Many species of spiders are common household inhabitants in the United States, spiders have a characteristic appearance easily recognized by most people. Although all spiders use venom when they bite and kill their prey, the Black Widow, Hobo, and Brown Recluse spiders (none of which create cobwebs indoors) are the North American species well documented as dangerous to humans.

Some spiders are associated with moisture and, therefore, are found in basements, crawlspaces, and other damp parts of buildings. Other live in warm, dry places so are found in sub floors air vents, in upper corners of rooms, or in attics. Most species hide in cracks, darkened areas, or other retreats that they construct of silk.