Spitting Spider
Scytodes thoracica
Scytodidae (Spitting Spiders), Order Araneae
Physical Description
The spitting spider has a distinctly domed, hump-backed carapace that is noticeably elevated in the rear to house the enlarged venom and silk glands used for spitting. It has relatively delicate, long, thin legs and a small, oval abdomen.
Size Estimate
Body length is typically 3 to 6 millimeters (0.12 to 0.24 inches) with a leg span of around 15 to 25 millimeters.
Coloration & Markings
Pale yellowish-brown to grayish with distinctive dark brown or black spots and lines arranged in a characteristic pattern on the domed carapace, and faint banding on the slender legs.
Web Type
Does not build a traditional web to catch prey; instead, it wanders actively at night to hunt and uses its specialized silk-spitting mechanism.
Eye Arrangement
Uniquely possesses only six eyes arranged in three dyads (pairs) forming a semi-circle on the front of the head.
Leg Characteristics
Long, thin, delicate legs with subtle dark banding and no heavy spination, held in a relaxed sprawling posture.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Possesses a specialized venom combined with fast-hardening adhesive silk. Not dangerous or potent to humans.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Their chelicerae are generally too weak to pierce human skin, and they are completely non-aggressive.
Safety Recommendations
No safety measures needed as they are completely harmless. Can be safely relocated using a cup and a piece of paper if found in an unwanted area.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution; highly synanthropic in temperate regions, frequently found indoors in houses, basements, and dark corners, as well as under bark and rocks outdoors.
Behavior & Temperament
Nocturnal, slow-moving, and extremely docile. It hunts by stealth, creeping up on prey and spitting a mixture of venom and sticky silk to pin it down.
Diet & Prey
Feeds primarily on small insects including silverfish, flies, mosquitoes, and other spiders, subduing them with its unique spit.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors in climate-controlled buildings, with increased movement and mating activity during warmer spring and summer months.
Description
The spitting spider is one of the most fascinating household inhabitants due to its unique hunting method. Easily recognized by its high-domed carapace and spotted pattern, it quietly patrols walls at night, hunting pests by spitting a web-like glue over them.
Key Features
Distinguished by its remarkably domed, hump-backed cephalothorax, six eyes arranged in three pairs, and characteristic dark spotted markings on a pale background.
Similar Species
Cellar spiders (Pholcidae) and brown recluses (Loxosceles reclusa). Unlike cellar spiders, spitting spiders have a domed carapace and spotted pattern; unlike brown recluses, they lack the violin marking and have six eyes instead of six in three dyads.
Life Cycle
Females carry a small sac containing around 20 to 50 eggs in their jaws until the spiderlings hatch. They undergo several molts and can live for up to two years.
Ecological Importance
Acts as a beneficial household predator that helps naturally control populations of nuisance insects like silverfish and booklice.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but populations are secure, widespread, and thriving globally alongside human habitations.
Interesting Facts
They are the only spiders capable of spitting a venom-silk mixture from their chelicerae to immobilize prey from a distance of up to 10 millimeters in a fraction of a second.
Photography Tips
Use macro lenses with good side lighting to highlight the domed carapace and distinct spot patterns. Because they are slow-moving, capturing sharp focus is relatively easy.
User Notes
In home
Identified: 2026-08-10T01:51:13.430950