House Spider close up from the front - keep spiders away from your kitchen with Kona Coast Pest Control in Kailua Kona

House Spider

Actual Size: 1″ length, 2″ leg span

Characteristics: Gray-brown to dark brown; two dark stripes on the head and thorax.

Legs: 8

Habitat: Usually found in quiet undisturbed areas of gardens, backyards, sheds, homes, attics, and any other man-made structure.

Habits:

  • Builds cobwebs that are made up of crisscrossed strands of sticky silk.
  • The most common spider in North America and can live up to seven years.
  • If webs do not yield prey, the webs are abandoned and a new site is chosen.


House Spiders in Kailua Kona

The most commonly seen spider in North America is known as the common or domestic house spider. The spider is frequently encountered indoors and is considered a nuisance pest primarily due to its webs. The crisscrossing strands of sticky and silky webbing are referred to as a cobweb and they are usually found in the corners of ceilings and rooms. The house spider preys on insects that land in its sticky web. If the web location is not successful, the spider will find a new place to make a web to catch prey.

House Spider Habitat

House spiders gravitate towards undisturbed and quiet areas where food and moisture are present. These locations consist of backyards, gardens, attics, basements, sheds, barns, and other man-made structures. If left in peace in indoor spaces, the house spider has a life space of seven years in the same web. In an outside environment, females cannot survive in the cold and males have a lifespan of less than a year.

House Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

While quick moving, the house spider will likely retreat when it is confronted and is not aggressive. If feeling extremely threatened, it may bite, however, this is rarely documented. Should this happen, the noted symptoms include swelling, mild pain, and itching. Not only do the spiders not cause any property damage, but they are useful with their consumption of other dangerous pests, such as carpenter ants, termites, stink bugs, and moths.

If you are dealing with a common house spider problem, always contact your local spider exterminators.