Spitting Spider
Scytodes thoracica
Scytodidae (Spitting Spiders), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include a domed carapace to house specialized venom and silk-producing glands.
Physical Description
Small, distinctly domed, pear-shaped cephalothorax that arches sharply upward, paired with a relatively small, oval abdomen. The overall build is delicate with long, slender legs.
Size Estimate
Body length typically ranges from 3 to 6 mm with a leg span of approximately 10 to 20 mm. This specimen appears to be an adult or sub-adult.
Coloration & Markings
Pale yellowish to light brown base coloration with characteristic dark brown or black spots, stripes, and blotches distributed across the carapace and abdomen in a tiger-like pattern.
Web Type
Does not build traditional capture webs. They are wandering hunters that rely on a unique silk-spitting mechanism to immobilize prey.
Eye Arrangement
Six eyes arranged in three diads (pairs) forming a semi-circle on the front of the elevated cephalothorax, which is unusual compared to the typical eight-eyed pattern of most spiders.
Leg Characteristics
Long, slender legs featuring dark bands or rings. They lack specialized claw tufts and move in a slow, deliberate manner.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains a specialized dual-purpose venom mixed directly into the silk that simultaneously immobilizes and poisons prey instantly.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Their chelicerae are too small and weak to pierce human skin, and they pose no medical threat whatsoever.
Safety Recommendations
No safety measures needed as they are completely harmless to humans. If found indoors, they can safely be left alone to hunt pests or gently relocated outdoors.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution found globally in temperate and tropical regions. Prefers dark, humid microhabitats indoors such as cellars, bathrooms, and behind furniture, as well as under rocks and bark outdoors.
Behavior & Temperament
Nocturnal, slow-moving, and docile hunters. Instead of webs, they stalk prey closely and spit a venom-laced silk mixture over it in a zig-zag pattern.
Diet & Prey
Feeds on a wide variety of small arthropods, including silverfish, small flies, ants, and other spiders.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors in climate-controlled buildings, while outdoor populations show peak activity during the warmer spring and summer months.
Description
The spitting spider is a fascinating household inhabitant known for its distinctively domed head and incredible hunting technique. Moving with slow, deliberate steps, it stalks its prey before shooting a sticky, venomous web-glue from its fangs to pin down unsuspecting insects.
Key Features
Unusually high, dome-shaped carapace, distinctive spotted tiger-like leg and body patterns, and a six-eyed arrangement set in three pairs.
Similar Species
Cellar spiders (Pholcidae) and spitting spiders can look similar due to long legs, but cellar spiders have extremely thin, long legs and do not have the domed cephalothorax.
Life Cycle
Females carry a small, translucent egg sac containing dozens of eggs in their jaws until the spiderlings hatch. They undergo several molts before reaching maturity, with a lifespan typically lasting around 1 to 2 years.
Ecological Importance
Acts as a beneficial household and garden predator by naturally keeping populations of pest insects like silverfish and flies under control.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but populations are secure, widespread, and common globally.
Interesting Facts
They are one of the few animals capable of projecting a fluid projectile from their bodies to catch fast-moving prey from a distance of up to 10-20 millimeters.
Photography Tips
Use a macro lens with good side lighting to highlight the unique dome shape of the carapace and the spotted patterns on the legs and body.
Identified: 2026-08-24T22:05:34.984427