Community identification
Common House Spider (Likely Parasteatoda or similar funnel weaver)
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
- Order & Family
- Order Araneae; Family Theridiidae
- Size
- Body length 5-8 mm (females), slightly smaller for males; leg span can make them appear larger.
Natural Habitat
Found indoors and outdoors, often near buildings, window frames, corners, and under eaves.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds primarily on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and ants caught in its web.
Behavior Patterns
Constructs tangled cobwebs; females are often seen guarding a spherical, papery egg sac. It is a reclusive, nocturnal hunter.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by controlling pest insect populations. While they have venom to paralyze prey, they are not aggressive toward humans and their bite is usually harmless, similar to a bee sting.