Spider Identification
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Written by Jim on August 2nd, 2007 with
1,753 comments.
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#32,#48,#87 the spiders you were trying to identifiy are known as Sait Andrews Cross Spiders
Main features: Small spiders with brightly coloured abdomens; striped white, red, black and yellow.
Male: 2mm. The male lives on the female’s web.
Female: 5mm
The bite of the St Andrews Cross is of low risk to humans.
They are a non-aggressive group of spiders
misty #1291 your could be a Trap-Door Spider…low risk – non-aggressive
Venom toxicity – the bite of the Trap-Door Spider is of low risk (non toxic) to humans. It is a non-aggressive spider – usually timid but may stand up and present it’s fangs if harassed. Rarely bites – but if so it can be painful.
——————————————————————————–
Spider Identification – an adult is about 1 and 1/2 inches in body length – brown to dark brown in color – heavily covered with fine hairs. The male has distinct boxing glove-shaped palps, that is, the two “sensory feelers” at front of its head.
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Habitat – this spider is a ground dweller, with a burrow retreat lined with silk of up to 10 inches in depth and around 1 inch in width – prefers nesting in drier exposed locations – often has a wafer-like lid on the burrow entrance. Trap-Door Spiders are commonly found in the drier open ground areas around the home.
Hope this helps
I keep finding a type of spider outside my townhouse that is larger then one Ive ever seen (about 2″ long counting the legs) Its solid brown (best I can tell) the body is more long then round, and the center of the back is raised up into sort of a point. They build very strong webs, and when I knock them down, they’re back the next day. They’ve also covered my bushes with a web over the top of them. Do they bite, will they try to come into my house?
we live on the boarder of california and oregon, near the coast. we are sorry to say that we killed a huge spider last week, that no one we have talked to, can identify. the spider was in our house, and fits the criteria of a tarantula…8 brown hairy legs, body was two parted, had no hair on it, grayish/brownish/slight greenish? the legs extended about the size of a wide mouth pint jar. it didn’t try to run, with screaming and the swings of a shoe coming at it. i have lived here 30 years and have never seen any spider like this. we have been to Aruba in the past year, and had a Belize resident visit us. so, we think there may be the chance it came in from one of those countries. the killing of it was reactionary…not necessary…any ideas on who this might be?
I just moved to Oregon from Georgia and have found that i have a visitor every evening when the sun starts to go down, i never see it during the day in its web which is a circular wheel web that is about a foot and a half off the ground outside my back door.
I am allergic to a lot of insects and i was hoping someone could tell me if this spider is dangerous or not….if it is not i will obviously leave it alone because spiders are good for the environment but if it is dangerous then i NEED to get rid of it.
The picture is of its underside because i am not bold enough to get close enough to it to get a picture of the top side not to mention it was only about 3 inches away from the wall.
PLEASE HELP!!!
Thanks
Hello~
I didn’t know the best place to find this spider (or find out if it is actually a spider) so I am sending it to you. It was found in a bathroom in Taiwan. It jumped from out from a bath towel and was about 3 inches long.
Thanks so much for any help you can provide.
Mystina Zummach
Spider…. South Florida…… Nesting up by the gutter of my house…can you please tell me what it is????
Hi,
My name is Carole Barth. I have never seen the awesome looking spider before. Can you I.D. it for me.
Thank You,
Carole
We have a statue of a fox on our front porch, between its (the fox) front legs is a funnel type web. I saw the spider out today. It is black with a white spot on the top of its abdomen. I live in Akron OH. Can you help me figure out what kind of spider this is?
Sandra L Ross
sandraross58 [at] gmail.com
Thanks
I found the same kind of spider as Ricky in number 67 I’m really interested in what kind of spider it is. I didn’t happen to get a pic though because I’m very scared of them. I wanted to know if i need to worry or if its just me being a scardie cat. haha.
-Thanks,
Samantha
Hi,
I was brushing my teeth before bed and when i looked in the sink, I saw a strange spider on the counter. It was about an inch in length, with red bumpy legs, a whitish pearl like body, and a shiny black head. I can’t find what it is anywhere. We’ve also found A LOT of inch long all brown skinny spiders. NO WEBS?!
i’d REALLY like to know what they are. any info.
please help.
i live in Lafayette, Indiana. in a new-ish house. maybe 10 years old.
this spider has been in my back garden in NY City (near Central Park) for most of the summer. It started out quite slim but now has really fattened up. It has a large circular web and has wrapped up two pin oak leaves with silk and hides between the leaves when disturbed. It is black with yellow markings on both the back and abdomen, and bands of black and yellow on the legs. Sorry about the poor picture quality. Does anyone know what it might be?
