Spiders are frequent guests in homes, often unnoticed until they build webs in corners or scurry across the floor. While many people fear them, most house spiders are harmless and even beneficial, helping control pests like flies and ants. This guide covers 24 of the most common house spiders you might encounter indoors. From their appearance and behavior to where they live and how they hunt, you’ll learn how to recognize and understand each spider species that shares your space.
1. American House Spider
The American house spider is one of the most familiar spiders in homes across North America. These small, harmless arachnids are often found in corners, basements, and garages. They’re known for spinning tangled webs and quietly reducing insect populations indoors without posing a threat to humans.
Identification
- Color: Yellowish-brown to tan
- Size: 4mm to 9mm (females are larger)
- Abdomen: Bulbous, dirty white with faint dark markings
- Legs: Long, thin legs with subtle banding
- Eyes: Eight eyes in two rows
Where It Lives Indoors
This spider prefers quiet, undisturbed spaces within homes. It often settles in ceiling corners, behind shelves, under furniture, and inside storage areas like garages or basements.
Behavior and Activity
The American house spider is generally shy and stays close to its web. It rarely wanders and will retreat quickly if disturbed. Mostly active during nighttime, it spends its day resting in the web’s corner.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Its diet consists of small household insects such as flies, ants, mosquitoes, and other soft-bodied pests. The spider relies on its sticky web to trap prey, then injects venom to immobilize and digest the catch.
Web-Making Process
This spider creates irregular, tangled webs, often referred to as cobwebs. It builds them in undisturbed locations and may stay in the same web for long periods, repairing or expanding it as needed. The web lacks symmetry and is made from sticky silk strands to catch flying or crawling insects.
2. Cellar Spider
Commonly known as “daddy longlegs,” the cellar spider is often seen in dark, damp corners of basements and cellars. Despite its spooky appearance with long, thin legs and tiny body, this spider is harmless to humans. It plays a helpful role by feeding on other insects and even other spiders.
Identification
- Color: Pale yellow, tan, or gray
- Size: Body length about 2mm to 10mm
- Legs: Extremely long and slender
- Body: Small, oval-shaped
- Movement: Vibrates rapidly in web when threatened
Where It Lives Indoors
Cellar spiders prefer humid, quiet indoor spaces such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and behind furniture or storage boxes.
Behavior and Activity
These spiders hang upside down in their webs and remain mostly still. They shake their webs when disturbed as a defense mechanism. They are non-aggressive and remain hidden for most of the day.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on flies, mosquitoes, and even other spiders, including more venomous ones. They rely on their irregular web to catch prey, then quickly subdue it with venom.
Web-Making Process
Cellar spiders create loose, messy webs in corners and other secluded areas. They maintain their webs regularly and often build new ones close to old sites. The silk is non-sticky, relying on entanglement rather than adhesion.
3. Common House Spider
The common house spider is often confused with the American house spider due to similar habits and appearance. Found throughout homes, it’s known for creating cobwebs in hidden corners. These spiders are passive and rarely come into contact with humans.
Identification
- Color: Brown, gray, or dirty yellow
- Size: 4mm to 8mm
- Abdomen: Large and rounded, often patterned
- Legs: Long and hairy with faint banding
- Eyes: Eight, grouped closely
Where It Lives Indoors
You’ll find this spider in ceiling corners, closets, basements, under sinks, or near windows. It chooses quiet, less-trafficked areas.
Behavior and Activity
It stays inside its web for most of its life, waiting patiently for prey. It’s shy and will drop or run away if threatened. These spiders do not wander far and can stay in the same web for weeks or months.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on small insects like gnats, flies, and ants. Once prey is trapped in their web, they immobilize it with venom and wrap it in silk for later feeding.
Web-Making Process
Common house spiders spin irregular cobwebs with dense layers. They build webs in tight spaces where air currents carry flying insects. If a web becomes ineffective, they move a short distance and build another.
