Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)

How to Identify Them

Round abdomen, mottled brown, banded legs and tangled webs in corners. It's related to widow spiders and has a similar shape, but no hourglass.

Common look-alikes:

• Brown widow: orange hourglass and spiky egg sacs. See brown widow.

Signs

• Cobwebs in corners, windows and eaves
• Small spiders hanging in webs
• Brown egg sacs in webs

Prevention Tips

• Vacuum cobwebs regularly.
• Reduce clutter.
• Use yellow outdoor bulbs.
• Seal gaps around windows and doors.

Where Cobwebs Show Up in South Florida Homes

House spiders build where insects are easy to catch. In local homes, the usual hotspots are the upper corners of rooms, around window frames and sliding glass doors, behind and under furniture that isn't moved often, inside closets, under bathroom sinks, along garage ceilings and around the eaves and soffits outside. Exterior lighting near the front door or the garage is a major draw, because lights pull in moths, gnats and other night-flying insects, and those insects feed the spiders. Screened lanais and pool cages also collect cobwebs in corners and along the frame.

Do House Spiders Mean a Bigger Pest Problem?

Sometimes. Spiders follow food. If you see many webs indoors, there may be more insects than you realize, such as small flies from drains, moths from the pantry, ants or roaches. Reducing those insects is often the most effective long-term way to reduce spiders. During your free inspection, we'll look at what the spiders are feeding on and address that too.

Safe Cleanup Tips

Use a vacuum with an extension wand or a long-handled duster to reach high corners. Empty the vacuum outdoors afterward. Wear gloves when reaching into storage areas.