This spider is one of many that start showing up in my house in the early fall, they all look the same just some are bigger than others. This is a smaller one. Please help
Thanks!
Can you please identify the spider in this picture. I live in Northwest Florida. I first saw this spider yesterday morning in a web is had woven spanning from the antennae of a vehicle to the opposite side of the hood, in a triangular shape, vertically. It stayed in the web all day yesterday, and this morning it still remains in the same spot. I have small children and have never see a spider this big in our hard. The body alone is about 3/4 inches. It may be harmless, but it is scarey looking, and I don’t want to take any chances of one of my children being bitten, if it is harmful. How long do they stay in one spot.
Thanks,
Angel
This is a “Wood Louse Hunter.” They are not poisonous, but I have heard a bite can be very painful.
Hi,
I live in Fort Collins, CO and I’ve seen these spiders all over inside my house. This one is in the window. Can you please tell me what it is and if it is harmful? I have an 8 month old son, so I am concerned.
Thank you!
Jen
Can you please tell me what kind of spider this is?!?! I am deathly afraid of spiders and i have never in my life seen one this big!! Its looks like a dark brownish almost black color…n i think it has a little dark reddish orange on it but its hard for me to get close to it. If u need a better picture i will take another. I had to get this 1 off my chat site i posted it on n i also have another one ill be sending also. I checked out your site from my phone since i don’t have a computer an wished i could of commented on it…i had a hard time looking at thee pictures and reading
i felt somthing touching my arm while sitting in a chair watching the tv, got up and turned on the light and saw it was a spider so i put it in a jar, snapped some pics then put it in my fish tank where my fiddler crab ended up with it. when he grabbed it with his claws and squished the abdomen i think eggs came out, but what ever he and the other fish had a nice snack. just wondering what kind of spider it was and do i need to be concerned.
i live in watertown, sd. thanks
Can you please help me identify this spider?
This is on my back porch tonight. I live in Chesapeake, VA
Should I kill it?
Taken on two different cameras and the date is off on the one
But this is aggressive as it starts down towards me each time I went out to take pics
THANK YOU
Hello, I found this spider in mid-Michigan. I’ve never seen one before but I found this crawling up the side of my home late at night. I’ve included a picture. It appears to be carrying an egg sack unless I’m mistaken. It’s a whitish clear color on the legs with red stripes, couldn’t see the abdomen due to the egg sack. Thanks for any information, I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life and never seen this before.
-David
My mother lives in northern Maine (roughly 3 hours south of the Canadian border) and these spiders are all over! They have really intricate, huge webs under the eves of her house. There’s probably a dozen outside her kitchen window, ranging from much smaller than a dime to almost the size of a cherry tomato with legs. All of them have the creepy smiley face on their back. The one in the picture had a body about the size of a thumb nail, not including her legs.
I’m just curious what they are and if they are poisonous. I’ve googled like crazy and found nothing even close!
i don’t have a bite but i caught a spider yesterday and its black with gold rings around the legs and a strip of gold on its head and its fuzzy but it would fight in the palm of my hand and it has fangs but i don’t think its a tarantula but probably related so any one
My husband found a spider on my hibiscus tree, that we have sitting outside for the season. This spider is about a quarter in size, has a black back with yellow marking on the back. It’ legs close to the body are orange, but close to the ends, they become striped and are either yellow and black stripes or a off white with black stripes. We live in the state of Iowa. We have never seen a spider like this before can anyone help to identify it?
There were several of these spiders in a cabin I was in while staying in Cloud croft, New Mexico. I didn’t see any webs. They were mostly on the walls and ceilings in the bathroom. The picture I am sending was one that trapped himself in a container under a bathroom sink. I would like to know what it is and if it is dangerous.
Thanks!
Christa
Hello, I live in Decatur, Alabama and crossed paths with this bad boy on my garage floor tonight. It had been raining for days, so he/she may be looking for a mate or food. Not sure what kind of spider, looks like some kind of trap door or funnel web spider. Head and legs are glossy black and abdomen is kinda grayish. He’s pretty aggressive with long fangs as he will hinge up on his rears if provoked. any guesses?
Rachel (#27) That looks an awful lot like a rabid wolf spider. I live in CT and they’re in my house all the time. They are very fast-moving, but being a catch-and-re leaser, I make the effort to keep up. I have found one that was bigger than the one you posted outside in stacks of cardboard.