4. Daddy Longlegs (Harvestman)
Although often mistaken for spiders, daddy longlegs are technically not true spiders. They belong to a different order called Opiliones. However, they are common in and around homes and are known for their very long legs and compact, round bodies.
Identification
- Color: Light brown to gray
- Size: Body around 2mm to 10mm
- Legs: Extremely long, thin legs
- Body: Oval or globular, not separated into segments
- Eyes: Two eyes mounted on a small hump
Where It Lives Indoors
Daddy longlegs are commonly found in basements, sheds, crawl spaces, and garages. They seek out cool, moist areas with little disturbance.
Behavior and Activity
Unlike true spiders, they do not spin webs or produce silk. They are scavengers and foragers, walking around in search of food. They are harmless and usually inactive during the day, becoming more mobile at night.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on decaying organic matter, small insects, fungi, and plant materials. Unlike many spiders, they chew their food instead of using venom.
Movement and Shelter Style
Though they don’t create webs, they may gather in groups and rest in corners. They walk slowly, using their legs to sense surroundings, and occasionally drop their legs when threatened (a process called autotomy).
5. Jumping Spider
Jumping spiders are small, energetic, and known for their excellent vision and impressive leaping abilities. They are commonly seen inside homes on walls, windowsills, or floors. Their curious nature and large front eyes make them easy to recognize.
Identification
- Color: Black, brown, or gray with metallic or white markings
- Size: 4mm to 15mm
- Body: Compact, stocky build
- Eyes: Eight, with two large front-facing eyes
- Legs: Short, powerful legs for jumping
Where It Lives Indoors
Jumping spiders don’t build webs for trapping prey. Instead, they roam freely across window sills, bookshelves, floors, and furniture in search of insects.
Behavior and Activity
These spiders are active hunters during the day. They rely on excellent eyesight to stalk and leap onto prey. Curious but cautious, they often watch humans from a distance rather than flee immediately.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on small insects such as flies, ants, and moths. They jump to catch their prey and use venom to immobilize it. Their feeding method is active, unlike web-based hunters.
Hunting and Shelter Habits
Instead of webs, they spin small silk shelters behind furniture or inside wall cracks for resting or hiding. They may also use silk as a safety tether while jumping.
6. Carolina Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are fast-moving hunters often seen indoors during colder months when seeking warmth. They do not build webs but actively chase down their prey. Although they can appear intimidating due to their size and speed, they are not dangerous to humans.
Identification
- Color: Brown, gray, or black with stripes or mottled patterns
- Size: 10mm to 35mm depending on species
- Body: Stout and hairy with a large head and abdomen
- Eyes: Eight eyes in three rows (two large prominent eyes)
- Legs: Long and powerful, built for running
Where It Lives Indoors
Indoors, they are found in basements, laundry rooms, garages, and around windows or doors. They prefer areas with low foot traffic and plenty of hiding spots.
Behavior and Activity
Wolf spiders are solitary, ground-dwelling hunters. They do not use webs but rely on their speed and sharp vision to catch prey. They may freeze or sprint away when disturbed.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. They chase and pounce on their prey, inject venom, and consume it. They hunt mostly at night.
Shelter and Movement Style
Instead of webs, wolf spiders hide under furniture, behind boxes, or in wall cracks. During the day, they rest in these shelters and emerge to hunt at night. Females carry egg sacs and later their spiderlings on their backs.
7. Brown Recluse Spider
The brown recluse is a venomous spider found in some indoor environments, especially in the central and southern United States. Known for its violin-shaped marking, this spider tends to avoid human contact and hides in dark, undisturbed places.
Identification
- Color: Light to dark brown
- Size: 6mm to 12mm
- Marking: Dark violin shape on its back
- Eyes: Six eyes arranged in pairs (unlike most spiders with eight)
- Legs: Uniform in color, not banded
Where It Lives Indoors
Brown recluses hide in closets, attics, shoes, boxes, behind baseboards, and under furniture. They prefer undisturbed, dark, and dry environments.
