THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES
House SpiderIdentification, facts & practical guidance
House spider is a loose household name. Here it means the common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum; a spider found indoors is not automatically this species.
Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated · Editorial policy
Identification and lookalikes
First distinguish a cobweb spider from a cellar spider or a funnel weaver by body shape and web form. This page covers one cobweb-building species, not the whole family Agelenidae.
Identifying an indoor spider
A useful record includes a close photograph of the abdomen, a view of the web and the location. Brown coloration alone cannot separate the many spiders that enter buildings.
What to do next
Use the linked specialist spider reference for group-level identification. Remove unwanted webs and seal entry gaps. Do not infer a bite or medical risk solely from finding a spider indoors.
House Spider: species profile
Explore the species profile covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.
Sources and further reading
- extension.psu.edu - common house spiderhttps://extension.psu.edu/common-house-spider
References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.