I live in southeastern CT and these beauties like to build extravagant webs across doorways and between support columns holding up the porch roof. I found this one today in a web that it built kiddie-corner between a bush and the driveway. The web actually extended about 3 feet into the driveway. The abdomen is about 1/2 in. long and the markings are reddish-brown with a few white specks, and striped legs.
The red picture is the initial reaction to the bite. I didn’t know if it was a bite at first as I don’t remember the bite. However, the same night I noticed the red area I saw a small hairy brown spider in my room. Immediately when I noticed the red area I took this first picture. It was slightly tender to very firm pressure and HOT to the touch.
That was last Thursday night. By Monday the area increased to the size of black outlined area in the 2nd photo. It became more red, more swollen, inflamed and very HOT to the touch! I’m a nurse and had 4 more nurses I work with look at it and at that point it looked like it could have been a cellulite.
I went to the MD and they were concerned. They had me outline it and started me on low dose oral antibiotics.
By yesterday (Wednesday), the area had turned to the color in the 2nd photo and has become increasingly PAINFUL!!! I have some intermittent shooting pains up and down my leg. It is very painful to touch and you can see what now looks very clearly like a spider bite (two little open holes) in the center. The area isn’t really hot any more but BLANCHES and feels soft/boggy and is warm to the touch (and of course painful)!
WHAT COULD HAVE BIT ME???
I live in Minnesota but recently traveled to Puerto Rico for 1-week 3-weeks ago. We kept our luggage on the floor of our room and perhaps something crawled in and we accidentally brought it home with us?
The spider I saw (and killed) in my room the night I noticed the bite was a spider I have never seen in my home before.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPIDER:
It was small, dark brown (could have been black but seemed like a very dark brown) and FURRY. I don’t remember any patterns on it at all. It’s legs were not as skinny and long as the spider pictures it slightly resembles but the closest to what it was looks similar to photos/postings# 28 and #183.
ANY THOUGHTS? INFORMATION? SUGGESTIONS? ETC.??? (Besides go to the doctor which I am doing today!!!)
THANK you SO much for your time!!!
~Florence
Ok I used to live in a house in Fl that had spiders running everywhere. I would cover my face up at night b/c they were always out and HUGE. My dad said they were wolf spiders and I’ve been freaked out by them ever since. So I now live in TX and have been in this house for 2 years and have never seen any spiders until this week. I have a 4 mo old son and the first spider was in his room. It looked like he had been stepped on b/c it was curled up and didn’t run off when I got close to it. Well I just found another one. I was walking out of my bathroom and my pant leg caught it and moved it across the floor. I thought it was a piece of dog food but it was another spider. Same kind but smaller. So I need to know what kind of spider this is b/c it reminds me of the Wolf Spiders in Fl and I hate being surprised by spiders. Thanks.
I’ve been seeing a spider in my back yard that has black and whit furry stripped legs and also has a red spot on its back. Is it poisonous? I live in Carpinteria, CA (near Santa Barbara). Thx, Cynthia
I was bit by a brown recluse 13 years ago, and have had severe arachnophobia since. I’ve been working hard to deal with it, and can normally handle a run in or 2, but after finding 4 of these spiders in 2 days, I will not go to sleep…. I’m just too scared!
I even know its not a poisonous spider, but I have lived here 12 years, and never seen such a huge spider- and to find 4 of them in 48 hours is just too much for me!
can anyone help me identify it?
It is probably 1.5-2″ in diameter- maybe a hair more. I’ve found them in 4 different rooms including 2 bathrooms, a hall, and the living room. they do not have webs and have all been found on the floor, suggesting they are all hunter spiders. They all appear to be the same type.
Killing them is difficult- a book or box won’t kill them- instead they curl up “dead” for a few moments and then run away. To kill them I’ve had to step on them and rub my foot around, crunching and crushing. I put a dead one in a cup and it looks to be a hard outer shell- no hair even on the legs. Because of the “crushing” required to kill them, its tough to get a good pic of them, but I’m sending in what I have.
I am located in Cincinnati, OH
#1316 and 1318…. I live in Arkansas and these are common house spiders down here but they are what we call wolf spiders. They can be anywhere from a half an inch to over 2 inches and are hairy. They are a good spider to have around because they eat the really dangerous spiders like the brown recluse. They are venomous but only cause a local reaction (unless allergic) each person’s reaction is different but like any spider bite….it will cause redness and discomfort. If you have this type of spider and would like to rid your home of them. We use Ortho Max Home Defense and you can purchase it at your local walmart. I hope that this helps. I would suggest that if you have small children that you do rid your home. They may have a worse reaction to the bite if bitten.
