If you’ve ever found yourself with a small brown spider crawling up your wall, you may have let out a squeak before reaching for a tissue to squish it. However, before you do that next time, you may want to consider that tiny spider as your new roommate! Meet the Small Brown House Spider, a common inhabitant of households around the world that could assist you in keeping your home free of pesky insects.

Despite their creepy appearance, small brown house spiders, also known by their scientific name Parasteatoda tepidariorum, are harmless to humans. In fact, they are actually quite helpful to have around the house. They eat a variety of insects, including mosquitos, flies, and other spiders, making them a natural form of pest control. This means that having a few small brown house spiders around can actually help keep your home bug-free.

These spiders are small, with a body size of around 6mm, and mostly brown or tan in color. They typically build their webs in quiet, undisturbed areas of your home, such as corners, under furniture, or in closets. Their webs can be messy and irregular, but they serve a vital purpose in their survival.

If you want to welcome these spiders as your new roommates, there are a few things you can do to make them feel at home. First, try to avoid disturbing their webs or killing any spiders you come across. If possible, leave them alone to do their work. Secondly, make sure to seal any entry points or gaps in your home where spiders and other insects may be able to sneak in. This will make your living space less attractive to these pests in the first place.

While many people may be hesitant to welcome spiders into their homes, small brown house spiders are actually quite helpful to have around. So the next time you see one of these little critters crawling on your wall, try to think of them as your new, unlikely roommates.