Common house spider
Encyclopedia
The common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), referred to as American house spider internationally, is a spider
species of the genus Parasteatoda
which is mainly indigenous to the New World
, with P. tepidariorum australis (common gray house spider) also encountered in some parts of Myanmar
and Pakistan
. American house spiders are synanthrope
and build their tangled web
in or near human dwellings, often in secluded areas such as between loose walls, behind open doors and attic windows. The prey mechanism is similar to that of the other cob-web spiders: following emitted disturbances on the web to entangle, and then paralyze its prey, which usually consists of household insects and other invertebrates (often considered as pests). Therefore, in some regions, having those spiders inside a house may be considered beneficial, however, a hazard for a potential spider bite
might exist.
Like some other species of the family Theridiidae, P. tepidariorum shares a body shape and size that makes it similar to widow spider
s, which have venom that is classified as potentially dangerous.
Three spider species usually prey upon them: the pirate spiders of the genus Mimetus
(Mimetidae), as well as two jumping spider
species - Phidippus
variegatus and Metacyrba
undata. The latter one also often falls prey to its own food when it gets trapped in the tangling web after missing the jump on its target.
The assassin bug Stenolemus lanipes
(Emesinae
) feeds apparently exclusively on spiderlings of this species, but can also become prey of the adult spider.
American house spiders possess poor vision and cannot detect any movement further than on a 3-4 inch interval. If cornered, they will feign death as last resort.
only in self-defense and on condition of being violently grabbed and squeezed. Regular bites are dry
and no more painful than a bee sting, but some females can deliver sharp, venomous bites on that occasion. If venom is administered with the bite, symptoms may include swelling and itching around the area and may trigger antibody allergies in some individuals. Medical attention is not required, but rest is recommended.
The venom of American house spider is a neurotoxin
similar to that of the black widow, but much less potent. It is often extracted and sold as an insecticide
for farmers of the United States
and Canada
. It is also powerful enough to kill the same species of spider on occasion.
" can also be attributed worldwide to different spider species, notably Tegenaria domestica in Europe
and Araneus cavaticus, also known as the barn spider. Many other species can be referred to as such, therefore its scientific name is used of preference during spider identification.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
species of the genus Parasteatoda
Parasteatoda
Parasteatoda is a genus of spiders in the Theridiidae family.-Distribution:This is mostly an Old World genus, with many species found in Asia and New Guinea, but reaching into Europe. A single species, P. tepidariorum is found in the New World, but P...
which is mainly indigenous to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
, with P. tepidariorum australis (common gray house spider) also encountered in some parts of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. American house spiders are synanthrope
Synanthrope
Synanthropes is a term applied to species of wild animals and plants of various kinds that live near, and benefit from, an association with humans and the somewhat artificial habitats that humans create around them . Those habitats include houses, gardens, farms, roadsides, garbage dumps, and so on...
and build their tangled web
Tangle web spider
Theridiidae is a large family of spiders, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders. The diverse family includes over 2200 species in over 100 genera) of three-dimensional space-web-builders found throughout the world...
in or near human dwellings, often in secluded areas such as between loose walls, behind open doors and attic windows. The prey mechanism is similar to that of the other cob-web spiders: following emitted disturbances on the web to entangle, and then paralyze its prey, which usually consists of household insects and other invertebrates (often considered as pests). Therefore, in some regions, having those spiders inside a house may be considered beneficial, however, a hazard for a potential spider bite
Spider bite
A spider bite is an injury resulting from the bites of spiders or other closely related arachnids.Spiders are active hunters and rely heavily on their bites to paralyze and kill their prey before consuming it. They also bite in self defense...
might exist.
Description
Appearance
They are generally dull in appearance, with patterns consisting of brown shades for coloration, often giving a vague spotted appearance that is particularly noticeable on the legs. Their average body size is a quarter-inch (6 mm) long, but they can be an inch (2.5 cm) or more across with legs outspread. These traits combined allow the spiders to blend into the background and escape notice.Like some other species of the family Theridiidae, P. tepidariorum shares a body shape and size that makes it similar to widow spider
Widow spider
Latrodectus is a genus of spider, in the family Theridiidae, which contains 31 recognized species. The common name widow spiders is sometimes applied to members of the genus due to the behavior of the female of eating the male after mating, although sometimes the males of some species are not eaten...
s, which have venom that is classified as potentially dangerous.
