Giant Spiders of the USA

Giant spiders live across the United States. Large species include funnel web spiders, wolf spiders, golden silk spiders and fishing spiders. Fishing spiders top the list of gigantic Arachnida within the U.S. However, golden silk's hold the title as the largest web spinning spider. Wolf spiders, another sizable American spider, maintain residence in woods and around residential homes. Funnel webs hide inside funnel-shaped nests where they jump out when hungry.

  1. Funnel Web Spiders

    • Funnel web spiders, referred to as grass spiders, appear similar to wolf spiders. Funnels however, have noticeable silk spinners attached to the backside of their abdomen that a wolf spider doesn't have. These spiders live under rocks, wood and grass. Don't worry about them making an appearance inside your home because they hardly ever come inside, according to the University of Kentucky. Funnels sport hairy legs, see with eight eyes and walk with eight legs. Two body parts that make up this spider include the cephalothorax and abdomen.

    Wolf Spiders

    • The wolf spider's is varying shades of brown. Wolfs belong to the Lycosidae family. At least 50 different species reside in the U.S. Wolfs seeks out prey and do not use anything other than hunting skills to catch a meal. Wolf spider anatomy includes eight legs, eight eyes and two body parts. The entire body of this spider stretches across to 1 inch.

    Golden Silk

    • Identify the golden silk spider (Nephila clavipes) by its orange and brown colors along with its large size. Golden silks have feathery legs, obvious if you've ever run into one in the south, according to the University of Florida. Golden silks spin one of the most gigantic webs within the U.S. The female silk grows larger than its male counterpart and wears the infamous orange and brown colors. She extends, lengthwise, between three-quarters and 1.5 inches . Male golden silks stretch out to only one-quarter inch and have a dull, brown body.

    Fishing Spider

    • Fishing spiders (Dolomedes triton), referred to as nursery spiders, hold the title as one of the largest spiders in the U.S. These spiders live near streams and can sometimes appear in damp basements or buildings. They do not wait for their prey to come to them but actively seek it out. Fishing spiders sport dark colors similar to the wolf spider and are often confused with them. The diet of this spider mainly consists of insects, tadpoles and even fish that are small enough to entice the spider.