Hi. I live in SOUTHEAST FLORIDA.
HUGE (at least size of a quarter, maybe silver dollar)
REDDISH BROWN
Makes web. I saw a silk strand that was about 20 feet high across my yard that attached itself between 2 trees (1 palm tree, the other is like a ficus bush – same leaves – but a huge tree – the silk strands actually go onto my house, down to a fence, and back again.
This is the LARGEST web I’ve ever seen, and the largest spider I’ve ever seen here.
Spider was not hairy, not really shiny either. i only see it at night. It has GIRTH, like it is heavy, fat, stout, whatever.
I cannot get a picture because I am immobilized with fear.
PLEASE assist. Serious case of arachnophobia.
THANK YOU!
i was bite by a spider a couple of years ago and want to know if anybody might be able to tell me what kind of spider it could be. i got bit when i was sitting on my couch, i guess it came up from between the cushions. it started out with two black puncture wounds and it felt like a cigarette burn, then the area swelled up to the size of a quarter and was rock hard and very painful. it eventually got to the point to where it was the size of a grapefruit and had a rock hard center the size of a baseball, it was really really painful and i could barely sit.
i could not afford medical help so i had my friend try to squeeze the poison and puss so the swelling would go down which left a quarter size hole! i treated it the best i could. you can now feel an indention where i was bit since my muscle and tissue never heeled completely. can anyone please tell me what kind of spider could have done this? i looked everywhere after i was bit and could not find anything!
I am one of those wierd spider people. I can answer more of you than I have found answers from here. #72 no worries that IS NOT a brown recluse. A brown recluse has a dark violin shape on its head, to where the base of the violin shape covers the eye area and then progresses to the smaller part of the violin and the handle of the violin shape becomes a line that runs the remainder of the length of the spiders head. the thorax or body of a brown recluse is very plain and not very hairy at all. #87 please watch out for those brown widows!
Apparently they are less aggressive (I used to live in SOCAL) but VERY prolific, which means they bread like mad and you have a huge problem before you even realize you need to watch out for that!! #95 looks like a fat garden spider but a better picture might tell a different story.#77 harmless version of a yellow garden spider that we have here in the states. #73 Also another harmless garden spider (lots of those in the USA and outside in a lot of fascinating patterns, but the color and stripes as well as the size (large for most areas of the states)range right about the quarter size! #1 Looks like a version of a jumping spider, you can tell because the two eyes in front are larger for better depth preservation and the rear legs are also slightly larger. #67 When I lived in SOCAL I wondered about that one too.
I think its just a different version of the more norther garden spider, looks a lot like ours just more red. Those hairs on its legs look a lot like they are meant to irritate though(much like a tarantula which also live in Cali), so I don’t suggest picking it up. #69 I know yours looks sinister and it might be in some rare cases, but I have looked that one up before and came up with a fairly positive match to “brown house spider” Apparently non-aggressive, but slightly venomous, meaning MIGHT make you sick if you were unhealthy, very young, or old. Hope this helps and puts peoples minds at ease
#1113 try looking up “daddy long leg” in the images section, see if these pictures match what your seeing. SOme of the versions of this kind of harmless spider are very wierd looking.
#1306 Looks like a type of camel spider…….might try looking up cave spider and scorpion spider too. All aggressive though so watch out.
#1305 Seriously spread the word, this is only a harmless garden spider. seriously, mostly Orange with psychedelic white markings on thorax, stripped legs and a orb web, is a common garden spider. Oh and though yours is gray#1320, yours is also a garden spider in colors to blend with your area.
My daughter lives in Atlanta on a 16 acre wooded lot and appreciates seeing the many different plants, animals, and insects that inhabit or visit her homesite. Her home has an architectural feature called a loggia that extends about 60 feet off the kitchen area. She can sit comfortably under the loggia year round, rain or shine, cold or hot, by using heaters and fans, and can view the grounds to see hawks, owls, deer, and many species of birds. The home is on the Chattahoochee River so this adds an additional feature of diversity. She recently noticed a spider who stretches a new web every night between the stucco wall and a ceiling beam, and would like to know the genus and species so she can learn more about him. Many thanks.
dark-orange and black straps on legs,black body,very dark orange line on butt,4 small eyes,5-7 in. long found in trash can inside house stood still didn’t have camera.
sorry,thanks
This morning I found a spider about 3″ in diameter. It had a black head with bright yellow spots on the head and a brown rear. The legs were bright blue, about 2″ long. Can someone tell me what kind of spider this is? I kept spraying it but it wouldn’t die, so I took a push broom to knock it off the top of the garage door, then took the back of the broom and had to hit it about 1/2 dozen times to kill it.