Behavior and Activity
True to its name, the brown recluse avoids humans and light. It is nocturnal, emerging at night to hunt or look for mates. It may bite in self-defense if pressed against the skin.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on soft-bodied insects and other small arthropods. They catch prey by ambush rather than with webs, using venom to paralyze and dissolve internal tissue.
Web Usage and Shelter
Though they do not use webs for hunting, they do spin irregular silk retreats in hidden areas where they rest during the day. These silk shelters are used for nesting and molting.
8. Black Widow Spider
The black widow is one of the most recognizable and feared spiders due to its shiny black body and red hourglass marking. Although venomous, black widow bites are rare and typically occur only when the spider feels threatened.
Identification
- Color: Glossy black
- Size: 8mm to 15mm (females are larger)
- Marking: Red or orange hourglass shape on the underside of the abdomen
- Body: Smooth, rounded abdomen
- Legs: Long and slender
Where It Lives Indoors
Black widows may be found in garages, crawl spaces, sheds, and cluttered areas like woodpiles or under furniture. They prefer dark, quiet places close to the ground.
Behavior and Activity
They are shy and not aggressive. Black widows typically hang upside down in their webs, waiting for prey. They stay hidden during the day and are more active at night.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Their diet includes flies, mosquitoes, beetles, and other small insects. They immobilize prey with venom and consume the liquefied insides. Their webs are built specifically to trap crawling and flying insects.
Web-Making and Shelter
Black widows spin strong, irregular webs near the ground or in corners. The silk is extremely tough and sticky. They hide in a retreat within the web and rarely move far unless disturbed.
9. Hobo Spider
The hobo spider is often misunderstood and has been mistakenly associated with harmful bites. Native to Europe and now found in parts of the United States, this ground-dwelling spider builds funnel-shaped webs in quiet, hidden areas.
Identification
- Color: Brown with subtle chevron patterns on the abdomen
- Size: 11mm to 15mm
- Body: Elongated body with long legs
- Eyes: Eight eyes in two rows
- Markings: Lacks distinct bands on legs or a violin marking
Where It Lives Indoors
Hobo spiders seek out basements, window wells, crawl spaces, and wall voids. They prefer low-light, low-traffic areas near the ground.
Behavior and Activity
They are fast runners and may appear aggressive when startled, but they are generally non-aggressive. They spend most of their time in or near their funnel web, emerging when prey is detected.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on small insects such as beetles, flies, and ants. Once prey enters the funnel, the spider rushes out, delivers a venomous bite, and pulls it into the tunnel for consumption.
Web Construction and Use
Hobo spiders build horizontal, sheet-like webs with a funnel retreat at one end. The web is not sticky but designed to guide insects toward the funnel. They remain hidden in the funnel until disturbed or feeding.
10. False Widow Spider
The false widow spider gets its name from its resemblance to the more dangerous black widow. However, it is less venomous and far less aggressive. Found in homes throughout parts of Europe and the U.S., this spider is commonly spotted near windows and ceiling corners.
Identification
- Color: Brown to purplish-black
- Size: 9mm to 14mm
- Marking: Pale markings on the abdomen, sometimes shaped like a skull
- Body: Round and shiny
- Legs: Smooth, slightly reddish legs
Where It Lives Indoors
False widows often settle in window frames, garages, sheds, or quiet corners inside the home. They prefer dry, warm environments with little disturbance.
Behavior and Activity
These spiders are sedentary, spending much of their time sitting still in their webs. They are most active at night and tend to flee rather than bite when threatened.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on flying insects, ants, and even other spiders. Their web traps prey, and they inject venom to immobilize and break down the internal fluids.
Web-Making and Retreat Habits
False widows spin irregular, tangled webs close to walls or ceilings. The spider hides in a silk retreat nearby and emerges when prey enters the web.
11. Yellow Sac Spider
The yellow sac spider is a small but active hunter found both indoors and outdoors. It does not build webs for trapping prey but instead roams at night. While bites can cause mild irritation, this spider is not aggressive and generally avoids confrontation.
Identification
- Color: Pale yellow, light green, or beige
- Size: 4mm to 10mm
- Abdomen: Elongated and smooth
- Legs: Long and thin with dark tips
- Markings: May have a dark line running down the center of the back
Where It Lives Indoors
It hides in wall and ceiling corners, behind baseboards, under furniture, or inside folds of curtains. During the day, it rests in a small, silken sac usually in these secluded locations.
Behavior and Activity
This spider is nocturnal and an active hunter. It does not rely on webs to catch prey and prefers to ambush or chase insects during the night. It may bite defensively if trapped against the skin.
Diet and Feeding Habits
It hunts small household insects such as ants, flies, and moths. The spider uses venom to quickly paralyze its prey and consumes it on the spot.
Silk Sac and Resting Habit
Instead of a traditional web, the yellow sac spider creates a silken tube or sac as a resting place. These sacs are often found in upper corners, wall cracks, or under objects and serve as shelters during the day.
12. Orb Weaver Spider
Orb weavers are best known for creating large, symmetrical webs often seen in gardens, but some species are also found indoors near windows or high ceilings. These spiders are harmless and beneficial for controlling flying insect populations.
Identification
- Color: Varies—brown, orange, gray, or black
- Size: 6mm to 25mm depending on species
- Abdomen: Often large and patterned or spiny
- Legs: Long and often banded
- Markings: Many have unique body shapes or humpbacks
Where It Lives Indoors
Though primarily outdoor spiders, orb weavers can be found indoors near windows, glass doors, or in attics and porches where flying insects gather.
Behavior and Activity
Orb weavers are passive and stay on or near their web. They rebuild their webs daily, usually in the evening, and rest in hidden corners during the day. They are not aggressive and retreat when disturbed.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on flies, moths, and mosquitoes. The orb-shaped web catches flying insects, which the spider then immobilizes with venom and wraps in silk.
Web-Making Routine
They spin classic round webs with radial spokes. Each night, the spider consumes and rebuilds the web using fresh silk to maintain stickiness and strength. They often sit at the center or hide nearby with a signal thread attached to the web.
13. Funnel Web Spider (Domestic Funnel-Web)
Not to be confused with the dangerous Australian species, the domestic funnel web spider is harmless and frequently found inside homes in cooler climates. It’s known for its distinctive funnel-shaped web built in dark corners.
Identification
- Color: Brown or gray with dark stripes
- Size: 10mm to 18mm
- Abdomen: Elongated with fine hairs
- Legs: Sturdy, often hairy
- Eyes: Arranged in two horizontal rows
Where It Lives Indoors
These spiders often settle in basement corners, floor-level wall gaps, under radiators, or around clutter. They prefer areas with minimal disturbance and low light.
Behavior and Activity
Funnel web spiders are fast and alert. They wait in the narrow part of the funnel and rush out when prey touches the web. While quick movers, they are shy and will flee rather than confront.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They eat ants, cockroaches, flies, and small beetles. They rely on vibrations in the web to detect prey, then rapidly emerge to grab and drag it back into the funnel.
Web Structure and Function
Their webs are flat with a funnel-shaped retreat where the spider hides. The sheet extends outward to catch walking insects. The silk is not sticky but effectively entangles prey through density and tension.
14. Garden Spider (Indoor Occasional Visitor)
Garden spiders, especially the species Argiope aurantia, are typically outdoor dwellers, but they may occasionally be found indoors, especially in greenhouses or rooms with open windows. They are large, striking spiders known for their bold markings and zigzag patterns in their webs.
Identification
- Color: Black and yellow or black and white
- Size: 15mm to 28mm (females are much larger than males)
- Abdomen: Large, oval, and brightly patterned
- Legs: Long with noticeable banding
- Markings: Zigzag pattern (stabilimentum) in the center of the web
Where It Lives Indoors
Though not common indoors, garden spiders may enter homes through open windows or doors. If found inside, they usually stay near windows, sunrooms, or indoor plants where they can still catch prey.
