urbpan: (dandelion)
urbpan ([personal profile] urbpan) wrote2013-12-15 12:39 pm

More indoor wildlife

 photo IMG_4432_zps40592d11.jpg
A small dot along the white wall in the hospital hallway turned out to be a triangle cobweb spider Steatodum triangulum. These are common harmless spiders originally from Eurasia but now found around the world in the great indoors. To the naked eye they look plain, but close-up photos show a pattern of triangles and/or diamonds on their abdomens. Australian entomologist friend [livejournal.com profile] wirrrn says that down under they're called "cupboard spiders." I think that common name is charming, but one shouldn't get the idea that they are the only spiders found in cupboards; I've personally seen American house spiders, cellar spiders, and yellow sac spiders in cupboards of my acquaintance. This species has appeared in my blog before, here and here.