Often called ‘fiddleback’ or ‘violin’ spiders because of the violin-shaped marking on the top surface which points from the head area toward the abdomen.
Lifecycle
Eggs are laid primarily from May to July.
The female lays about 50 eggs in an off-white silky sac approx 2/3 inch diameter.
Spiderlings emerge around 1 month later.
It takes on average one year to reach the adult stage.
Adults can live 1-2 years.
Habits
Locations - They prefer secluded, dark, undisturbed sites indoors or outdoors. Indoors, they may be found in attics, basements, closets, ductwork, in storage boxes, shoes or behind furniture. Externally they may be found in barns, storage sheds, garages, under logs, loose stones and stacks of lumber.
Feeding - They preferring dead insects. They can survive about 6 months without food or water.
Visibility - The sac serves as the spider's daytime retreat. They tend to look for food at night.
Bite – They only bite when crushed, handled or disturbed. Both sexes are venomous. A human’s reaction to the bite depends on the amount of venom injected and an individual's sensitivity to it - some people are unaffected, others may feel a pinprick, others a stinging sensation followed by intense pain. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours.