Spider Identification
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Written by Jim on August 2nd, 2007 with
1,753 comments.
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On an evergreen I bought 2 yrs. ago which has grown to about 6′ now I saw a LARGE about 3-4″ white headed and white faced spider. It’s body is black with yellow cross lines and yellow dots on each side near it’s lower back 3 dots on each side. Just hanging in it’s web. If it’s friendly I would like to leave it alone. If not I prefer to be the one who remains. I live in Woodstock, Ga a bit NW of Atlanta, Ga. Please let me know what you think.
Thanks very much.
Ann Smythe
I found a brown spider in my garage and do not know what it is. It is brown with the “but” part bigger than the one holding the legs from leg to leg in width its as big as a 50 cent coin and bigger than a quarter it has long (about a cm) intenas or feelers or whatever its called sticking out of its head. Iwill get a picture as soon as i find my camara.
What kind of spider is in #522. We found one on the wall by our front door in Placerville, CA and can’t find anything to identify it. It is orange, hairy about the size of a quarter and has 2 bumps on the side of its abdomen with 2 hole twords the middle of the back.
Sal # 87
I’m sure you’ve had this answered, but it is a brown widow.
I snapped this spider sitting on the back splash tiling in my kitchen. It is an incredibly small spider – the best way to compare would be to look at the enlarged bubbles of the grouting. That grout is no more than about 4 mm thick.
I am being bitten by these spiders and will wake up with bites. I’d like to get this issue under control but would like to start by identifying what kind of spider it is. So far none of the photos I’ve found on any website matches what this one looks like.
Thanks! I really appreciate it. Oh, and I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
#22 This spider is not a brown recluse thou it looks similar. My nephew and I have been finding a lot of this same spider all over our patio.We live in Tennessee and have had a lot of rain lately,and they come up on the patio.They seam to live in the ground since there is no web anywhere around.I looked up poisonous spiders on the web and it’s not pictured.hope this bit of info helps.
I sent a picture in a few moments ago with three spiders, all in one web. These spiders are INFESTED under the siding of my house, and come out at night.
They resemble a brown Recluse, however..I did not see a “violin” but saw small “dots” on their heads.
The smaller ones are almost see throughin a flashlight beam.
Please help me to discover if these are deadly B.R’s or not..
I HATE spiders, but cannot see killing them if they are not poisonous.
Connie
hi i don’t have a pic of the spider i found so im going to explain of hat it looked like….it was really big like fat its body was yellow with black stripes allover. and the front of the body was kind of red. so can u please help me find out what kind it was. thanks
I have found a spider that looks like the one from #69. It has a black head that fades brown to its abdomen. The abdomen is grayish with one yellow and two white spots where it connects to the head. The leg are a copper-reddish color. I have a toddler in the house and would really like to know what it is. Sorry no picture. Thanks in advance.
Spider a redish brown with large bulb like body with a straight dashed line from back to front in the middle of body…..with legs extened about the size of a quarter or a bit larger. Would like to have an answer asap. Thank You… Dorothy Lea
I’ve seen a few of these crawling around my house. They’re not very big, maybe 2 cm. Does anyone know if they are dangerous or just a pest? Thanks for any replies.
What type of spider is this?
i found a spider like robyn #95 did . Could you help me identify it. Thank you.
i just caught a spider just like #28, i was wondering what it is? i found it in my shower not near a web that i would normally see of a spider this size
please and thanks
I found a spider today at work.. i work in louisville, kentucky.
It was furry and had a tanish kakaii lemon shaped body with long legs (for its size) the same color as its body with black stripes, but when it opened its legs i noticed the top half of its legs were a shinny red. Curled up it was about 1 inch long but with its legs streched out it is easily 2 1/2 inches long. Its web was a right trangle shape going down a post across a half wall then back up to the first point dianglely. Also it moves very fast.
It looks just like this one someone else was asking about:
I was wondering what it was and if it was posionious?!?!
PLEASE HELP!
I found a spider today at work.. i work in louisville, kentucky.
