Wall spider
Oecobius navus
This record describes Oecobius navus (species). Recorded family: Oecobiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
The pattern on the carapace (dark central stripe, three dashes or dots on either side) should be characteristic of this species in this region. For additional information, you can check Shear 1970 . However, do note that some of the recently introduced species documented on BugGuide (e.g. O. amboseli and O. annulipes ) do look similar. The full extent and range of the introduced species is not fully known at this time. Of note, preserved specimens of O. navus can rarely lack the dashes and dots and show unmarked carapaces, superfically resembling O. putus (in California) or other spp. In examining a large sample of seventy-seven specimens collected in central California recently, I found one male with a virtually unmarked carapace and several with very faint markings. These specimens had the typical genitalia and eye arrangement of O. navus however (K. Schneider, unpub. obs., August 2015). Shear does mention lightly marked males in his revision.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Oecobiidae (Wall spiders)
- Genus
- Oecobius (Wall spiders)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Cosmopolitan/Pantropical; a highly synanthropic, non-native species. Shear examined specimens from all over the world and found very little variation, and there is little evidence as to the point of origin.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of species name: John Blackwall. First year published: 1859, as Oecobius navus .
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Oecobius navus. 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 Wall spider (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Devin Carroll; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott , cheins , kschnei , Mandy Howe , chuuuuung
Frequently Asked Questions About Wall spider
What is Wall spider?
Wall spider (Oecobius navus) is a species in the family Oecobiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Wall spider?
The pattern on the carapace (dark central stripe, three dashes or dots on either side) should be characteristic of this species in this region. For additional information, you can check Shear 1970 . However, do note that some of the recently introduced species documented on BugGuide (e.g. O. amboseli and O. annulipes ) do look similar. The full extent and range of the introduced species is not fully known at this time. Of note, preserved specimens of O. navus can rarely lack the dashes and dots and show unmarked carapaces, superfically resembling O. putus (in California) or other spp. In examining a large sample of seventy-seven specimens collected in central California recently, I found one male with a virtually unmarked carapace and several with very faint markings. These specimens had the typical genitalia and eye arrangement of O. navus however (K. Schneider, unpub. obs., August 2015). Shear does mention lightly marked males in his revision.
Where is Wall spider found?
Range: Cosmopolitan/Pantropical; a highly synanthropic, non-native species. Shear examined specimens from all over the world and found very little variation, and there is little evidence as to the point of origin.