Much thanks,
Di
Hi Christa,
The picture of the spider you sent looks like a Hobo Spider to me.
Although the bite of the hobo spider is initially painless, the bite can be serious. After 24 hours, the bite develops into a blister and after 24-36 hours, the blister breaks open, leaving an open, oozing ulceration.
Typically when the venom is injected, the victim will experience an immediate redness, which develops around the bite. The most common reported symptom is severe headache.
Other symptoms can include nausea, weakness, fatigue, temporary memory loss and vision impairment. In any case, first aid and medical attention should be sought, if bitten, as and when any adverse health effects are observed.
Hope this helps!
Lyle,
The picture you sent in appears to be a black Trap-Door Spider.
The bite of the Trap-Door Spider is of low risk (non toxic) to humans. It is a non-aggressive spider – usually timid but may stand up and present it’s fangs if harassed. Rarely bites – but if so it can be painful.
You said that the spider you found reared up on his hind legs, so this sounds like it defiantly may be it.
Hope this helps!
Jen
Hey Nealy,
I think you are absolutely right, that is a wolf spider.
Jen
this spider has made a home in the handle of our family sea doo. It has a large web and it is about the size of a quarter. I have been looking on line to help identify it and no luck so I am hoping you can help. I live in Norwalk California.
Thanks.
sorry for double posting here is another picture if the first one isn’t good enough
on one forum they told me its orb weaver but i don’t think so.
i’m keeping him in plastic cd box and i’m afraid to take him out
btw i’m from europe
I saw a spider today spinning a web on my front porch. It has the body shape of a black widow, but it is brown. The abdomen has a black spot with a yellow ring around the black spot on the underside. No other marking or patterns. Just one black spot with bright yellow ring around it. The spider was about the size of a nickel.
really beautiful -light green and yellow with black segments on legs. Brunswick county north Carolina about 100 yards into woods along intracoastal waterway. huge disorganized web spanned 15′ or more. spider tip of leg to tip of leg at least 2.5″ to 3″. dragged photo from desktop to here, but can’t see it?
I encountered a spider yesterday that was like nothing I’d seen before. About the size of a dime, it had a large abdomen which was pumpkin colored, and the legs were striped and somewhat fat. Normally I leave spiders alone, knowing they are beneficial to my small patio garden, but this guy was on the ceiling of the covered patio and running fast in my direction as I sat there. I touched the ceiling with the tip of my cane and this guy came down in a controlled fall really fast. I’m not usually scared by spiders, but this one had attitude. He literally RAN under a pot, and I admit that I sprayed the area with some Raid. I have not seen it since but can’t get it out of my mind, especially after seeing TV coverage today of the “Brown Widow”. Can you help identify, and should I be concerned?
Hi, I found a large spider in my back yard in San Diego CA, I almost walked into it’s web..What kind of spider is this and is it harmful..
I live in Mount Pleasant PA and I am not sure what type of spider this is, can you help me identify it?
PS This spider is about 4″ to 4 1/2″ across from side to side
Rich,
It looks like a hunting/fishing spider to me.
Hi Cathy,
It looks like that is an Orb Weaver.
Orb Weavers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common traits among some include the rounded abdomen and orange-to-brown and brown or black coloring – those this colors may vary per species. Legs of an Orb Weaver are generally very long, giving it a most menacing look, and their overall body size can range from 6mm for males and up to 10mm to 20mm for the females.
Habitats can range from grass to corners of homes or under protected porches. Their webs are clearly their operating stage as the Orb Weaver sits in the middle, head facing downwards, waiting for prey to come upon their net. If the spider is not found in the middle of the web, it is usually nearby monitoring the web by way of a “signal” line still attached to the spider. The moment a prey gets entangled in the sticky web, the spider can come out to finish the job.
It is reported that Orb Weavers will re-spin a new web every night. Their proficiency at nighttime hunting and propensity to enjoy insects makes them the ultimate in the way of mosquito zappers. If you find an Orb Weaver near your front door or deck, and it is not in an intimidating area for you or your guests, keep it around and you’ll notice the mosquito population dwindle in the dusk-to-nighttime hours.
