Description

This spider is small in size (adult female is 1/2 inch, the adult male is 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch) and belongs to the cobweb weaver family.

Its color may be varying shades of brown. The spherical abdomen of the female has brown splotches or streaks. The abdomen of the male is elongated.

Habitat

The American House Spider is found all over the world (not just in America!). True to its name, you can find this spider in houses, garages, and sheds, under eaves and porches, in window frames, even under furniture and in closets!

The House Spider's web, often called a cobweb, is made up of many crisscrossing strands of sticky silk. You can usually find cobwebs built in corners of rooms and ceilings. The spider can be found hanging upside down in its web.

Food

The House Spider preys on small insects that may fly or crawl into their sticky cobweb. When prey is detected in the web, the spider throws silk over it and wraps it.

If the web is not successful in catching prey, the spider will abandon it and move a new location.

Defense

When the cobweb is disturbed, the House Spider will drop or run off the web and hide. The spider stays within the web for protection, molting and hanging its egg sacs there.