutters or eaves
Male has a narrow brown stripe on the front body behind the eyes

Bites and stings

Rarely bites and is reluctant to do so. The few reported bites caused local pain and swelling that went away within about two days. Get medical advice if a bite area spreads, blisters, looks infected, or if you have signs of an allergic reaction.

What to do

Don't panic: look for the eight bunched eyes and very long palps that set a male apart from a brown recluse.
Trap it under a cup with a card and move it outdoors, or vacuum it up.
Vacuum or brush away flat, woolly webs from window frames and corners, including egg sacs.
If you are still unsure whether it is a recluse, save it in a sealed jar and send a photo or sample to your county extension office.

Look-alikes

Brown recluseA recluse has six eyes in three pairs and a wider violin mark that reaches the back edge of the front body, while a male southern house spider has eight eyes bunched on a bump, a thin stripe instead of a violin, and much longer legs and palps.

Brown recluse (body size)Both sexes of the southern house spider are usually bigger than a recluse, and females are much heavier and dark charcoal rather than tan.

Wolf spiderWolf spiders are stockier and patterned with stripes, carry egg sacs on their spinnerets, and hunt on the floor instead of sitting at a crevice web.

Why it came inside

Females live for years in cracks around windows, shutters, eaves and masonry and can end up indoors through gaps; males wander in while looking for females.

Keep it out

Seal cracks in window casings, gaps around doors and holes where pipes and wires enter with caulk.
Repair window and door screens and fit door sweeps to keep out spiders and the insects they eat.
Vacuum baseboards, under furniture and window frames regularly.
Check firewood for spiders and egg sacs before bringing it inside.

What helps

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Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

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Screen repair kit

Patches or replaces torn window and door screens, one of the most common ways insects get in.

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Door sweep

Closes the gap under an exterior door. If you can see daylight under the door, bugs can get in.

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Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

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Bug catcher

A long-handled catcher moves a spider or insect outside without you having to touch it.

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Hand lens

A 10x magnifier makes small features easier to check, like eye patterns, markings or the shield on a tick.

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Sources

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 2 sources. How we rate danger.