Parasteatoda of the cobweb or comb-footed family is primarily a genus of the Old Word with 42 species, as per the May 2020 records. However, certain members of this genus are also distributed in parts of the New World.
Size: Female spiders are around 0.31 inches (0.8 cm), while males measure approximately 0.15 inches (0.4 cm).
Color: Their color may vary from blackish-brown to grayish-brown, and even orange.
Other Characteristic Features: Some species like the common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) has a longer leg span. Both the sexes have a difference in abdominal pattern, spherical in females and elongate in males.
Female spiders make multiple egg sacs in their lifetime, with a single sac containing about 200 eggs.
They hatch in 7 – 10 days, and within a short time, they disperse to live on their own.
These spiders make messy, assymetrical webs usually found near human settlements, mostly around garages, backyards, and gardens.
They do not cause any potential danger to humans.
| Distribution | New Guinea, Asia, and Europe |
| Habitat | Garden and grasslands |
| Web Type | Messy |
| Diet | Flies, mosquitoes, wasps, and other insects |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years (depending on species) |
Image Credits: bugguide.net
Parasteatoda of the cobweb or comb-footed family is primarily a genus of the Old Word with 42 species, as per the May 2020 records. However, certain members of this genus are also distributed in parts of the New World.
Size: Female spiders are around 0.31 inches (0.8 cm), while males measure approximately 0.15 inches (0.4 cm).
Color: Their color may vary from blackish-brown to grayish-brown, and even orange.
Other Characteristic Features: Some species like the common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) has a longer leg span. Both the sexes have a difference in abdominal pattern, spherical in females and elongate in males.
Female spiders make multiple egg sacs in their lifetime, with a single sac containing about 200 eggs.
They hatch in 7 – 10 days, and within a short time, they disperse to live on their own.
These spiders make messy, assymetrical webs usually found near human settlements, mostly around garages, backyards, and gardens.
They do not cause any potential danger to humans.
| Distribution | New Guinea, Asia, and Europe |
| Habitat | Garden and grasslands |
| Web Type | Messy |
| Diet | Flies, mosquitoes, wasps, and other insects |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years (depending on species) |
Image Credits: bugguide.net
