AMERICAN HOUSE SPIDER:
The common house spider is also known as the American house spider. It forms tangled webs in human dwellings, particularly between loose walls, as well as at the back of open doors and attic windows. It is similar to a cobweb spider and catches a prey after detecting disturbances created by the insect or pests on the web. The movement of the prey is important because it guides the common house spider to the entangled insect. This is because American house spiders have poor vision. Before the entangled prey is eaten, it is paralyzed by the spider’s bite. The favored insects for food of a common house spider are mosquitoes, flies, wasps and ants.
The common house spider is a spider species belonging to the genus Parasteatoda which is indigenous to Americas and the Atlantic and Pacific oceanic islands. This kind of species can survive for more than a year after maturity. An egg sac produced by a single female can contain about 100 to 400 eggs while a single female can bear up to 17 egg sacs. The hatchlings are made to stay in the web of the mother spider for a number of days.
An American house spider has a dull brown color and also includes patterns with different shades that form vague spots in the legs. The color of this spider allows it to blend with the background and remain unnoticed by their preys.The average body size of this kind of spider is 6 mm in length and 2.5 cm across when legs are outspread.The male and female American house spiders usually share the same web while females sometimes fight during an encounter.
Common house spider bite symptoms
A common house spider is not an aggressive biter and usually bites humans only to defend itself mainly when grabbed or squeezed. A typical bite of this spider is dry and is just as painful as a bee sting.Some female American house spiders can deliver a spider bite which is sharp and venomous. This kind of bite can cause swelling and itching around the punctured area of the skin and can also trigger antibody allergies in some cases.This is not something to worry about. A good rest can help in eliminating bite symptoms at a faster rate. The neurotoxin or venom of the spider is similar to that of the black widow but not as potent. However, neurotoxin from common house spider is valuable since it can be used as an insecticide for farm use.
