15 Common House Spiders And How To Identify

• Scientific Name: Parasteatoda tepidariorum

The House Spider is one of the most common and widely distributed species of spiders which prefer living in houses and can be found in the attics, basements, or behind the furniture. Though widespread and often seen, this spider is not dangerous to humans and does not possess lethal venom.

It rarely bites and even if it does, the effects are normally mild like rashes or itching. House Spiders help reduce the number of insects in our homes as they feed on them.

How to Identify

House Spiders are primarily brown or grayish with a large spherical abdomen that has a combination of light and dark patterns. The legs are long and thin and have distinctive white stripes on them.

Normally, the body length of the species ranges from 5mm to 9 mm which makes the species small in size. Their web is an irregular, tangled structure often located in undisturbed corners of a room or along the edges of the ceiling.

• Scientific Name: Kukulcania hibernalis

The American House Spider is an indoor spider that prefers to live in areas where there is little or no disruption such as basements, closets, or behind furniture. It is not lethal to human beings, but its sting, in case it happens, could be slightly painful or cause some inflammation.

This spider has the function of controlling the pests at home by capturing insects in its web.

How to Identify

This spider has an oval, bulbous shape and is generally brown to reddish-brown in color. The American House Spider has an average body length of between 7mm and 12mm. It has long and thin legs with fine body hairs and pale bands on its legs.

The web it creates is disorganized and uneven, often built in the hidden areas of the house or in between the walls and ceiling where it has easy access to a number of small insects.

• Scientific Name: Pholcus phalangioides

The Cellar Spider prefers to dwell in cold and dark areas such as basements, crawl spaces, and under furniture. It is not dangerous to humans and does not have a venom that has an effect on human beings. Since they hunt other spiders as well as small insects, these spiders are useful in the house.

How to Identify

The Cellar Spider is characterized by having a small, round abdomen that can range from light brown to yellowish in color. It has a very long and slender leg that can grow up to ten times the length of the body.

The body of the spider itself ranges in size between 4 and 10 mm in length. The legs and the body are thin which makes them appear somewhat fragile. The web of the Cellar Spider is irregular and untidy and often constructed in corners of ceilings or in other high inaccessible areas.

• Scientific Name: Loxosceles reclusa

It is considered a dangerous spider because of its potential for producing dangerous venom and the fact that it poses a threat once it invades homes. It loves to dwell in areas that are less frequented such as attics, basements, and closets.

While it is not aggressive, a bite can lead to severe reactions, including necrosis and systemic symptoms in some cases. This is one of the most common spiders in California.

How to Identify

This spider has a violin-shaped mark on its back and its color varies from the light brown tone to the tan one. It measures between 6 and 10 mm in body length. It has long thin legs and six eyes arranged in two rows, unlike the typical spider which has eight.

Some of the characteristics that can be used to differentiate it include; violin-shaped and its eyes arranged in a particular manner. The web of the Brown Recluse spider is not employed in capturing its prey; rather it resides in dark, concealed areas.

• Scientific Name: Lycosidae family

Wolf spiders are large and mobile hunters that may be encountered in gardens, beneath logs, or in basements. They are mainly terrestrial and do not spin silk webs to ensnare their prey.

Although these insects are capable of causing a mild sting, they are not lethal to human beings. It should also be noted that Wolf Spiders are useful in eradicating other pests.

How to Identify

Wolf Spiders are large, hairy, and generally brown or gray with a body length of between 10-20mm; they have massive faces with large forward-facing eyes arranged in three rows which makes them good hunters. They have long legs and the tibia and fibula are bristling with fine hair.

The abdomen of the spider is slightly more robust than that of other species and the spider does not spin webs. In contrast, this species actively searches for prey on the ground, often stalking and ambushing insects using its excellent vision.

• Scientific Name: Salticidae family

One of the most common Texas spiders, this is a small and fast-moving species usually observed in vegetation both indoors, such as on house plants, and outside.

They are not dangerous to humans and are famous for their capability to jump and excellent eyesight. It is important to note that these spiders are useful in reducing small insect infestation in your home.

How to Identify

Jumping Spiders are rather stocky arthropods with round flattened bodies of various colors including black, brown, metallic, etc. They vary in body length from 5 to 10 mm They have large, forward-facing eyes which makes them good at depth perception.

These spiders are very strange to look at, especially because of their eyes, which make them look somewhat like cartoon characters with googly eyes. They employ their spider silk for security and for the capture of prey.

• Scientific Name: Araneidae family

Orb-weavers are mainly found in gardens and wooded regions and are famous for their large orb-shaped webs. They are therefore not poisonous to human beings even though their sting is slightly painful. Orb-Weavers are very important in the food chain since they act as predators when they trap insects in their webs.

How to Identify

Orb-Weavers have a large, round abdomen which may be painted with bright stripes or spots of colors such as yellow, red, or brown. They have a body size of 8-20 mm, the legs are elongated and slender and the whole look of the spider is quite unique.