It was furry and had a tanish kakaii lemon shaped body with long legs (for its size) the same color as its body with black stripes, but when it opened its legs i noticed the top half of its legs were a shinny red. Curled up it was about 1 inch long but with its legs stretched out it is easily 2 1/2 inches long. Its web was a right triangle shape going down a post across a half wall then back up to the first point diagonally. Also it moves very fast.
It looks just like this one someone else was asking about: #7
I found a spider today at work.. i work in louisville, kentucky.
It was furry and had a tanish kakaii lemon shaped body with long legs (for its size) the same color as its body with black stripes, but when it opened its legs i noticed the top half of its legs were a shinny red. Curled up it was about 1 inch long but with its legs streched out it is easily 2 1/2 inches long. Its web was a right triangle shape going down a post across a half wall then back up to the first point diagonally. Also it moves very fast.
I live in Oregon, near Eugene in the mountains… we were walking in the forest and when we got home i had this HUGE spider on my backpack… it is black with tan stripes on the legs the body is black with some white, kind of diamond shape spots on its back, it is hairy, and it has a couple of little horns on its back and i noticed one on the abdomen also… i don’t have a picture… any one have a clue?!?!
i was scrolling through the photos on here of spiders to determine what kind of spider i found at work. under spider identification there is a pic of one that is the same shape as the one in the pic but smaller and lighter in color. it is comment number #97. October 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm. what kind is it??
We have a spider on our screen door in Marfa Texas with alternating yellow and brown striped legs and a body ( about 3-4 inches) that is white towards head and gets progressively darker as gets towards the other end. Tried to send in a photo but server rejecting address. Do you know what kind it is? I will keep trying to send photo
I found the spider in a hostos plant. It’s about the size of a dime. Orange with green spots. I live in South Jersey.
thanks
John.
I caught a spider outside of a building today. It is about the size of a quarter and black and fuzzy. It has a thin brown line running verticle down its thorax. It also sprayed a white mist from its rear inside the bug house. Any ideas?
Can you identify this spider? It was hanging above my garbage can.
I know this is not really on topic, but i have been noticing these large 1-2in. legspan spider all over ourbushes. They are brown and a dark orange with wierd patterns on them. So please, if you could identify this spider it would really help because they are huge! and they are really creeping me out. sorry i dont have a pic:(
i just found this spider outside my front door.
i live in rapid city, SD.
I also have found the thick looking string-like silk hanging from an entrance way into our garage. The spider which is brown, about the size of a dime with a white or creme color stripe down its back has made its way in thru the garage. Somehow it has gotten up into our house and we’ve caught several on sticky boards. Their population keeps increasing and I’m terrified of being bitten. Does anyone else have these? What are they?
Thanks, Anne 401,
October 26, 2009
I found this spider in my aunts backyard next to a small tree. She lives in San jose, California, were not sure what kind of spider it is ?
i don’t have any photos of the spider i saw today. I opened the basement door and took a couple steps down the stairs and noticed something spinning by the ceiling. so i looked and it was a spider on a web with all it’s legs together spinning its body in a circular motion. and as i backed away from it it stopped spinning and it had long skinny legs at least an inch and a black body. It freaked me out, so if anyone could help in identifying it that would be great. i’ll see if i can get a picture of it to post.
The spider I have hanging outside my window looks like the spider Donna McKune has in #7.
I’m in my room and I just got bit by a spider on my ankle.
The spider had was a little bit smaller than a quarter, had a black head, gray body, and red legs. Here is a picture as compared to a quarter:
I was just bit 15 minutes ago and stings. I also feel a little light-headed, but I think its all in my head from reading spider bite symptoms. The stinging is real though. I read somewhere to put toothpaste on it to prevent further infection, so I did.
Please get back to me ASAP, I need to know if I need to goto the hospital tonight.
I just saw the most amazing spider crawling across the road while I was out running. He (she) was BRIGHT yellow, the body, with what almost look like chines writing on the back — at first I thought it was a spider carrying a yellow peanut M & M, His legs were black and red. Any Ideas ? I live in suburbs of Philadelphia.
