Nesticodes rufipes
Red House Spider Identification in Australia
Small reddish-brown comb-footed spider found in messy indoor or sheltered webs, often confused with young redbacks or cupboard spiders.
Usually low riskRed house spiders are small cobweb spiders found around buildings in many warm regions, including Australian records. The Australian Faunal Directory recognises the taxon as Nesticodes rufipes. They are useful to compare with redbacks because they can be reddish or dark and live in messy sheltered webs, but they lack the clear redback stripe or hourglass marking. Use the small reddish-brown body, corner-web setting and absence of a decisive redback mark together; a vague warm colour in a photo is not enough to settle a widow-like sighting.
Quick identification
- Small reddish-brown cobweb spider
- Messy web in indoor or sheltered corners
- Rounded abdomen and fine legs
- No strong redback stripe or hourglass mark
What to check next
Check for a messy indoor web, reddish-brown body and lack of a clear redback marking. Compare with redbacks, cupboard spiders and common house spiders if unsure.
When to seek medical help
Bites are not usually considered dangerous, but seek medical advice for severe pain, allergic symptoms, infection signs, spreading symptoms or uncertainty after any bite.
Where it is usually seen
Indoor corners, bathrooms, garages, sheds, verandas, window frames and sheltered building edges, especially in warmer urban and suburban areas.