Hi Carole,
that spider is a Spiny Backed Orb Weaver
The spines on the side of this spider make it unique and easy to recognize. Males are considerably smaller than females. Like other orb weavers, it creates a web that is circular in shape, only it has few or no spirals at the center of its web. Each night, a new web is spun. Late in the year, the female will lay eggs that will grow throughout winter, hatching spiderlings in spring.
i have spiders all around my house the resemble the spider is picture #1 im not sure exactly what they look like because im so scared to get close enough to look at it but im pretty sure it looks like #1 i also a different kind of spider in my bathroom but cant make it out because the web is formed around it i have 2 kids and been trying to do a little research to make sure that my kids will be okay
hi
I got this spider from my courtyard its seen with its web between the small plants. It is found about 4 to 5 feet above ground
its small around 1- 1.5 cm its upper part is like a zebra that is its having white lines in black across and bottom has yellow spots in black also noticed it has two spine (like) portions to the back of body and one each to lateral
can you identify it?
Hi!
I just found your site and was hoping that someone could identify this really unusual spider I found. It was a very shiny black with no fur/hair on it and it had a bright shiny yellow dot on the bottom part of its body. It was small, probably this size of a penny. The way it acted when I caught it was very strange. It was on the corner of my dresser and kept running around in a large circle, never even tried to run away from me. I live in eastern Washington and have never seen this spider before or since. I was always told that bright yellow or red on a spider, insect or snake means poisonous. Thanks for any info on it as I can’t identify it or find any pictures of it.
Annetta
i saw a spider in my bathroom today after taking a shower. it was brownish/black with a milky white “tail.” i dont know the anatomy of a spider (i forgot elementary school teachings haha), but its the very last part like where they spin their webs. it wasnt just the tip, it was the whole end body section, the whole third. that part was the biggest with the middle body section slightly smaller and the head the smallest. it was about the size of a nickel with its legs at a normal standing position. thats about all i can give u. thanks for ur help i’ll check back soon
oh btw i live in allentown, pa. about an hour and 30 minutes north of philadelphia. its basically a perfect example of suburbia, and it used to be wooded but now it just contains houses.
Hi Sidin,
That spider looks like some of kind of orb weaver to me.
Hope this helps!
Hey Carrie,
That is most definitely an orb weaver.
Orb Weavers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common traits among some include the rounded abdomen and orange-to-brown and brown or black coloring – those this colors may vary per species. Legs of an Orb Weaver are generally very long, giving it a most menacing look, and their overall body size can range from 6mm for males and up to 10mm to 20mm for the females.
Habitats can range from grass to corners of homes or under protected porches. Their webs are clearly their operating stage as the Orb Weaver sits in the middle, head facing downwards, waiting for prey to come upon their net. If the spider is not found in the middle of the web, it is usually nearby monitoring the web by way of a “signal” line still attached to the spider. The moment a prey gets entangled in the sticky web, the spider can come out to finish the job.
can you please identify this spider for me?
I live in St. Louis MO and found it in my basement which is partially finished (it was on the steps leading to the living area) and then I set it free.
Thanks
Hey Linda,
That looks like a hobo spider.
although the bite of the hobo spider is initially painless, the bite can be serious. After 24 hours, the bite develops into a blister and after 24-36 hours, the blister breaks open, leaving an open, oozing ulceration. Typically when the venom is injected, the victim will experience an immediate redness, which develops around the bite. The most common reported symptom is severe headache. Other symptoms can include nausea, weakness, fatigue, temporary memory loss and vision impairment. In any case, first aid and medical attention should be sought, if bitten, as and when any adverse health effects are observed.
a spider that appears in October weaving a web it lives underground and surfaces during the Halloween season I have seen this spider every year in San Diego CA
I do not have a picture but it looks almost exactly to #7 spider and it was hanging from my house’s door frame. If needed I can get a picture though it’s 3cm. in length (based on simple estimation) a brownish red back, orange abdomen, two vivid white stripes on each leg, and hang in pairs
I found a spider just like #615 in my car yesterday. It was on my driver’s seat and I almost sat on it, but a friend pointed it out to me. It has a two part red body and black legs. I have no idea what kind it is or if it is dangerous or not.
I didn’t take a picture but it looks just like the picture that #615 submitted. Thanks
No. 57, Barb from Parker, CO: what kind of spider? the one I found is maybe 2 inches long. Predominantly brown. Found in the house in a corner while kids were playing. Thanks!
i recently found a spider in my Garage. it was maybe about the size of 1/4 of a quarter. it had a clear upper body and legs. the bottom half was a yellow-ish color. the tips of its feet was black and so were its fangs. could you please help me identify this spider. thanks!