I have lived in Southern California for several years and until this fall, have never seen either one of the spiders depicted in the photo. The one identified by the #1 can be over an inch long (not including the legs) and is rarely seen in the daytime hours. During the last couple months, on a daily basis, they drop down from the Oak trees just before dark, creating a single strand of web that they anchor to the ground and use to return to the trees just before sunrise. They build a fairly large web each night and they destroy it every morning before their ascent. I’ve found several inquiries regarding this particular spider posted throughout this site.
I know next to nothing about the #2 spider in the bottom half of the photo. First sighting was this afternoon. He was sitting in the sun on the side of my shed and there was no web in sight. He seems similar to the one posted in #1283. I would sure like hear from someone familiar with either one of these Arachno-beasts.
Hello:
Karen #70 sent in picture of spider she found in Florida. Here is both front and back of same spider I also found in Florida. Does anyone know what it’s name is?
Hi me again Anita
I am still waiting for a reply to my question #1430 about the picture of the spider posted by Karen #70. I just found another picture that is a closer picture of the spider at #1308 Carole.
What kind of spider was 915? I have had this one in and around my home.
Thanks
In response to number 69 question that is a recluse and it is extremely toxic if bitten and left untreated it can kill most of the tissue around the bite.
Hey Karen # 70 and Carole # 1308
The spider is a orb weaver spider and their bite is non-toxic.
Trying to find out if this spider is poisonous live in Louisiana and it it quite a large spider.
Hello! We spotted this little cutie by the beach on a big rock in Ventura, California. He was really small, maybe about an inch and a half. I took a few shots of him but I’d really like to know what kind of spider he is?
I live in Maryland and came across this spider while I was raking leaves in my backyard. It is bigger than a nickel but a little smaller than a quarter. It has a fat yellow mushroom looking mid section. It has red legs protruding from its mid section then they turn clear with black stripes. I’m extremely curious to know what type of spider this is. I’ve never seen one like this before.
Earlier today I fell asleep while outside in my lawn chair, when I awoke I discovered a spider about oh… close to an inch in length, that was shiny an black, with red dots on its back, in my hair. I knocked the spider out of my hair an it began crawling away. My first thought was that it was a black widow, but I did not get a look at the underside of the spider. I have never heard of a black widow with red dots. Please help me identify this spider, I do not think I was bitten, I am not in any pain.
HI can anyone help me identify this spider? it is medium sized about the diameter of a quarter, Black with three spots on the left right and back side with a blue/green spot that looks like eyes. I live in North Central Florida and found this on my truck hood when it was parked in my garage this past week end Nov 1 2009
I found a flesh colored little spider in my bed – killed it. The next morning – woke up and noticed itching on my right hand and two tiny little holes. It continued to itch all day and by the end of the day – it was swollen, red and oozing. That evening, I had a fever, sore throat, ear ache and my teeth hurt. That lasted about 24 hours and then stopped, but still don’t feel very good. 3-days later, the site is raised, red and a circle with an eye. Don’t know if I should go to the doctor or just let it go and it will go away.
Any ideas?
Theresa
Hi Al,
That spider is an orb weaver.
Orb weavers are harmless and actually do us a lot of good because they eat a lot of pesky bugs.
Hope this helps!
THIS IS FOR # 69 i THINK THAT SPIDER IS WHAT THEY CALL A HOBO SPIDER ITS BITE IS ONE JUST AS THE BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER I’VE BEEN LEARNING LOTS ABOUT SPIDERS CAUSE I LIVE IN A PLACE FULL OF THEM I FEEL LIKE I’M LIVING IN THERE HOUSE NOT MY OWN.
Sorry I don’t have a picture. I REALLY wish I did. Last night, my daughter found a really big spider crawling on the carpet in the family room. I’ve never seen it before. At first I thought it was a wolf spider, but no. It didn’t have the same markings on its back. They are almost identical, though. The spider had a cream colored stripe running down its back. Can you please help me!? We live in Johnson County Kansas. Reply as soon as possible, please. If you sent a picture it would be REALLY helpful. Thanks!
-Kevin
Dear Teresa #918,
the spider you have there is definitely a wolf spider. I can’t think of anything else. You’re welcome!!
This spider was found in my driveway in joliet,il. it was the size of a half dollar(legs and all). it had a brite yellow body with black markings and black hairy legs with yellow stripes ONLY at the bottom half of its legs.
