Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2148511
Broad-faced Sac Spider
Trachelas tranquillusBroad-faced sac spiders roam across tree trunks, leaf litter, and indoor baseboards at night, actively hunting small invertebrates and readily scavenging dead insects. Instead of constructing capture webs, they spin flattened, tubular silk retreats within curled leaves or structural crevices to rest during daylight hours. As autumn temperatures drop, mature adults frequently wander into homes seeking shelter, where their contrasting reddish-brown carapace and pale grey abdomen make them easy to recognize.
NocturnalPredatorySolitary
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small insects
- Dead arthropods
- Other spiders
Predators
- Spider wasps
- Songbirds
- Larger spiders
ThreatsPesticide application, indoor extermination, and habitat loss
HabitatsDeciduous forests, suburban gardens, leaf litter, and human dwellings
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyTrachelidae
- GenusTrachelas
- SpeciesTrachelas tranquillus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Bites are rare, mild, and occur only if pressed against skin; safe to observe.
Responsible observation
- Relocation: Catch indoor wandering spiders gently with a cup and cardboard to release them outside.
- Identification: Look for the distinct reddish-brown front section paired with a plain, pale grey abdomen.
Look-alike (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) Ilona, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Ilona · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
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