How to Identify a Cobweb Spider

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posted on 12 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Cobweb spiders, part of the family Theridiidae, are commonly found in and around your home. The majority of them are harmless. There are over 2,300 species of cobweb spiders, and more than 230 in the US. They are named for their messy, irregular webs, which can help you identify them. You can also identify this type of spider by their round bellies, their long legs, and their tendency to live in dark corners.

Steps

Identifying Physical Characteristics

Look for long legs. The legs of cobweb spiders are long and thin, with the first set of legs being the longest. The third set of legs is the shortest. The fourth set of legs have combs or tiny hairs. The legs don’t have distinct divisions or spines on them. They look smooth instead of segmented.

Check for rounded abdomens. Cobweb spiders have round middle sections. They don’t have elongated or oval abdomens. They are often described as globular shaped.

Look for a spider small to medium in size. There are thousands of species of cobweb spiders, and over 200 in the US. They will vary in size from small to medium. Many species are around ⅛ to ⅜ inches (3 to 10 mm) long.

Check for a dull color. There are a lot of different species of cobweb spiders with different markings. However, almost all cobweb spiders are brown or gray in color. Some markings may be red dots, white stripes, yellow dots, or orange stripes.

Notice two rows of eyes. One of the most distinguishing features on a cobweb spider is their eyes. The eight eyes form two rows across their head, each with four eyes each.

Studying the Web

Check for an irregular web. Cobweb spiders are sometimes called cobweb weavers because of the webs they create. These spiders make messy, irregular webs that have no distinct shape or form. These webs will not be circular or have a neat pattern like many spider webs. Instead, it may have an uneven, non-circular shape, have large open spaces with clumps in other parts, or look like it's been disturbed.

Look for an upside down spider. Cobweb spiders like to build their webs and then spend their time hanging upside down in the middle of the web. If you get close enough, check to see if the head of the spider is hanging down right in the center.

Expect cobweb spiders in dark corners. Cobweb spiders place their webs in dry, dark areas. They can be found in garages, eaves, attics, porches, sheds, and basements. They are also found just about everywhere indoors and around windows. You may also find them under decks and houses, or in piles of outdoor debris or trash.

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