I found a spider around my house. The other day someone said it was a Brown Recluse, but having looked it up, it’s not a Recluse, but I dont know what it is. The best image i can find is actually on this site, but there’s not response about what it is or if it’s dangerous. The spider is the same as the picture in post 7 on page 1.
I found your web site through Google and am hoping you can identify this beauty. Fortunately I have not been bitten (yet) as I gather pictures.
I’ll bookmark the web site and check back. Good luck, and thanks.
Arch Baker
Hi Arch,
That is definitely an orb weaver.
-Jen
I know this picture is hard to see, but having this spider close to my house really scared me. It was pretty large…just wanted to know what kind of spider it is and if it is harmful. I live in RI if that is helpful.
Hi Kristen,
This spider is clearly a marbled orb weaver.
The unique ‘marbling’ pattern of colors on the abdomen, the orange head and black and white legs make this spider visually stunning.
Like other orb weavers, this spider creates circular webs daily. This species prefers moist locations near water sources.
Females are twice the size of males and generally stay hidden at the web’s perimeter in a mess of leaves.
Adults are very active during the summer and autumn months.
It is reported that Orb Weavers will re-spin a new web every night. Their proficiency at nighttime hunting and propensity to enjoy insects makes them the ultimate in the way of mosquito zappers. If you find an Orb Weaver near your front door or deck, and it is not in an intimidating area for you or your guests, keep it around and you’ll notice the mosquito population dwindle in the dusk-to-nighttime hours.
Hope this helps!
Hi..this is a picture of a spider in our back yard and we are not sure what it is. It looks like it has a marking on the backside but can’t tell if it the hourglass shape. I didn’t know if you could tell by this picture.
Thanks,
Kristy Bowen
Kristy,
This is an orb weaver – they do have small markings but they are not in an hour glass shape.
They aren’t harmful spiders and they help get rid of a lot of insects in the summer, especially mosquitoes.
A lot of people have been finding orb weavers lately – I recently posted some info in the spider identification comments section.
Jen
I found this spider hanging out in my garden amongst the plum tree. No web was found. Can you please help identify it?
Thanks,
Kevin Leon
My friend found this spider outside her house in Illinois just chilling in her rose garden. We’ve both never seen a spider like this and the tri colored bands on it’s legs has us confused to no end. Please Help!
Thanks,
Kyrstin
hi i don’t know how this happened but i got bit by something a few days ago, at first i had a red bump like a mosquito bite with a yellow center like a headed pimple but now it just getting bigger and the red area is raise and a different texture of my skin. now it doesn’thurt and i don’t feel ill but the area does itch. help me please i sent a photo.
can you please help identify this spider thank you
been living at my house for 10 years now and have never seen a spider like #62. please help me id. ps he was in the shower with me on the ceiling. thanks
Kyrstin -
That looks like a garden spider, which also makes sense because you found it in the garden.
Check out the “garden spider” section for more info: http://www.badspiderbites.com/garden-spider/
Amy -
The spider you found isn’t a garden spider but actually an orb weaver.
They really shouldn’t be any bother to you and actually are beneficial to us because they help keep the mosquito count low, which is always nice!
Hope this helps!
-Jen
She was quite aggressive..
If I blew on her, she would turn around and show me her hour glass..
The male was only a few feet away in his own web.. for some reason cause I’m so used to black widows.. that I felt a sense of awe at seeing this one..
but what is weird, is that we have found now 4 since this one, just like it.. all aggressive, and very mobile.. and just as big as a regular widow..
I live in Ventura county, California..
Ambar
Ambar-
The spider pictures you sent are of cob web spiders, including the black widow.
Cobweb spiders are common in North America, and can be found almost anywhere that they can find weeds, fences, trees, walls, or other upright structures to build their webs.
Cobweb spiders are predators, and they will eat almost anything that is small enough to get trapped in their webs. Like most web-building spiders, cobweb spiders tend to have poor vision – they don’t need to see very well because they can “feel” prey when it gets caught in their webs. Most cobweb spiders are considered beneficial to humans.
They eat flies, mosquitoes, and other creatures. However, The black widow spider is a cobweb spider, and its bite can be dangerous.
Okay I would appreciate help with this one I took a picture and I can not find my cord. So as soon as I find it I promise I will post it.
I found this spider in my bathroom on the floor next to my sink. It is brown I would say just shy of an inch maybe a full inch. it has a long narrow body and with a white stripe on its abdomen with faint white stripes on it’s torso. long thin legs.
Thanks for any help you could give me.
