I'm aware that this is a British website and that the Black House Spider is not generally kept as a pet, either in Australia or overseas. I decided to try my luck here anyway in the hopes that somebody might know something about this species, or that general knowledge in spider-care can be applied here.

Recently, I've begun caring for a female Black House Spider (Badumna insignis). She's not exactly a pet, as I did not catch her and haven't confined her in any way, she voluntarily moved into my bedroom and has made her web in a corner of my windowsill between the blind and window pane, and I have been quite happy to share my room with her. I've not been annoyed by flies or mosquitos (a constant nuisance in Australia) since she moved in. I've stopped raising or opening my blind since she arrived, so as not to ruin her web.

I have the following questions on properly caring for her ;

1. I worry she may not be getting enough food in my bedroom, and have taken to catching the occasional earwig, woodlouse or small beetle to drop into her web to supplement what she catches on her own. Does anybody know how often a spider of her type should feed, and since she catches her own prey, if it is possible to overfeed her? Are there any insects which could poison or injure her if placed in her web?

2. During the day her web is largely unprotected from the sun. She leaves her funnel-web for most of the daylit hours and shelters from the sun on the underside of a slat from my blind, leaving her very exposed and vulnerable. Luckily she seems to have gotten quite used to my comings and goings and I doubt she is afraid of me. I do worry though, that she has picked a poor spot for a web ; is there any danger to her overheating, and if so, is there a way of coaxing her to a new position without causing her undue stress? If I covered part of my window from the outside to block the sun getting to her during the day, would that interfere with her daily routine, or upset her sleeping cycle?

3. Is there any way of blocking my room off to predators (such as the very unwelcome white-tailed spider) while still allowing prey insects in? Is she likely to be predated on by a white-tail while inside a house? Will they be attracted into my room by her?

4. Her web is approximately 10 inches from where my head rests when I'm asleep. I'm not particularly worried about her moving from the web, but would you consider that puts me at any risk from wandering male spiders trying to mate with her? She is a relatively venomous breed of spider (but not life-threatening in any way).

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

wow your very brave nice to hear of someone being kind to a spider though! im afraid if i find one i capture and release it into the garden

Not entirely sure your gonna get the answers on here. But I could be wrong! Wow yes you are very brave! I capture and put outside.

Try this

InsectHobbyist's Forums* > Arachnid Forums > Spider Forum

Or this one

Insect and Spider Identification Discussion Forum: For Home, Gardens, and Yards

Oh this one looks good

Spiderbloggers • View topic - Please meet Fenestra - black house spider, Badumna insignis

Hope this helps!

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Thanks for the links, I'll crosspost on those forums and see if anyone can help me.

I wouldn't say I'm brave, she's a very timid and gentle spider, and apparantly won't leave her web unless absolutely forced to. I think she's the brave one, for setting up her web so close to something thousands of times bigger than her. And if worst comes to worst I'd prefer being sick for a few days due to a spider-bite than sick for a few months due to mosquito-borne disease.

very good point luckily we dont have the same problem with mosquitos in our temperate climate.

brave is much too small a word. i would have had a major panic attack,a 100 decibell screaming fit and if my son wasn't home to remove it for me i may well have to sleep at the next door neighbours

I really don't think this should qualify as brave, since I'm not personally afraid of spiders. If I was arachnophobic and sharing living space with a spider, then yes that would be very brave, but spiders don't bother me in the slightest. Also, from what I've read online the Australian House Spider is much more timid and unaggressive than the House Spider in Europe, so you should note that I'm dealing with a much gentler and safer creature.

Firstly i was under the impression that house spiders in europe were harmless! i think my phobia just got worse

secondly i would not sleep in your bedroom! until she had been thrown outside. Houses are for humans not insects