I keep finding spiders like these in the downstairs of my house, which is sort of like a half-basement. They’re in the corner of the laundry room, or in the bathroom, whether it’s crawling up the shower door or wall, or trying to get out of the sink where they’ve fallen. I live in Boise, ID, and I’m not sure what goes for a “common” spider around here but I’m hoping it’s something typical? One or two every now and then is ok, but too many spiders around the same time frame makes me jumpy.
I have a spider with a yellow line down its back and a yellow circles on either side… looks scary like its staring at me.. can u help me I.D it? It’s legs are hairy, banded, brown and black stripes.AA
Sara,
That spider looks as if it is some type of Orb Weaver or Common House Spider.
Craig,
The spider in the top photo is an Orb Weaver, they are harmless and actually help us out by eating pesky bugs. They are called Orb Weavers because they build a brand new web each night.
The second spider is a Silver Garden Spider, typically found in parks, fields and obviously gardens usually in the summer. Like Orb Weavers, Garden Spiders are harmless.
Hope this helps,
Jen
Hi Chris,
That spider looks to be a Barn Spider. They are usually found in the southwest, and eastern parts of the US. They like shady spots – like barns, caves, cliffs, etc. They aren’t harmful in any way.
It is also possible it is a type of Orb Weaver, which is similar to a Barn Spider and again harmless.
-Jen
Briana,
That spider you sent in is a Garden Spider or a Argiope, which means it is harmless. Check out our section on “Garden Spiders” for more information.
-Jen
Hi! I don’t have a picture of the spider we caught, but it looks exactly like the #62 Sonda spider above and we would love to know what it is and if it is dangerous. This is the 4th one I have caught. Actually the first 3 I squished but my husband did not believe me when I told him it had fangs! So I bravely caught one! We live in Montreal Canada. In a condo building. I caught this one crawling on the floor in my living room Nov.6 2009. It is fast and also observant of its surroundings. The coloring and size is the same as the #62 spider…please let us know what it is. Thanks!!I
My daughters are staying in Yangshuo, China teaching English and this spider came free with their apartment.
I found out that it is a garden spider, just a really big one!
I found the same spider in New Mexico as #1229. She (?) has spun a beautiful web and her “backpack” is becoming very large…I’m thinking that is her egg sac?? Could you tell me if this spider is poisonous as she is at my mom’s house and if she lays eggs there will be a bazillion baby spiders running around. She has been fun and amazing to watch. Thanks for any info you can provide!
I have the exact same spider as in #7 but have not seen any comment as to what kind of spider it is? Does anyone know?
I found the same spider that Donna McKune found on a huge web in between a tree and a bush at my house in salinas california. the web was about two feet diameter. The spider was about an inch and a half around or. the body was 2cm around cought it and let it go
Sonda,
That is definitely a Sowbug Killer.
I would like to know what type of spider this is and if it is venomous. We recently found a couple in our garage. We are located in Victoria Texas, which is the southeast part of Texas. This is the first time my wife and I have seen these around. Your help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brent
Hello, I came across this site on a google search trying to find a way to identify the spiders I have attached photos of… I think I found all of them around northern California. Some were found in Alameda County and a couple might be from Shasta County, CA. Please let me know any info that you have available, or maybe I can get these photos posted on the site to help me figure out what others think they might be….thanks!!!!!
amanda go.
Berkeley, CA
Can you help me identify this spider?
I found this beautiful spider at my fathers house in southern Oregon, nobody has seen one like this ..We are wondering what kind it is It is about 3/4 inch long ..Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you much.
Ralph Woodford.
Here are a couple of shots of a spider I found on a schoolyard in the Chicago area recently. The whole thing would likely fit on a nickel or so. Thanks.
Jon
Hi
I live in the Atlanta area.
My kids found this spider in our backyard a few days ago and the next day we found a little smaller one–they look the same.
Can you please help me identify what spider it is?
Have a wonderful day,
Sabine Elbert
This spider was hanging outside my back door. It was about the size of a quarter. Any idea what it is?
