Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2157242
Triangulate Combfoot
Steatoda triangulosaAlso known as Triangulate Cobweb Spider, Triangulate Spider
Triangulate combfoots build tangled cobwebs in dark, quiet corners of homes, basements, and outbuildings, preying on common household pests like ants, pillbugs, and ticks. Females are easily recognized by the distinctive chain of brownish or purplish triangular markings running down their bulbous, glossy abdomens. Highly adaptable and harmless to humans, these nocturnal arachnids spend their days tucked into crevice retreats before emerging at night to repair their sticky snares.
NocturnalCosmopolitanWeb-Building
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Ants
- Pillbugs
- Flea beetles
Predators
- Centipedes
- Jumping spiders
- Spitting spiders
ThreatsPesticide application and web clearance during house cleaning
HabitatsBasements, garages, human dwellings, caves, and rock piles
Life span1–3 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyTheridiidae
- GenusSteatoda
- SpeciesSteatoda triangulosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans and pets; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Nighttime viewing: Use a dim flashlight after dark to watch active spiders on their webs.
- Pest control: Leave webs intact in garages or basements to control unwanted insect pests.
- Gentle relocation: Catch indoor wanderers with a glass cup and card to move outside.
Competitor (c) RAP, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by RAP · cc-by
Predator (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · cc-by
Close Relative (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Dustin Edmundson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dustin Edmundson · cc-by
Family Relative (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams · cc-by
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