The triangulate cobweb belonging to the Steatoda genus is a common house spider species, indigenous to North America, New Zealand, and Europe. Deriving its name from the triangular pattern on the dorsal portion of the abdomen, this small creature may even be overlooked because of its tiny size.
Size: An adult female is 1/8th to ¼th inch (3 to 6 mm) in length while males are smaller.
Color: It has a brown or black body with yellowish legs, white and yellow triangle-shaped spots on its abdomen, and purplish-brown zigzag lines from front to back,
Other Characteristic Features: Besides their triangular pattern as mentioned above, these spiders are also characterized by a round-shaped bulbous abdomen. The male cobwebs are more leggy and slender than their female counterparts.
The egg sac is white and spherical made out of loosely woven silk. A female triangulate cobweb produces approximately six sacs throughout her lifetime and each of them contains about thirty small, round-shaped eggs.
The spiderlings remain in the web for some time post being hatched, after which they disperse.
Like other cobweb spiders, this species also spins an irregular, messy web in dark spaces of buildings alongside other human made structures.
Though many members belonging to the Steatoda genus have the reputation of being harmful, this species is not known to be aggressive and may bite only if provoked. Their bites are not of medical importance, and because of their small size their venom is non toxic to humans.
| Other names | Triangulate bud spider |
| Lifespan | 1 to 3 years, though males live for a shorter span |
| Distribution | Throughout various parts of North America, Europe, New Zealand, and Southern Russia |
| Habitat | On windows and several dark, dingy and dirty corners of buildings as well as other human made structures |
| Diet | Pillbugs, ticks, arthropods, ants (like fire ants), as well as other spiders like the Brown recluse and Hobo |
Image Credits: Vignette.wikia.nocookie.net, 3.bp.blogspot.com, lh6.ggpht.com, Spiderid.com
The triangulate cobweb belonging to the Steatoda genus is a common house spider species, indigenous to North America, New Zealand, and Europe. Deriving its name from the triangular pattern on the dorsal portion of the abdomen, this small creature may even be overlooked because of its tiny size.
Size: An adult female is 1/8th to ¼th inch (3 to 6 mm) in length while males are smaller.
Color: It has a brown or black body with yellowish legs, white and yellow triangle-shaped spots on its abdomen, and purplish-brown zigzag lines from front to back,
Other Characteristic Features: Besides their triangular pattern as mentioned above, these spiders are also characterized by a round-shaped bulbous abdomen. The male cobwebs are more leggy and slender than their female counterparts.
The egg sac is white and spherical made out of loosely woven silk. A female triangulate cobweb produces approximately six sacs throughout her lifetime and each of them contains about thirty small, round-shaped eggs.
The spiderlings remain in the web for some time post being hatched, after which they disperse.
Like other cobweb spiders, this species also spins an irregular, messy web in dark spaces of buildings alongside other human made structures.
Though many members belonging to the Steatoda genus have the reputation of being harmful, this species is not known to be aggressive and may bite only if provoked. Their bites are not of medical importance, and because of their small size their venom is non toxic to humans.
| Other names | Triangulate bud spider |
| Lifespan | 1 to 3 years, though males live for a shorter span |
| Distribution | Throughout various parts of North America, Europe, New Zealand, and Southern Russia |
| Habitat | On windows and several dark, dingy and dirty corners of buildings as well as other human made structures |
| Diet | Pillbugs, ticks, arthropods, ants (like fire ants), as well as other spiders like the Brown recluse and Hobo |
Image Credits: Vignette.wikia.nocookie.net, 3.bp.blogspot.com, lh6.ggpht.com, Spiderid.com
Mumpi Ghosh on March 12, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
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