Thanks,
Kim
Ralph,
The spider you submitted is from the Orb Weaver family. Orb Weavers spin new webs every night and are harmless to humans. They are very beautiful spiders! Thanks for sharing your photo.
Jen
Brent –
The photo of the spider you submitted is a 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.
Thanks for sending your photo in!
Jen
Hey Jon,
The spider you sent in is from the Orb Weaver family.
Jen
I live in lower Michigan and the other day on the bathroom floor was a spider never seen before. I didn’t think of taking a picture on the count I am terrified of them. We have a brand new white tiled floor (not sealed yet) so I know what I saw was correct. It was small the size of a dime (legs and body) but it had red legs and a dark purple black body. When I killed it the floor stained red. Does any one know what kind of spider this is. Thanks Lynn
I found this spider in the middle of its web right outside of a window at our home. We live in western Pennsylvania, and have never seen a spider that looks like this. Just wanted to see if anyone might recognize it.
Live in Monterey, CA
Found spider under a dead oak leaf. It had the same coloring. Yellowish brown
Two horns on back 2/3 of body pointing up.
black spot on bottom of body
2 front legs like black widow compared to rest of legs.
body the size of a thumb nail
My friend took this picture this afternoon.
He found it on an olive tree in his garden and wondered if anyone could shed any light about it.
He placed the spider in a jar to take its photograph and then released it back where it was found.
Thank you
Gerard
Rachel’s spider in #22 is a wolf spider, we took one just like this to the exchange office in our town to find out because we had them everywhere, they usually stay outside and try to avoid humans but WILL bite if they feel threatened. We were told that people have had reactions to the bites but nothing really serious has been reported.
Sal #87 I work in a garden center in coastal ga. and that my dear is a Brown Widow and is just as poisonous as the infamous Black Widow so yes beware!!!!!
There’s a spider outside of my house and while I really like it my whole family is creeped out so please tell me what kind it is so I know it’s not a big deal for it to be around!!
It is medium size, but grew almost twice as large in one week. The butt of it is fat and huge, gray and has hair on it. The legs are striped in orange and black, and the rest of the body is just black. Oh, and the legs are spread apart and long.
I don’t have a picture, but please help me out!
#671/628, I am trying to find out about this spider as well….. any info ?
thanks,
B
I have a spider that’s about the size of a fly with body and legs included. It’s clearish with black stripes on it’s legs. Since my only camera is a cell phone, all pictures are extremely blurry. I have two small children and would like to know if it’s dangerous. No one has been bitten by it and I might just kill it to be safe. I live in Douglas WY and since I have children, I would like to be able to identify every spider I come across.
#1149 looks like a Black Widow. The legs and abdomen give it away every time.
#1050 and 1109 I would say are Bold Jumpers. We had one in our home in Southern California. Not native to the area. They are aptly named though! I found one about the size of a nickel on the ceiling and when I came within 5 feet it was ready to jump. I got to see it jump a few hours later when my father tried to catch it. Cool looking spiders though!
chris f #183
i have those spiders in my house to. i live in Montana and i’m thinking that it is a hobo just because its distinct mark of the 2 “balls” on the end of its fangs but i’m not 100% sure just because you said that the spider’s leg span was about 2-3 inches.
look into a hobo spider:)
okay i only have a picture of this thing on my cell phone, but i was fishing in northern pa right before winter and in the shallow cold stream crawling on the wet rocks was a giant bright bright orange and white striped spider about the size of a CD! what is it and it has to be venomous!!!
I came across your website, after looking over some pictures I took last year! I was wondering exactly what kind of spider was lurking in my backyard?!? Of course I found the biggest black widow in my daughters toy box in the backyard. Take a look
I found a spider in my bathroom, with legs spread its probably thumbnail size with the body being really small. Its has red legs, looks just like a black widow in shape and just as small, the body is also reddish and by red I mean fire ant red. This really concerns me because its been a week since i killed it and tonight I almost ran into another one repelling from the ceiling in the same bathroom… I don’t have a picture because I panicked, I have 3 cats, and these things look deadly, any ideas?
