Arachnid
Common Spitting Spider
Scytodes thoracicaAlso known as Spitting Spider, Harlequin Spitting Spider
Common spitting spiders hunt at night with a slow, deliberate swaying gait before firing a zig-zag spray of sticky venomous silk to immobilize prey in milliseconds. Their unique dome-like carapace houses oversized venom glands that connect directly to modified silk glands. Often found indoors in dark corners, females carry their egg sacs tucked beneath their jaws until the young hatch.
NocturnalArachnidPredator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySilverfish, Booklice, Mites
Predators
- Centipedes
- Larger spiders
- Lizards
ThreatsPesticide application, severe winter cold
HabitatsBuildings, sheds, leaf litter, rock crevices
Life span1–3 years
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyScytodidae
- GenusScytodes
- SpeciesScytodes thoracica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Spotting: Search interior walls or basement corners after dark using a gentle flashlight.
- Patience Required: Move slowly when approaching, as sudden air currents cause them to freeze or hide.
Competitor (c) Michael, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jean Martins, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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