I live in Texas and found a hairy black spider with a bright blue spot on its back approximately the size of a silver dollar, while gardening. What kind of spider is it? Is it poisonous? I am terrified of spiders and wont go back out there until I know its not dangerous….please help!
Melody
Hey kB I found one of those spiders today while releasing a lizard into a hollow tree stump
Hi i found a spider in my back yard tonight an it had hundreds of babies on its back an i took pics an looked up on the internet an found out that it was a grass spider or a funnel weaver spider, but nothin i have found has said that they do carry their young on their backs so if u could please let me know if this spider does do that. Thanks alot an we live in central alabama. Tara
i want to know what this is really bad….
sorry i don’t have a picture but i was cleaning up downstairs and this spider dropped down onto me like a red back/black widow i was like ahh a red back then i looked at it and it had black and white stripes on its abdomen so i caught it i’m trying to get it to make a web so far its going good the web is the same as a red backs web it stoked me now i’m feeding it to see how it kills its prey let me know if anyone else has seen 1 like this before
Hi, #62 on your website: http://www.badspiderbites.com/spider-identification/#comment-18074
Do you know what kind of spider that is? I found one in my house.
Thank you.
Hello. My younger brother nearly walked into a spider web. the web was hanging between my porch and a tree. The spider was red with black spots along its abdomen. It was not hairy, but it was not a shiny color, either. Sort of dull. The web was about 3 feet across and the spider itself was about 1.5 inches long. I ended up killing it with a can of raid and a shovel. I have 2 dogs and my brother living here. Can you help me identify it or at least find out if it’s poisonous?
I live in Rockwall, TX and found a spider that is brown with a little orange. It has a black bell shaped marking on the belly with a white square surrounding it. Can anyone please help me identify this spider?
Marsha,
That is a running spider (or sac spiders), they do not form webs. Instead they hunt their prey with quickening speed.
We came across this spider while we were camping in Maryland. Just wondering what it is?
I saw this in Raleigh NC, don’t have a clue as to what it is?
thanks.
Lou and Jesse,
You both sent me images of the same spider which happens to be a marbled orb weaver.
The unique ‘marbling’ pattern of colors on the abdomen, the orange head and black and white legs make this spider visually stunning. Like other orb weavers, this spider creates circular webs daily. This species prefers moist locations near water sources. These spiders shouldn’t harm you and actually are very beneficial to us because they take care of a lot of those pesky insects!
Hope this helps,
thanks for sending in photos!
Jen
Hi Guys,
really like your web site. I went to look up this spider and not sure I could identify it properly.
Have enclosed a picture. I don’t want to kill it as I feel that they are beneficial to our garden. Any assistance is appreciated.
many thanks
Hans Dietrich
Quincy MA
Hi Hans,
You are right when you say this spider is beneficial to your garden – it is!
This is an orb weaver, they are the builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. Their common name is taken from the round shape of this typical web.
Habitats can range from grass to corners of homes or under protected porches. Their webs are clearly their operating stage as the Orb Weaver sits in the middle, head facing downwards, waiting for prey to come upon their net. If the spider is not found in the middle of the web, it is usually nearby monitoring the web by way of a “signal” line still attached to the spider. The moment a prey gets entangled in the sticky web, the spider can come out to finish the job.
It is reported that Orb Weavers will re-spin a new web every night. Their proficiency at nighttime hunting and propensity to enjoy insects makes them the ultimate in the way of mosquito zappers. If you find an Orb Weaver near your front door or deck, and it is not in an intimidating area for you or your guests, keep it around and you’ll notice the mosquito population dwindle in the dusk-to-nighttime hours.
Hope this is helpful!
Jen
I was bitten by this spider (photo being emailed). It only has 6 legs is no bigger than a penny, sorry the abdomen is a bit decomposed already.. it’s only been a week but it went through the wash. I was bitten in my sleep and was awakened by a tremendous burning in my arm (where the bite site was). I have never felt this much pain in my life. The burning was so intense it made me very nauseous. I almost passed out and was feverish for a few days.
The bite continued to burn (seemed to burn inside my bone) for 3 days. My arm swelled up and bruised in a matter of seconds after the bite. My hand was numb for two days and after all of this my arm continued to ache in the bones even still. The bruise is almost gone now, it was black but no skin broke open or oozed. It was extremely sensitive even to my shirt sleeve. I live in Montana and I don’t know exactly what sorts of spiders are here except the Hobo spider. This is not it. I see them everywhere. I have never seen this spider before and I don’t want to see it again.. It was put through the wash because I couldn’t find it so I washed everything on the bed and floor an it turned up.