I don’t have pictures, sorry. I was cleaning my house today and found tons! of spiders in one area. They were on the inside of the bottom step of our stairs. Our stairs are right by the front door. There was about 3-4 of them there and then 2-3 on the wall. They are hanging in webs, which at the time I thought were cobwebs.
Their bodies are extremely small but their legs are about an inch long. They’re plain light brown.No fuzz or any distinguishing marks. They move pretty quickly but almost as if intoxicated. I’m not as worried about those as I am the one random spider I found with them. For the first time I saw a spider, about the size of a nickel. It was black, not fuzzy at all, and had these rally pretty shiny silver/yellow spots covering its body. It ran pretty fast and in a straight line. I noticed them when I was sweeping and saw a cricket that I thought was stuck on the fuzz of the stairs carpet. Being an animal lover I wanted to help it and put it outside.
When I did the brown ones ran away, but the black one actually came closer towards me. I freaked out. I would take pictures but I demolished it with my foot when it started going upstairs towards the nursery. Should I be worried about either of these type of spiders? I have a seven month old in the house. If I find more I will take pictures, although I’m hoping to not have to.
Thank you!!
Sam
Oh yes. Forgot to mention. It is winter time and I live in North Georgia. Sorry and thank you again!!
Sam
I thought it was just a mosquito bite at first, then about two days later my right leg became extremely swollen. I went to the doctor and they said yes it is a spider bite and they put me on Sulfamethoxazole. Its been a week now and my ankle is now swollen and the bight is hard and leaking purplish liquid. I’ve gotten the chills once. I’ve sent you a picture of the bite also. Thanks.
Here, check this out-
it’s white and bony.
Can you give more info about it?
Just wondering what kind of spider is in the picture I am going to email to you from the above email addy…..thanks for your help!
Tracy Solberg
the yellow striped spider is very poisonous! Stay away from them..
I like in Arizona, just North of Scottsdale, abutting the Tonto National Forest, so there is some real weird insects out here, not to mention rattlers and scorpions. But, the house I moved into had a few of these large spiders ( a good 3-5 inches in length) that I found in the cracks between the patio and house. There were not webs, just a bunch of these guys. These resembled “skeleton” spiders, and moved very very fast, when cornered they would raise their legs up as if to attack, of course I smashed them all with a shovel. Any help on what kind of bad boy this one is would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Graham
This picture was taken in November in south east Michigan. Can’t find anything to identify it online and found your site. The spider is sitting on a regular plastic garden leaf rake to give an idea of a size scale. Thanks.
AeoniuM XEonAX,
That spider is a Goldenrod Crab Spider, these spiders can bite but shouldn’t cause any threat. They are well known for their ability to camouflage by changing colors.
Drew,
The spider you found is an Orb Weaver… very harmless spiders. Hope this helps!
Gerard,
The spider you found is an Argiope. Also known as a garden spider or orb weaver.
Huge spider that I found in my son’s room..needless to say it is dead
now..picture isn’t all that good as I wasn’t getting too close.. I
live in Mt. Vernon, WA..kind of curious as too what kind of spider it
is..
Thanks
Dawn
Please, identify this spider because it is really creeping me out. I live in Northern California, near Santa Rosa but have never seen this spider until about 5 years ago. I call it the Halloween Spider because by the time Halloween arrives, it is huge. They live only outdoors, in the open ~ not hidden in any dark corners.
They make a huge, very perfect web and they normally sit directly in the middle of their web. Their webs are in very obvious places such as across a walkway, in front of a door or in bushes or trees. Over the past 5 years, the spider has been spotted everywhere throughout Sonoma County. I’d like to know what this spider is and if it is venomous. It is about the size of a quarter.
This spider was found in Eagle Rock, CA in a garage. The body is 7/8″ long. The entire size with legs is about 2″.
We want to make sure this is not a dangerous spider.
Thanks,
Martin
I have found this same type of spider in both bathtubs in my house. I live in central Indiana very close to a pond. It looks exactly like the spider in you #22 post. Could you identify it for me.
Thank you,
Eliot
Martin,
The spider you found is a Trap Door Spider, they typically aren’t dangerous but are known to rear up on their back legs if they feel threatened. Hope this helps!
Jen