List of Common Spiders

Spiders are just about everywhere. For those interested in their identification, it may help to purchase a field manual. Most spiders you encounter likely will be harmless or only able to deliver a small bite. This is not always the case, however, and you should be cautious, especially around spiders you haven't identified.

  1. Cellar Spider

    • The Cellar Spider should not be confused with the Huntsman, which is another arachnid, but not a spider.

      The Cellar Spider (Pholcidae) goes by many names, including Daddy Long-Legs. It is often confused with another arachnid, the Huntsman. This confusion is because they look similar and inhabit similar areas. A common misconception is that Pholcidae are incredibly toxic to humans. According to experts at UC Riverside, Pholcidae are harmless to humans. Pholicidae have a two-segmented brown body that is 2 to 10 mm in length, The legs of Pholicidae are five to seven times the length of the body.

    Black Widow

    • The Black Widow is a dangerous venomous spider that resides in many parts of the world. According to National Geographic, the venom is reportedly 15 times more potent than that of a rattlesnake. The Black Widow's bite is often painful, but sometimes can go unnoticed until symptoms start to set in. If you are bitten by a Black Widow, seek immediate medical attention. The Black Widow is most recognized by its shiny black color and red hourglass markings on its abdomen. But only the females have these markings; the males have much longer legs and are typically brown. The body length of the female is approximately 15 mm.

    Hobo Spider

    • Hobo spiders are incredibly common, and far more dangerous than people realize.

      Hobo Spiders are common in homes throughout America. In fact, in many areas they are as prominent as Daddy Long-Legs. They are sometimes called the aggressive house spider, not because of their behavior, but because of the speed with which they colonize homes. Although not very aggressive, the bite of a Hobo is very poisonous and immediate medical attention should be sought. The bite of a Hobo is quite frequently nearly painless. Victims of bites typically notice a red spot immediately after the bite, followed by poisoning symptoms. Hobo spiders are brown with several chevron shaped markings on the back of the chephalothorax. Additionally, they have two boxing-glove shaped chelicerae. The body length is approximately 12 to 18 mm.

    Brown Recluse

    • The Brown Recluse is a spider to be feared. Its bite is painful, its behavior is aggressive, and its venom is potentially deadly. Brown Recluse spiders build funnel webs that serve as a hiding spot for them when they are inactive. They are hunting spiders and will move quickly to bite their prey. If you spot a Brown Recluse, do not try to handle, capture, or even go near it. And it's best to avoid funnel-shaped webs altogether. Brown recluse spiders have a body length of 7 to 12 millimeters. The cephalothorax has a violin-shaped marking, and the abdomen ranges from brown to greenish-yellow-brown.