Common House Spider (Tentative Identification due to image quality)
Scientific Name: Parasteatoda tepidariorum
Order & Family: Order: Araneae; Family: Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
Size: Females are about 5mm to 6mm (approx. 0.20-0.24 inches) in body length; males are smaller, about 3.8mm to 4.7mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in and around human dwellings, basements, crawl spaces, and outdoor structures like sheds or eaves. They build tangible, messy cobwebs in corners.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds primarily on small insects such as flies, mosquitoes, ants, and other spiders that get trapped in their sticky webs.
Behavior Patterns
Known for building irregular, messy webs in corners. They are generally sedentary, waiting in their webs for prey. If disturbed, they often drop to the ground and play dead.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: Excellent pest control as they consume household flies and mosquitoes. Risks: Not considered dangerous to humans. Their bite is rare and typically causes no more than minor, localized irritation similar to a bee sting.
Identified on: 2/20/2026