Behavior and Activity
They are very calm and rarely move unless provoked. These spiders stay centered in their web during the day and drop to the ground or retreat if disturbed.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on moths, flies, bees, and other flying insects. Their webs are strong and efficient at trapping prey. Once caught, the spider bites, paralyzes, and wraps it for later consumption.
Web Building and Routine
Garden spiders build large, circular orb webs with a distinct zigzag in the center. They often rebuild the web daily, typically in the early morning hours. They rest in the middle of the web or nearby during daylight.
15. Sac Spider
Sac spiders are small, fast, and nocturnal hunters that prefer to roam in search of prey rather than wait in a web. Found both indoors and outdoors, they are known for building small silk sacs where they hide during the day.
Identification
- Color: Pale yellow, beige, or light green
- Size: 5mm to 10mm
- Abdomen: Oval-shaped with no distinct patterns
- Legs: Long and tapered
- Eyes: Eight eyes arranged in two rows
Where It Lives Indoors
They are commonly found in corners of ceilings and walls, behind pictures, under baseboards, and within curtain folds. They also hide in closets, boxes, or bedding.
Behavior and Activity
Sac spiders are active hunters at night and remain hidden during the day. They are quick movers and may drop if disturbed. Bites can happen if they are trapped in clothing or bedding, but serious reactions are rare.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They prey on other spiders, ants, flies, and small household insects. They don’t spin webs to trap prey, instead using stealth and speed to catch it.
Silk Sac Usage
These spiders build small, tubular silk sacs as resting spots. Unlike webs, these sacs are not for catching prey but for daytime shelter and protection while molting or laying eggs.
16. Nursery Web Spider
The nursery web spider is similar in appearance to the wolf spider but differs in its web usage and reproductive behavior. Though mostly outdoor dwellers, they can occasionally be found indoors, especially in damp or cluttered areas. They are named for their unique way of guarding their egg sacs in a “nursery” web.
Identification
- Color: Brown or tan with dark stripes running down the body
- Size: 10mm to 18mm
- Abdomen: Slender and long
- Legs: Long and spiny
- Eyes: Eight eyes arranged in two rows
Where It Lives Indoors
Indoors, nursery web spiders prefer cluttered garages, basements, and areas near water sources like sinks or damp walls. They seek out quiet, hidden spots for hunting and nesting.
Behavior and Activity
These spiders are active hunters and do not rely on webs to catch prey. Females carry their egg sacs in their fangs and build a protective nursery web when the eggs are ready to hatch. They guard the young until they disperse.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and other spiders. They stalk and chase down prey using speed and agility, relying on strong vision and physical strength.
Web Usage for Reproduction
While they don’t use webs to hunt, they create large nursery webs among leaves or furniture to protect their egg sacs. The female guards this area until spiderlings emerge, then the web is abandoned.
17. Lace Web Spider
Lace web spiders are small, fast-moving arachnids known for the delicate lace-like appearance of their webs. Often mistaken for hobo spiders, they are harmless to humans and commonly found near damp, sheltered areas both indoors and outdoors.
Identification
- Color: Brown with chevron or herringbone patterns
- Size: 8mm to 12mm
- Abdomen: Oblong and patterned
- Legs: Slightly hairy with faint banding
- Eyes: Eight, evenly arranged
Where It Lives Indoors
Lace web spiders are often seen near vents, drains, basements, window wells, and under sinks. They prefer moist environments and build their webs near the ground or in wall gaps.
Behavior and Activity
They are reclusive and stay hidden in their funnel retreat during the day. When disturbed, they quickly retreat or flee. They’re not aggressive and rarely bite unless provoked.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on insects that wander into their web, such as flies, ants, and beetles. They detect movement through web vibrations and strike quickly from their retreat.
Web-Making Characteristics
Lace web spiders build horizontal sheet webs with a tubular retreat where they hide. The silk is fine and resembles lace, and webs are often built in crevices or corners close to ground level.
18. Bold Jumping Spider
The bold jumping spider is a curious and active spider often seen indoors on windowsills, floors, or walls. It’s easy to recognize by its compact body, bold white spots, and iridescent green chelicerae. These spiders do not spin webs to catch prey—they hunt it down.
