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Common House (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)

Internationally referred to as the American house spider, this species belongs to the New World but is also found in parts of Pakistan and Myanmar. Being synantrophic creatures, they remain close to mankind and as per statistics they are known to be encountered by humans for the most number of times.

Common House Spider

Scientific Classification

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They are extremely small creatures, with the females having a size of 3/16 -5/16 inches, while the males are 1/8 -3/16 inches.

Color: They are dull brown in appearance, with the males and females having yellow and orange legs respectively. Their body has a patterned appearance when combined with various shades, helping them to attain a camouflaged appearance. 

Other characteristics: While the females have a spherical abdomen the males are characterized by an elongated type. Their legs are also long and skinny, while the ankles of these species are marked with comb-like hairs.

Common House Spider Size

Eggs 

Each female have the capacity of producing approximately 17 egg sacs, which have a brown color and are pear-shaped. 100-400 eggs come out from a single sac that remains with their mother for a certain span.

Common House Spider Egg

Spiderlings

The juvenile spiders hatch within a span of 7 to 10 days after which they gradually disperse.

Common House Spiderlings

The Web

They build tangled and messy webs close to the dwellings of human beings.

Common House Spider Web

Do American House Spider Bite and are They Poisonous

They are not dangerous and are said to bite only in self defense, especially if they are provoked in any way. The venom is not said to be poisonous to humans unlike that of their near cousins, the black widow. However, it could lead to pain that may last for a couple of days alongside symptoms like swelling, itching and redness.

Common House Spider Bite
American House Spider

Quick Facts

Other names American House Spider, cobweb spider, domestic spider
Lifespan Not known
Distribution Central Americas, Mexico, northern and southern parts of Canada
Habitat In the interior and exterior of buildings, in sheds, stables, barns as well as on culverts and bridges
Predators Other spider kinds like the pirate spiders (of the Mimetus genus) and jumping spiders (of the Metacyrba undata and Phidippus variegatus). Another predator includes the assassin bug that mostly feeds on the spiderlings
Diet Mosquitoes, flies, wasps, ants, butterflies, cockroaches and grasshoppers
Image of Common House Spider
Cobweb Spider

Did You Know

  • Several other species all over the world are also known by the name of house spider like the barn funnel weaver (Tegenaria domestica) and the barn spider (Araneus cavaticus).
  • Unlike most other spiders which are seen wandering in spring and autumn, this kind is spotted mostly in winters.

Image Credits: Cdn.orkin.com, Warehouse1.indicia.org.uk, Spiderbitetreatment.com, Whatsthatbug.com, Tabithaleal.files.wordpress.com, Spiderid.com, Pestworld.org, Cirrusimage.com, Cdn.zmescience.com

Internationally referred to as the American house spider, this species belongs to the New World but is also found in parts of Pakistan and Myanmar. Being synantrophic creatures, they remain close to mankind and as per statistics they are known to be encountered by humans for the most number of times.

Common House Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They are extremely small creatures, with the females having a size of 3/16 -5/16 inches, while the males are 1/8 -3/16 inches.

Color: They are dull brown in appearance, with the males and females having yellow and orange legs respectively. Their body has a patterned appearance when combined with various shades, helping them to attain a camouflaged appearance. 

Other characteristics: While the females have a spherical abdomen the males are characterized by an elongated type. Their legs are also long and skinny, while the ankles of these species are marked with comb-like hairs.

Common House Spider Size

Eggs 

Each female have the capacity of producing approximately 17 egg sacs, which have a brown color and are pear-shaped. 100-400 eggs come out from a single sac that remains with their mother for a certain span.

Common House Spider Egg

Spiderlings

The juvenile spiders hatch within a span of 7 to 10 days after which they gradually disperse.

Common House Spiderlings

The Web

They build tangled and messy webs close to the dwellings of human beings.

Common House Spider Web

Do American House Spider Bite and are They Poisonous

They are not dangerous and are said to bite only in self defense, especially if they are provoked in any way. The venom is not said to be poisonous to humans unlike that of their near cousins, the black widow. However, it could lead to pain that may last for a couple of days alongside symptoms like swelling, itching and redness.

Common House Spider Bite
American House Spider

Quick Facts

Other names American House Spider, cobweb spider, domestic spider
Lifespan Not known
Distribution Central Americas, Mexico, northern and southern parts of Canada
Habitat In the interior and exterior of buildings, in sheds, stables, barns as well as on culverts and bridges
Predators Other spider kinds like the pirate spiders (of the Mimetus genus) and jumping spiders (of the Metacyrba undata and Phidippus variegatus). Another predator includes the assassin bug that mostly feeds on the spiderlings
Diet Mosquitoes, flies, wasps, ants, butterflies, cockroaches and grasshoppers
Image of Common House Spider
Cobweb Spider

Did You Know

  • Several other species all over the world are also known by the name of house spider like the barn funnel weaver (Tegenaria domestica) and the barn spider (Araneus cavaticus).
  • Unlike most other spiders which are seen wandering in spring and autumn, this kind is spotted mostly in winters.

Image Credits: Cdn.orkin.com, Warehouse1.indicia.org.uk, Spiderbitetreatment.com, Whatsthatbug.com, Tabithaleal.files.wordpress.com, Spiderid.com, Pestworld.org, Cirrusimage.com, Cdn.zmescience.com

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