Common House Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum · Arachnid, Invertebrate, Cold-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Theridiidae, order Araneae, class Arachnida
Animal Category
Insect/Arthropod
Breed / Variety
American House Spider
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN; population trend is stable and abundant worldwide due to human association.
About This Creature
Small spider ranging from 3 to 8 millimeters in body length, typically brownish with mottled patterns and chevrons on the abdomen, roundish body shape, and thin spindly legs.
Physical Characteristics
Cephalothorax is smaller than the bulbous, globular abdomen; eight eyes arranged in two rows; slender, delicate legs with no prominent spines; dull brown, grayish, or yellowish coloration providing camouflage.
Behavior & Temperament
Solitary, nocturnal to crepuscular, builds irregular tangled cobwebs in sheltered corners, non-aggressive toward humans, retreats when disturbed.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Cosmopolitan distribution; native to South America, now found globally in human dwellings
Habitat
Urban/Suburban, indoors in dark corners, basements, and sheds; terrestrial/web-dwelling
Diet & Nutrition
Carnivore/Insectivore; feeds on small household insects such as flies, mosquitoes, ants, and beetles trapped in its web.
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan of roughly 1 year; subject to predation by larger spiders, wasps, and house lizards; reproduces via egg sacs spun and hung within the web.
Special Characteristics
Harmless to humans with very weak venom; acts as a natural pest control agent inside homes.
Ecological Information
Functions as a generalist predator in human-modified environments, helping to regulate populations of nuisance insects.