Bug Identifier
Common House Spider (implied by typical indoor habitat)
Community identification

Common House Spider (implied by typical indoor habitat)

Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Order & Family
Order: Araneae; Family: Theridiidae
Size
Females 5-8 mm, Males 4 mm (excluding leg span)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.