Life cycle
A male and female often share the same web for longer periods, and several females often build their webs in close proximity. However, several females will fight each other on an encounter. This species can live for more than a year after reaching maturity. Each egg sac contains from 100 to more than 400 eggs, with a single female producing up to 17 egg sacs. The hatchlings remain in the mother's web for several days.Diet and predation
American house spiders usually feed on household pests such as flies, mosquitoes, ants and wasps. They can randomly attack grasshoppers, butterflies, cockroaches or other spiders depending on their size. If the prey is too agile, the spider will try shooting web at it from a distance before pulling the thread toward itself. Bigger females can also attract baby skinks inside their web by leaving fly remains hanging in it. Once its food dries out, the spider usually drops it to the floor in order to free some space in its web, instead of destroying and rebuilding it or changing its location.Three spider species usually prey upon them: the pirate spiders of the genus Mimetus
Mimetus
Mimetus is a genus of pirate spiders in the family Mimetidae. They are found worldwide.-Description:Members of this genus resemble the comb-footed spiders, Theridiidae, due to their globular abdomen. The upper side of this bears curved bristle-like hairs...
(Mimetidae), as well as two jumping spider
Jumping spider
The jumping spider family contains more than 500 described genera and about 5,000 described species, making it the largest family of spiders with about 13% of all species. Jumping spiders have some of the best vision among invertebrates and use it in courtship, hunting and navigation...
species - Phidippus
Phidippus
Phidippus is a genus in the family Salticidae . Some of the largest jumping spiders inhabit this genus, and many species are characterized by their brilliant, iridescent green chelicerae. Phidippus is distributed almost exclusively in North America, with the exception of two exported species...
variegatus and Metacyrba
Metacyrba
Metacyrba is a spider genus of the family Salticidae .-Name:The genus name is combined from Ancient Greek "after, beside" and the salticid genus Cyrba.-Species:* Metacyrba floridana Gertsch, 1934 — USA...
undata. The latter one also often falls prey to its own food when it gets trapped in the tangling web after missing the jump on its target.
The assassin bug Stenolemus lanipes
Stenolemus lanipes
Stenolemus lanipes is a species of thread-legged bugs .This species feeds on spiders, especially spiderlings of Parasteatoda tepidariorum. S. lanipes will not feed upon other insects placed upon a web, even to the point of starvation....
(Emesinae
Emesinae
Emesinae, or thread-legged bugs, are a subfamily of the Reduviidae . They are conspicuously different from the other reduviids by their very slender body form. They are stalking, predaceous insects that can be collected on palm fronds, cliffs, spider webbing, or near lights at night...
) feeds apparently exclusively on spiderlings of this species, but can also become prey of the adult spider.
Interaction with humans
As these spiders live in constant presence of human beings around their habitat, they are not usually aggressive and will even let a human hand approach their web. As any other spider, however, they are afraid of bigger foes, and, in most cases, will retreat behind an obstacle (such as a dried leaf or prey remains) upon perceiving more than usual disturbance to their web. Further disturbance may lead to the spider dropping down on a thread, then running away from the web. If the distance is not considerable, it will usually return to its web within a couple of days. Otherwise, it will start a new one.American house spiders possess poor vision and cannot detect any movement further than on a 3-4 inch interval. If cornered, they will feign death as last resort.
Toxicity
American house spiders will bite humansSpider bite
A spider bite is an injury resulting from the bites of spiders or other closely related arachnids.Spiders are active hunters and rely heavily on their bites to paralyze and kill their prey before consuming it. They also bite in self defense...
only in self-defense and on condition of being violently grabbed and squeezed. Regular bites are dry
Dry bite
A dry bite is a bite by a venomous animal in which no venom is released. Dry snake bites are called "Venomous snake bite without envenoming". Dry bites can occur from all snakes, but their frequency varies from species to species. For example, brown snakes can inflict dry bites 80% of the time...
and no more painful than a bee sting, but some females can deliver sharp, venomous bites on that occasion. If venom is administered with the bite, symptoms may include swelling and itching around the area and may trigger antibody allergies in some individuals. Medical attention is not required, but rest is recommended.
The venom of American house spider is a neurotoxin
Neurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
similar to that of the black widow, but much less potent. It is often extracted and sold as an insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
for farmers of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is also powerful enough to kill the same species of spider on occasion.
Similar named species
The name "house spiderHouse spider
The name House spider is a generic term for different spiders commonly found around human dwellings, and may refer to:* Black house spider, Badumna Insignis, an Australian spider also found in New Zealand;...
" can also be attributed worldwide to different spider species, notably Tegenaria domestica in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Araneus cavaticus, also known as the barn spider. Many other species can be referred to as such, therefore its scientific name is used of preference during spider identification.
External links
- Common House Spider Fact Sheet with information on habits, habitat and threats
- Pictures of A. tepidariorum (Free for noncommercial use)
- common house spider on the UFUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
/ IFASInstitute of Food and Agricultural SciencesThe University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information...
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