A house spider living in the corner can live up to seven years

The common house spider found in Estonian homes can live up to six or seven years in room conditions. However, only female specimens reach this advanced age, for males, life often ends in the stomach of a female after mating. An unexpected spider appearance should not alarm you, as they are completely harmless neighbours.

When a spider in an Estonian home weaves a web in the corner, it is likely the common house spider (Tegenaria domestica), and it plans to stay there for a long time. In room conditions, this species can live up to six or seven years, which is a rare achievement for most spider species.

However, this long lifespan is only possible under certain conditions: the spider must not be disturbed, and room temperature must remain stable. In the wild, where conditions are much harsher, the same species typically lives for around two years.

A large newcomer from the 1990s

In addition to the common house spider, the Central European house spider has become widespread in Estonia over the past couple of decades, arriving in the 1990s. This species is considerably larger than the common house spider, but has a similar lifespan, in an apartment or house, they can also live for six or seven years.

The fate of males is tragic

It is worth clarifying one important nuance here: only female spiders reach such an advanced age. Unfortunately, male life is much shorter and more tragic. They hatch, find a mate, and after mating, the female typically simply devours them. This is why male spiders typically live for less than one year.

Harmless, though unsettling neighbour

Although a spider in the corner might make your heart skip a beat, there is no reason to worry, these creatures are completely harmless to humans. Spiders fear humans greatly and try to avoid contact. If shared living space is still unacceptable, the spider can be calmly caught in a jar and taken outside.