Badumna insignis (Black House Spider)

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The Black House Spider (Badumna insignis) are a species of cribellate Australian spider found throughout Australia (including Tasmania), that have a robust and dark appearance (often with grey hairs visible on the carapace). A common spider often found in urban environments across Australia, they are also known as Window Spiders, as they will make their webs around window frames.

The adult spider can range in size, with the females (up to 18 mm) being larger then the males (up to 10 mm). The carapace and legs are dark brown to black in colour, the abdomen is charcoal grey and can be quite dark, with a dorsal pattern of white markings (that are sometimes indistinct).

The Badumna insignis is a messy-looking construction, that is usually exposed web, and will often include one or more ‘funnel-like’ entrances to the spider’s web. The funnel-shaped area is usually where the spider will wait for its prey.

Black House Spiders are venomous, although they are not considered dangerous. The bite can be excruciatingly painful, causing local swelling and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, and dizziness (which have all been recorded). There have been cases, of skin lesions (arachnogenic necrosis) that have developed, especially after multiple bites.^{1, 2}

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Chelicerata
• Class: Arachnida
• Order: Araneae
• Infraorder: Araneomorphae
• Family: Desidae
• Genus: Badumna
• Species: Badumna insignis

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