USA Spider Identification Chart
BROWN RECLUSE BLACK WIDOW HOBO GRASS
SPIDER SPIDER SPIDER SPIDER
FEMALE
MOUSE SPIDER
MALE BLACK WOLF
MOUSE SPIDER HOUSE SPIDER SPIDER
SAINT
FEMALE GARDEN ANDREW'S HUNTSMAN
TRAP-DOOR ORB-WEAVING CROSS SPIDER
Brown Recluse Spiders ...deadly and aggressive
Venom toxicity - the brown recluse venom can cause
significant cutaneous injury with tissue loss and necrosis.
Habitat - brown recluse is found in the United States from
the east to the west coast, with predominance in the south.
Spider Identification - an adult spider is 1/4 to 3/4 inch
in body - a dark violin shape is located on the top of the leg
attachment region with the neck of the violin pointing
backward toward the abdomen. Unlike most spiders that
have 8 eyes, the brown recluse has 6 eyes arranged in
pairs - one pair in front and a pair on either side.
Black Widow Spiders ...highly venomous - can be deadly
Venom toxicity - the Back Widow Spider can inflict a
painful bite which can be fatal, especially to the young and
elderly. An effective anti-venom was developed in 1956.
Only a small amount of venom can cause serious illness, as
the poison attacks the nervous system. Systemic
envenomisation usually results in headache, nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain, pyrexia and hypertension.
The pain around the bite area can be excruciating or it may
go unnoticed. First aid and medical attention should be
sought as soon as possible, if bitten. If you have heart
condition or other heart problem, you may need
hospitalization.
Spider Identification - the body of an adult black widow
is about 1/2 inch long. The female black widow is normally
shiny black, with a red hourglass marking on the underside
of the abdomen. The marking may range in color from
yellowish orange to red and its shape may range from an
hourglass to a dot.
Habitat - prefers woodpiles, rubble piles, under stones, in
hollow stumps, sheds and garages. Indoors it can be found
in undisturbed, cluttered areas in basements and crawl
spaces.
Hobo Spiders : venomous - dangerous?
Venom toxicity - 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.
Spider Identification - they are brown in color and the
adults measure roughly 1/3 to 2/3 inch in body length and
2/3 to 2 inches in leg span. Their abdomens have several
chevron shaped markings. Males are distinctively different
from females in that they have two large palpi (mouth
parts) that look like boxing gloves. Females tend to have a
larger and rounder abdomen when compared to males.
Habitat - they can be found anywhere in Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
They rarely climb vertical surfaces and are uncommon
above basements or ground level.
Funnel Web Grass Spiders: low risk, non-aggressive
Venom toxicity - the bite of these spiders is of low risk to
humans.
Spider Identification - are common outdoors and are
occasionally found indoors. They are generally brownish or
grayish with light and dark stripes near the head. They
have long spinnerets and are moderate-sized (3/4 inch
long). Grass spiders construct a large sheet web with a
funnel they use as a retreat. These webs are commonly
built on the ground, around steps, window wells,
foundations, and low shrubs.
Habitat - These spiders are often called grass spiders
because they construct their webs in tall grass, heavy
ground cover and the branches of thick shrubs. Rarely will a
funnel web spider be seen indoors, except for an occasional
wandering male. They are found mostly in the Pacific
Northwest states.
Mouse Spiders ...venomous - painful bite
Venom toxicity - known to cause severe illness, especially
to young children - similar to Red-Back Spider. Although
normally not aggressive, the male mouse spider will bite if
provoked, and should be considered dangerous to humans.
It has large hard fangs which can cause a deep painful bite.
First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be
sought as soon as possible.
Spider Identification - a medium to large spider of up to
1 and 1/2 inches in body length. The male Mouse Spider
often has a bright red head and elongated fangs.
Habitat - Mouse spiders are ground dwellers with burrows
of more than 3 feet deep. The male often wanders about
during the day on open ground, especially after rain, in
search of females.
Black House Spiders ...venomous - nausea
Venom toxicity - the bite of the Black House Spider is
poisonous but not lethal. Certain people bitten experience
severe pain around the bite site, heavy sweating, muscular
pains, vomiting, headaches and giddiness. First aid and
medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as
possible.
Spider Identification - adults are about 1/2 inch in body
length and of a dark brown to black velvet textured
appearance.
Habitat - this spider spins a lacy, messy web and is prefers
dry habitats in secluded locations. It is commonly found in
window framing, under eaves, gutters, in brickwork, sheds,
toilets and among rocks and bark. Electric lights attract
their prey - moths, flies, mosquitoes and other insects.
Wolf Spiders ...venomous - non-aggressive
Venom toxicity - the bite of the Wolf Spider is poisonous
but not lethal. Although non-aggressive, they bite freely if
provoked and should be considered dangerous to humans.
The bite may be very painful. First aid and medical
attention should be sought as soon as possible, particularly
as to children or the elderly.
Spider Identification - an adult is 1/2 inch to more than
1 inch in body length - mottled gray to brown in color, with
a distinct Union Jack impression on its back. The female
carries it's young on its back.
Habitat - this spider is a ground dweller, with a burrow
retreat. It has a roving nocturnal lifestyle to hunt their prey
and can move very rapidly when disturbed. Commonly
found around the home, in garden areas with a silk lined
burrow, sometimes with a lid or covered by leaf litter or
grass woven with silk as a little fence around the rim of the
burrow.
Trap-Door Spiders ...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.
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.
Orb-Weaving Spiders ...low risk - non-aggressive
Venom toxicity - the bite of Orb-Weaving Spiders is of low
risk (not toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive
group of spiders. Seldom bite. Be careful not to walk into
their webs at night - the fright of this spider crawling over
one's face can be terrifying and may cause a heart attack,
particularly to the susceptible over 40 year olds.
Spider Identification - an adult is about 2/3 to more than
1 inch in body length - has a bulbous abdomen - often
colorful - dark to light brown pattern. The common Golden
Orb-Weaver Spider has a purplish bulbous abdomen with
fine hairs.
Habitat - often found in summer in garden areas around
the home - they spin a large circular web of 6 feet or more,
often between buildings and shrubs, to snare flying insects,
such as, flies and mosquitoes.
St Andrews Cross Spiders ...low risk - non-aggressive
Venom toxicity - the bite of the St Andrews Cross is of
low risk (non-toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive
group of spiders.
Spider Identification - adult 1/4" to 1/2" in body length -
abdomen striped yellow and brown - as illustrated. The St
Andrews Cross Spider usually sits, upside down, in the
middle of its web forming a cross - as illustrated.
Habitat - this spider is a web-weaver usually found in
summer in garden areas around the home. It is considered
beneficial as it spins a large web to snare flying insects,
such as flies and mosquitoes.
CLICK HERE - FIRST AID - St Andrews Cross Spider
Bite
Huntsman Spiders ...low risk - non-aggressive
Venom toxicity - the bite of Huntsman Spiders is of low
risk (non toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive
group of spiders. However, a large individual can give a
painful bite. Beware in summer when the female Huntsman
Spider is guarding her egg sacs or young.
Spider Identification - an adult varies greatly around
1/2" in body length - has long legs - the diameter of an
adult including legs may reach 2" - the first 2 pairs of legs
are longer than rear two - it is hairy - buff to beige brown
in color, with dark patches on the body.
Habitat - a hunter that prefers to live under the flaking
bark of trees, under flat rocks and under eaves or within
roof spaces of buildings. The Huntsman Spider often
wanders into homes and is found perched on a wall. It is a
shy, timid spider that can move sideways at lighting-fast
speed when disturbed.