Identification
- Color: Black with distinct white or orange spots
- Size: 8mm to 15mm
- Abdomen: Short, rounded with noticeable markings
- Legs: Sturdy and hairy
- Eyes: Eight, with two large central front eyes
Where It Lives Indoors
Bold jumping spiders are found in well-lit indoor spaces like window frames, doorways, and corners of rooms. They may also be spotted on floors, ceilings, and walls during their active hunting routines.
Behavior and Activity
These spiders are extremely alert and visually aware. They actively hunt by leaping onto prey and are often seen watching nearby movement. They don’t spin webs to catch food but create silk draglines for safety when jumping.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Their diet includes ants, flies, beetles, and even other spiders. They stalk their target, leap with precision, and inject venom to subdue it. Feeding occurs on the spot after capture.
Resting and Shelter Habits
Instead of building webs, bold jumpers create small silk shelters under furniture, behind curtains, or in wall gaps. These shelters are used for resting and molting, and they often return to the same spot after hunting.
19. Southern House Spider
The southern house spider is commonly mistaken for the brown recluse due to its similar appearance. However, it is non-venomous and harmless to humans. Males are slender and wander in search of mates, while females are stockier and stay hidden in their webs.
Identification
- Color: Brown to dark gray
- Size: Females up to 18mm; males slightly smaller and thinner
- Body: Covered in fine hairs
- Eyes: Eight, but poorly developed
- Legs: Long and spindly, more noticeable in males
Where It Lives Indoors
Southern house spiders live in dark, quiet indoor spaces like ceiling corners, attics, behind shutters, and inside cracks in walls. Females stay put in their webs, while males wander through the house.
Behavior and Activity
Males are often seen during mating season as they roam in search of females. They are slow-moving and may appear clumsy. These spiders are nocturnal and avoid light and human interaction.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on cockroaches, ants, moths, and other common indoor insects. They rely on vibration-sensitive webs to detect prey, then rush out to capture and bite it.
Web-Making and Hiding
Females spin messy, sheet-like webs in tight crevices or hidden corners. They rarely leave these webs, using them both for catching prey and shelter. Males don’t build webs but may hide temporarily in silk tunnels.
20. Triangulate Cobweb Spider
The triangulate cobweb spider is a small, harmless species commonly found in homes across North America and Europe. It belongs to the same family as the black widow but is not venomous to humans. It’s known for its triangular abdominal markings and its messy cobwebs.
Identification
- Color: Brown or tan with cream or yellow markings
- Size: 3mm to 6mm
- Abdomen: Oval with triangle-like patterns
- Legs: Long and thin, often slightly translucent
- Eyes: Eight small eyes in two rows
Where It Lives Indoors
These spiders prefer basements, corners of rooms, behind appliances, and around window frames. They’re often found in undisturbed, dry areas with access to flying insects.
Behavior and Activity
Triangulate cobweb spiders are reclusive and remain in their webs. They are not aggressive and avoid contact with humans. They may stay in the same web for long periods.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Their diet includes ants, gnats, small flies, and other household pests. Once prey is entangled in the web, the spider quickly wraps and immobilizes it for feeding.
Web-Making and Maintenance
They create classic cobweb-style webs—irregular, sticky, and located in corners or near floorboards. The spider typically hides in a retreat within the web and only emerges when prey is captured.
21. Long-Bodied Cellar Spider
The long-bodied cellar spider is another spider often mistaken for the daddy longlegs. It has an elongated abdomen and extremely long legs. These spiders are harmless and help reduce pest populations indoors.
Identification
- Color: Pale gray or yellowish-brown
- Size: Body length 6mm to 10mm (legs much longer)
- Abdomen: Long and cylindrical
- Legs: Very thin and extremely long
- Eyes: Clustered tightly at the front of the head
Where It Lives Indoors
They prefer humid, dark environments like basements, cellars, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. They also inhabit upper corners of rooms and garages.
