How to Identify Spider Species

Some people are intrigued by spiders, while others scream and run away when they see one. Spiders are not insects. They are members of a larger category of animals called arthropoda. There are more than 30,000 species worldwide, and they can be identified by color, size, web spinning, hunting techniques and features and characteristics.

Things You'll Need

  • Binoculars
  • Magnifying glass
  • Spider book or chart
  • Camera
Show More

Instructions

  1. How to Identify Spiders

    • 1

      Look for movement. Some spiders are active during the day, and others are active at night. Some hunt among fallen leaves and underbrush, while others search higher up on the leaves of plants and trees. A few species run fast and chase prey, while others patiently wait to strike. The gray or brown wolf spider relies on keen eyesight to hunt down prey on open ground. Use binoculars to see those hunting in trees, or if you want to keep your distance from the larger species.

    • 2

      Search webs for a lack of movement. Sedentary spiders are active when spinning webs, but they are not active hunters. They let their web-building skills capture prey. The common house spider builds tangled webs to snag flying insects. It is small to medium in size, with a dark or brown round or oval abdomen.

    • 3

      Identify and enjoy the architecture of webs. Orb spiders produce spirals, sheet spiders spin flat sheets of silk between blades of grass or branches of shrubs and trees, and others build multidimensional complex webs. Use a large magnifying glass to view the artwork up close and match the web design with the species.

    • 4

      Know your spider measurements. Species differ in body length and width. Legs come in different lengths, and some might be formed as segments. The sheet web weaver spider, which is less than a quarter-inch long, is often overlooked because of its small size.

    • 5

      Look for distinct characteristics. Some spiders have large eyes. Some have eyes extended away from the body. Other physical characteristics include fuzzy legs and bodies or a mouth with jaws. Another characteristic is the ability to jump. Various species of jumping spiders are some of the world's most distinctly colored spiders and have good eyesight.

    • 6

      Learn the time of year when specific species mate, and determine if a spider is carrying an egg sac. The female cellar spider, after laying a cluster of about a dozen eggs, wraps the group with a few strands of silk and carries it in her fangs. Male or female spiders can be determined in a number of ways, including size and color.

    • 7

      Search for racing stripes or other markings. Some spiders have back designs that give away their identity. Know which markings indicate the poisonous species, and maintain a proper distance to avoid the dangerous venom. The venomous black widow spider has a shiny black abdomen, red back markings and an hourglass body shape.

    • 8

      Consult a spider book or chart. Pick up a book that identifies spider species. Many of them concentrate on spiders found in specific countries or throughout a continent. Spider charts that identify species in a specific region can be obtained at government-run or privately run parks, environmental offices or their websites.