Broad-faced sac spider

Check these features

1. Shiny, hard-looking reddish-brown to dark orange-brown front body and thick, forward-jutting jaws (the 'broad face')
2. Dull pale yellow to light gray abdomen, sometimes with a faint darker stripe
3. Front legs darker and thicker than the back legs, which get paler toward the rear
4. No web; hides by day in a silk retreat and wanders at night
5. Often seen walking on walls, ceilings or bedding in autumn

Bites and stings

Bites happen when the spider is trapped against skin, often in bedding or clothing. A bite is sharply painful and leaves redness similar to a bee or wasp sting. Some bites have become infected, possibly because the spider scavenges dead insects. Clean the bite well and watch it. Get medical care if redness spreads, the area becomes hot, swollen or oozes, a sore forms, or you develop fever; call 911 for any sign of a severe allergic reaction such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.

What to do

1. Wash the bite well with soap and water and apply a cool, damp cloth.
2. Keep it clean and covered and watch it for several days.
3. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
4. See a doctor if redness spreads, the area becomes hot, swollen or oozes, or you get a fever.
5. Vacuum up or jar and release any spiders you find.

Look-alikes

Why it came inside

It lives outdoors on plants, under bark, stones and siding, and adult females often wander indoors in autumn as temperatures drop, seeking warmer, drier shelter; it does not usually breed indoors.

Keep it out

• Seal gaps around windows, siding, sills and door frames before fall.
• Fit door sweeps and keep window screens in good repair.
• Shake out bedding and clothing in autumn if you see these spiders indoors, and keep beds away from walls.
• Vacuum spiders and retreats from corners and window frames.

What helps

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Sources

1. Penn State Extension
2. University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center (Ask Extension)
3. World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern
4. Eastern Virginia Medical School researcher profile

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 4 sources. How we rate danger.