Boar Spider

Boar spiders are arachnids named for their boar-like size. They are semi-social predators known for their menacing appearance and aggressive nesting behavior. Though once widespread, they have become a symbol of encroaching wilderness and the dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the world.

Appearance

Boar spiders are roughly the size of a large boar, with long, spindly legs that make their overall silhouette even more imposing. Their bodies are smaller relative to their legs, and are colored in mottled shades of black and grey. Short, bristly hairs cover their limbs, and their faces are dominated by eight small, black eyes.

Life Cycle

Boar spiders reach adulthood in less than a year. Once mature, they seek mates within the hive. Fertilized females lay their eggs deep within the hive’s core, where conditions are safest. A single clutch may contain dozens of eggs, though only a fraction of the slings will survive to adulthood.

There is no parental care. From the moment they hatch, slings are expected to contribute to hunting and nest maintenance. Competition and predation thin their numbers quickly, as many rival predators consider these small creatures to be a tasty morsel.

Habitat and Range

Once found across nearly every region of the world, boar spiders have been pushed to the fringes by civilization. Today, they are most common in isolated, wild places: deep forests, highlands, cave systems, and ancient ruins.
In rare cases, they will establish hives near settlements, particularly in abandoned warehouses, mines, or tunnels. When such nests are discovered, it is customary—and often necessary—for locals to exterminate the hive before it grows.

Behavior and Nesting

Boar spiders are semi-social. While they congregate for shelter and reproduction, cooperation is limited. Hunting parties occasionally form, but food is rarely shared among hive members. Their webs are not for trapping prey but for nesting and egg protection.

Hives are built in enclosed, sheltered environments—caves, thickets, tangled roots, or dense brush. The priority is concealment and protection for the egg clusters.

Migration

Hives are not permanent. When a population grows too large, food becomes scarce, or danger threatens the nest, the hive will splinter. Individuals or small groups will travel to establish a new nest. Once a suitable location is found, construction begins immediately.

This migratory behavior makes boar spider infestations highly unpredictable and difficult to eradicate permanently.