Common House Spider
A cobweb spider that builds irregular tangled webs in quiet parts of buildings.
- Size
- Body about 4–8 mm
- Appearance
- Rounded patterned abdomen and slender legs
- Usually found
- Corners, garages, basements and window frames
SPIDER IDENTIFICATION
Common spiders found in and around Ontario homes
Compare common house, cellar, wolf and yellow sac spiders using real reference photographs and behaviour clues.
WHY IDENTIFICATION MATTERS
Start with the pest, not the treatment.
Many Ontario spiders are occasional invaders or beneficial predators. Web style, body shape and where the spider was found are important identification clues.
COMMON HOUSEHOLD SPIDER GROUPS
Compare the most relevant types
Each card uses an actual reference photograph of the pest or life stage named.
Long-Bodied Cellar Spider
A delicate web-building spider often called a daddy long-legs spider, though it is not a harvestman.
- Size
- Body about 6–10 mm
- Appearance
- Very long thin legs and a narrow cylindrical body
- Usually found
- Ceilings, basements, garages and cellars
Wolf Spider
Active hunting spiders that run after prey rather than relying on a capture web.
- Size
- Varies; many are 8–25 mm
- Appearance
- Robust running spider with strong legs and prominent eyes
- Usually found
- Ground level, basements, garages and outdoors
Northern Yellow Sac Spider
A roaming pale spider that rests inside a small silk sac rather than a prey-catching web.
- Size
- Body about 6–10 mm
- Appearance
- Pale yellow or tan with darker mouthparts
- Usually found
- Walls, ceilings, windows and folded silk retreats
QUICK COMPARISON
How to tell them apart
| Type | Size | Appearance | Typical location | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common House Spider | Body about 4–8 mm | Rounded patterned abdomen and slender legs | Corners, garages, basements and window frames | Year-round indoors |
| Long-Bodied Cellar Spider | Body about 6–10 mm | Very long thin legs and a narrow cylindrical body | Ceilings, basements, garages and cellars | Year-round indoors |
| Wolf Spider | Varies; many are 8–25 mm | Robust running spider with strong legs and prominent eyes | Ground level, basements, garages and outdoors | Most visible spring through fall |
| Northern Yellow Sac Spider | Body about 6–10 mm | Pale yellow or tan with darker mouthparts | Walls, ceilings, windows and folded silk retreats | Often noticed indoors in fall and winter |
COMMON EVIDENCE
Signs worth documenting
- Webs in repeated corners or around lights
- Egg sacs in protected areas
- Fast ground-running spiders without webs
- Small silk retreats near ceilings
- High insect activity supporting spider prey
IDENTIFICATION TIP
Get a safer, clearer answer
Avoid handling an unknown spider. A clear photo from above and the front, plus a photo of the web or location, provides the best identification context.
Identify a Pest From a PhotoLOCAL PEST HELP
Concerned about spiders?
Send Emerald Pest Control a clear photo and property details for professional confirmation and appropriate next steps.