Behavior and Activity
Long-bodied cellar spiders hang upside down in their webs. When disturbed, they rapidly shake or bounce in their web to confuse predators. They are non-aggressive and easy to overlook.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on insects, other spiders, and even larger prey caught in their webs. They use quick bites and silk to immobilize and consume prey.
Web Structure and Usage
They spin loose, irregular webs in quiet corners. These webs are not sticky but are very effective due to the spider’s quick movements and silk wrapping. The webs are typically left in place for extended periods and expanded as needed.
22. Zebra Jumping Spider
The zebra jumping spider is a small, active hunter known for its distinctive black-and-white striped pattern, resembling a zebra. Found on walls, windowsills, and ceilings, this spider relies on its sharp vision and agility rather than webs to catch prey.
Identification
- Color: Black with white horizontal stripes
- Size: 4mm to 8mm
- Abdomen: Short, oval-shaped with clear striping
- Legs: Short, strong, and covered in fine hairs
- Eyes: Eight, with two large front eyes
Where It Lives Indoors
Zebra jumping spiders are usually found near windows, door frames, and bright indoor walls where small insects are present. They enjoy well-lit spaces and flat surfaces for hunting.
Behavior and Activity
They are curious and cautious, often turning to observe movement. They do not spin webs for prey but use their excellent eyesight to stalk and pounce on insects. They are active during the day and rest in hidden silk shelters at night.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They feed on small insects like flies, moths, and gnats. These spiders leap with precision to capture their prey and inject venom to subdue it quickly.
Shelter and Resting Silk
Rather than a traditional web, they spin small silk pads for sleeping or molting. These shelters are built behind objects, under windowsills, or inside wall cracks.
23. Woodlouse Spider
The woodlouse spider is a ground-dwelling species that preys almost exclusively on woodlice (also known as pill bugs). Its reddish body and large fangs give it a striking look, but it poses no serious threat to humans.
Identification
- Color: Reddish-orange head and legs, cream or tan abdomen
- Size: 8mm to 15mm
- Body: Smooth with a shiny cephalothorax
- Legs: Long, strong front legs
- Fangs: Prominent and forward-facing
Where It Lives Indoors
Woodlouse spiders are found under floorboards, in wall voids, basements, or hidden behind heavy furniture. They prefer damp, low-light areas where woodlice are common.
Behavior and Activity
They are solitary and slow-moving unless hunting. These spiders do not spin webs to catch prey; they stalk and grab woodlice using powerful fangs.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Their diet mainly consists of woodlice. They pierce the exoskeleton with strong fangs and inject venom to digest the prey before consuming it.
Shelter and Hiding Spots
Instead of webs, they create silk-lined burrows or hide under objects. They are nocturnal and remain hidden during the day, emerging at night to hunt.
24. Mouse Spider (Scotophaeus blackwalli)
The mouse spider, not to be confused with the venomous Australian species of the same name, is a harmless ground spider commonly found indoors in Europe and parts of North America. It’s named for its gray, velvety appearance, similar to a mouse’s fur.
Identification
- Color: Dark gray or brown with a velvety sheen
- Size: 6mm to 12mm
- Body: Robust with fine, dense hair
- Legs: Thick and slightly spiny
- Eyes: Eight, arranged in two horizontal rows
Where It Lives Indoors
Mouse spiders are ground-dwellers often found along baseboards, under furniture, inside wall cracks, and near storage boxes. They prefer dry, quiet, and hidden areas of homes.
Behavior and Activity
They are nocturnal hunters and are rarely seen during the day. These spiders are not aggressive and usually flee when disturbed. They roam at night to search for food and may occasionally climb walls.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Their diet consists of ants, beetles, flies, and other crawling insects. They do not spin webs for catching prey but rely on stealth and speed to ambush their targets.
Hiding and Resting Behavior
Instead of webs, mouse spiders create silk retreats for resting and laying eggs. These silk pads or tubes are hidden in cracks, corners, or behind objects and are used only for shelter, not for hunting.
