Brown Spitting Spider
Scytodes fusca
This record describes Scytodes fusca (species). Recorded family: Scytodidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
This species is commonly associated with human dwellings, where they seem to compete with Theridion rufipes ( Theridiidae ), but they are also frequent in the field, in hollow tree trunks, under loose bark and in nests of small mammals. Mature individuals are darker in overall body coloring than most species in the genus, in our area. ♀ ♂ Immature individuals are lighter in color. (see the Life Cycle section below)
Wikipedia reference for Scytodes fusca: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scytodes fusca.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Scytodidae (Spitting Spiders)
- Genus
- Scytodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Pantropical (southern North America to South America) Part of Europe (see Internet References below)
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Immature spiders of this species, including the immature females are light in color, with partly banded or spotted legs and have a carapace pattern that may somewhat resemble the pattern of the mature males. (check the body size) Examples:
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Scytodes fusca. 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 Brown Spitting Spider (7)
Photo credits: (c) Valter Jacinto, all rights reserved | (c) Bodor family, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bodor family | (c) Frederik Leck Fischer, all rights reserved, uploaded by Frederik Leck Fischer | (c) Lilian Tomazelli, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Lilian Tomazelli | (c) Vitor C. Dias Gonçalves, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Vitor C. Dias Gonçalves | Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by cheins , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown Spitting Spider
What is Brown Spitting Spider?
Brown Spitting Spider (Scytodes fusca) is a species in the family Scytodidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Brown Spitting Spider?
♀ 5-6mm (BG images) ♂ 4-5mm (BG images)
How do you identify Brown Spitting Spider?
This species is commonly associated with human dwellings, where they seem to compete with Theridion rufipes ( Theridiidae ), but they are also frequent in the field, in hollow tree trunks, under loose bark and in nests of small mammals. Mature individuals are darker in overall body coloring than most species in the genus, in our area. ♀ ♂ Immature individuals are lighter in color. (see the Life Cycle section below)
Where is Brown Spitting Spider found?
Range: Pantropical (southern North America to South America) Part of Europe (see Internet References below)
What is the life cycle of a Brown Spitting Spider?
Immature spiders of this species, including the immature females are light in color, with partly banded or spotted legs and have a carapace pattern that may somewhat resemble the pattern of the mature males. (check the body size) Examples: