Common House Spider (implied by typical indoor habitat)
Scientific Name: Parasteatoda tepidariorum
Order & Family: Order: Araneae; Family: Theridiidae
Size: Females 5-8 mm, Males 4 mm (excluding leg span)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found indoors in corners, closets, and around windows, often building tangled cobwebs.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and ants caught in its web.
Behavior Patterns
Known for building messy 'cobwebs' and playing dead if threatened. Life cycle involves the female laying egg sacs containing hundreds of eggs.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans and rarely bite. Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as they provide natural pest control for indoor insects.
Identified on: 5/22/2026