Big Black spider with Babies

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Kila Madison, MS May 02, 2009

I found a Large (size of a quarter or bigger) black spider last nite in my den. If was so big, it seemed a shame to kill it. As I picked it up with a glass & magazine, it dropped a few of what I soon discovered were BABIES. On closer inspection, it had what looked like hundreds of little black babies on its back. When I flipped over the glass to see its underside, there were no red markings, just a faint white circle where its legs meet the body. I apologize that I was too grossed out to think to take a picture of the thing. It was large and black with long thin legs. The head and middle I could see (with no babies) looked shiny with no fuzz, but the big round hindparts were too covered to tell.

Interestingly, I found 2 more spiders in the same area of the den later in the night (literally, all 3 were within 2 feet of the same spot). One was small and brown, with a small, longish body (smaller than rice) and long thin legs spread out. The other was smaller than a dime, and black, with its short legs hunched up and feet held close to the body.

Where ARE all these spiders coming from? Windows and doors are closed and the AC is on. I am totally creeped out now & afraid to walk around my own house! This area of the den is in the middle of the house, not close to doors or windows and there is a tile floor. What can I do to deter these creepy-crawlies? Are they coming down the chimney or what? Just for your reference, I live in central Mississippi. This is enough to give a body arachnaphobia. I am hoping I do not find one in the bedroom.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV May 02, 2009

The large spider sounds like a female wolf spider (family Lycosidae). The females carry their egg sac around with them until the eggs hatch; the spiderlings climb on her back and 'ride' there for a few days before going off to fend for themselves. See http://tinyurl.com/cj534c for more detailed information. I would need to see images of the other spiders before attempting an identification; they do not sound like anything dangerous. Spiders easily get indoors, and wolf spiders in particular are good at this.

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