American House Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
This record describes Parasteatoda tepidariorum (species). Recorded family: Theridiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
- Genus
- Parasteatoda
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Achaearanea tepidariorum is an introduced spider, which, in Britain, is largely confined to warm buildings and especially greenhouses. The similar Achaearanea simulans is found outdoors in a wide range of habitats but rarely if ever indoors.
Seasonal Activity
All year round.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Uncommon and local in Britain.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of American House Spider (11)
Photo credits: (c) Merlla McLaughlin, some rights reserved (CC BY). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/404371236. Original downloaded bytes; proportional display only
Frequently Asked Questions About American House Spider
How big is American House Spider?
4mm to 6mm (0.15" to 0.23")
Where is American House Spider found?
Habitat: Achaearanea tepidariorum is an introduced spider, which, in Britain, is largely confined to warm buildings and especially greenhouses. The similar Achaearanea simulans is found outdoors in a wide range of habitats but rarely if ever indoors.
When is American House Spider active?
American House Spider: seasonal activity - All year round..