
Community identification
Spider Egg Sac (Broad-faced Sac Spider)
Trachelas tranquillus
- Order & Family
- Araneae: Trachelidae
- Size
- Approx. 5–10 mm diameter for the sac; Adult spiders are 7–10 mm body length.
Natural Habitat
Often found indoors in corners, on ceilings, or in rolled-up leaves and under loose bark outdoors.
Diet & Feeding
Adult spiders are active hunters that feed on other arthropods and scavenging dead insects.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike web-weaving spiders, they build silken retreats (sacs) for resting during the day and for protecting their eggs. The female guards the sac until the spiderlings emerge.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial as they eat household pests. Their bite can be painful and cause redness or secondary infection, comparable to a bee sting, but is typically not medically significant.