Integrated Pest Management
Hacklemesh Weaver Spiders
Amaurobiidae
Hacklemesh weaver spider (Marshal Hedin, Wikimedia Commons)
Hacklemesh weaver spider and egg sac (Marshal Hedin, Flickr.com)
Hacklemesh weaver spider in web (Danny Steven, Wikimedia Commons)
Identification
- 1/5 – 6/10 inch long
- reddish brown head; dark grayish colored abdomen with light colored patches
- 8 eyes arranged in 2 rows
Nesting Habits
- damp, protected areas such as woodpiles and underneath rocks
- deposit egg sacs in irregularly-shaped mesh webs, where the spiders are typically found
Diet
- insects
Significance
- frequently found in damp basements and other areas in buildings during fall
- not considered medically significant
IPM Recommendations
- Minimize nesting habitat around property.
- Find and seal cracks and crevices along the building’s exterior.
- Install tight-fitting door sweeps.
- Install tight-fitting screens in windows.
- Reduce insects that serve as food.
- Use pest monitors/sticky traps to capture spiders than enter buildings.