The red house spider is the sole species of the genus Nesticodes. Commonly found in cooler corners and doorframes of any house, the spider is red, justifying its name.
Size: Females are 0.20-0.33 in (excluding the legs) and males are typically smaller.
Color: The body is essentially red with shades of orange or brown in some individuals.
Other Characteristic Features: The globe-shaped abdomen in female spiders has a red marking, similar to the black widow spider’s abdomen.
Eggs are laid on a round sac attached near to the web.
The juvenile state has not been observed so far.
Not much is known except the tangled web is extremely messy and the spider is protective of it.
Due to the non-necrotic venom, the bite from these spiders is not lethal for humans. But there will be pain lasting for a few hours along with swelling and redness.
| Distribution | United States (California, Texas, and Florida) and Australia |
| Habitat | Inside house, around the garden |
| Diet | House flies, larder beetles, and ants |
| Lifespan | Not observed |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Image Credit: Bushpea.com, Wixmp.com, Knowledgebase.lookseek.com, Findaspider.org.au, Cdn.whatsthatbug.com,
Ih3.googleusercontent.com
The red house spider is the sole species of the genus Nesticodes. Commonly found in cooler corners and doorframes of any house, the spider is red, justifying its name.
Size: Females are 0.20-0.33 in (excluding the legs) and males are typically smaller.
Color: The body is essentially red with shades of orange or brown in some individuals.
Other Characteristic Features: The globe-shaped abdomen in female spiders has a red marking, similar to the black widow spider’s abdomen.
Eggs are laid on a round sac attached near to the web.
The juvenile state has not been observed so far.
Not much is known except the tangled web is extremely messy and the spider is protective of it.
Due to the non-necrotic venom, the bite from these spiders is not lethal for humans. But there will be pain lasting for a few hours along with swelling and redness.
| Distribution | United States (California, Texas, and Florida) and Australia |
| Habitat | Inside house, around the garden |
| Diet | House flies, larder beetles, and ants |
| Lifespan | Not observed |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Image Credit: Bushpea.com, Wixmp.com, Knowledgebase.lookseek.com, Findaspider.org.au, Cdn.whatsthatbug.com,
Ih3.googleusercontent.com
James Lambrou on January 12, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
© 2023 (Spider Identifications). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Follow us on: 