The webs they construct are large, complicated, and circular, usually constructed in open areas such as gardens or beneath foliage

• Scientific Name: Opiliones order

Daddy Longlegs, which are also referred to as harvestmen, prefer to dwell in environments that are dark and moist like basements or under logs. They are not dangerous to humans and are also not venomous. They are useful because they maintain pest densities in their environments.

How to Identify

Daddy Longlegs possess a small, spherical thorax that is colored brown or gray. Their most unique feature is that their legs are long and thin and can be up to 50 times the size of their body.

The body itself is about 3 to 8 mm long. The legs are rather thin and elongated, which makes the spider seem delicate almost ethereal. Daddy Longlegs do not spin webs to catch their prey unlike true spiders and they do not use silk for hunting.

• Scientific Name: Latrodectus mactans

The Black Widow prefers to inhabit quiet outdoors, such as wood piles, sheds, and even basements. It is a poisonous spider, whose bite results in severe pain and dissemination of symptoms. The Black Widow is relatively timid and will sting only when threatened.

How to Identify

Female Black Widows can be identified by their black abdomen and their red, hourglass-shaped marking on their ventral side. The body length is between 8 and 14 millimeters; the males are significantly smaller and less vibrant in coloration and patterns.

It can be described that their webs are irregular and messy, usually built in quiet and not easily disturbed areas. The Black Widow stands out from other spiders due to its red coloration and black and red hourglass mark.

• Scientific Name: Theraphosidae family

Tarantulas are large and fuzzy spiders living in different ecosystems such as forests and deserts. Although they are relatively large and frightening looking, they are nonvenomous to people but their bite is sore. These spiders are also popular as pets because they are mostly harmless and relatively large.

How to Identify

Adult tarantulas are generally large and stocky with hairy bodies of varying shades of brown, black and even neon colors at times. Their body length is between 50 to 100 mm long and they are much larger in size compared to most house spiders.

They are muscular animals with very big sharp fangs and somewhat a ferocious look. Although they are small in size they are not known to spin webs to capture their prey. Instead, these animals rely on their holes or other forms of shelter in which to capture insects.

• Scientific Name: Argiope aurantia

Another well-known species is the Garden Spider, which inhabits gardens and constructs large and intricate webs. It is not toxic to humans and is not known to cause any harm through its bite. These are important spiders in gardens because they feed on insects that are trapped in their intricate webs.

How to Identify

Garden Spiders have distinguishable round abdomens that are marked with yellow and black colors. They measure between 10 and 20 mm in length and have long and thin legs.

The spider’s web is relatively big and well constructed with the possibility to reach several feet in diameter. This spider is typically found in gardens and its bright colors and detailed web makes it easily distinguishable.

• Scientific Name: Linyphiidae family

Sheet Weaving Spiders prefer living in the corners of rooms, vegetation or under any object where they weave beautiful, flat webs. They are not poisonous to man and they do not have any venom that can harm man. Its fine webs enable them to trap small insects and other tiny pests in the environment.

How to Identify

Most of these spiders have small, slender and fragile body which is generally brown or grey in colour and measures between 2-6 mm in length Their legs are also long and thin.

The webs they create are flat or sheet or blanket like and are constructed in areas with low traffic such as corners or under objects. They are different from other spiders due to their size and the structure of their webs.

• Scientific Name: Eratigena agrestis

The Hobo Spider prefers living in areas such as basements and the corners of homes and buildings. It is not classified as highly venomous, however its bite results in irritation and may lead to only minor reactions. One of the most obvious characteristics of a spider is its ability to spin a web that looks like a funnel.

How to Identify

The Hobo Spider is characterized by its elongated and brown body with some dark patterns on it. Its body size is between 10 and 20 millimeters long and has long legs with bristles.

The web it spins is funnel shaped, usually located in corners or lying flat on the ground. These are characteristics of the spider’s form and arrangement of its web.

• Scientific Name: Dolomedes species

Fishing Spiders are usually seen around aquatic areas such as shores of ponds; streams; or marshes. They are not poisonous to human beings and they are not dangerous. These variety of spiders are good hunters of fish and other water animals and can walk on water.

How to Identify

Fishing Spiders are large and flat with long legs measuring up to 60 mm; they are brown, gray or have mottled coloring. The body length varies from 15 to 25 mm. The first pair of legs is particularly elongated and the insects are capable of walking on water.

• Scientific Name: Micrathena sagittata

The Spiny Orb-Weaver, one of the common Florida spiders is generally found in gardens or in wooded regions and builds small, cobweb-like webs. It is not dangerous to humans and it doesn’t have a venom that has an impact on human beings. This spider’s construction and appearance ensure that it stands out in the areas it inhabits.

How to Identify

The Spiny Orb-Weaver has a small, round body with spines that originate from the abdomen segments. Its coloration is a combination of black, white, and red. Body length measures between 5 and 10 mm The spines and bright coloration make this spider easily recognizable.