Did you find a spider in the U.S and you would like to identify it? Then you are at the right place. This page will help you identify your spider. Simply read through the content on this site and answer the questions below, and you will hopefully identify your spider. If not, you can still reach out to us (more details below).
Are you dealing with a venomous spider?
Let’s first start off by eliminating the possibility that you are dealing with a potentially dangerous spider. There are only two medically significant spider genera in the United States: Widows and recluse spiders. Look at the following pictures below. Does your spider look like any of these? If yes or if you are unsure, click on the pictures to see more pictures and learn more about the venomous spiders and their range in the U.S.:
If your spider doesn’t look like one of these – Great! Then you are most likely dealing with a harmless spider. Let’s identify it!
USA Spider Identification Tool
Please answer the questions below and you will get one or more possible results based on your answers. In a few rare cases, you might get no result. If this happens, you could try the spider identification tool over again or upload your spider pictures in the comment section below, so we can identify it for you. You are also welcome to leave a comment or feedback about the spider identificator (criticism is also welcome, we are working hard to improve).
Did the tool not help you to (correctly) identify your spider? Let us help you identify your spider!
Did you also look through the list of common spiders for your state on this site and didn’t find any information?
Simply upload a picture of your spider as a comment to this post below in the “Leave a reply” section at the bottom of the page – no sign-up or login necessary. Along with the photograph, please add the following information:
- Description of the spider (helps with the identification but is not mandatory)
- City and U.S. State where the spider was found
- Your name how you want to be credited on our website
By uploading a picture, you are giving us permission to use the picture on this site. Please only upload pictures you own the copyright to. Do not upload pictures taken from other web sources without proper crediting. Any pictures we use, we will place your name and city where it was found beneath the picture as the photographer.
When uploading your picture, you are required to enter your email address. Your email address will not be posted publicly. As soon as we have found an ID for your spider, you will be notified by email to the email address provided by you.
Taking the perfect picture of your spider
The more detail can be seen, the better. It is easiest for others or for us to identify your spider if the photograph is taken from the top of the spider. If both body parts, the colors, and the markings are visible, it will go a long way to getting the spider correctly identified. If you have a good camera and are not afraid to get a good close macro shot of its eye pattern, that can also help immensely. Some species can only be distinguished by a close look at their eye patterns.
Please upload the picture as its own file to the comment form below. Our upload form allows all standard image files up to a size of 15 MB. It is not possible to upload .zip files or more than one picture per upload. If you have more than one picture of your spider sighting, please upload them separately and copy the description text including the location along with it.
Backup: Email contact of USAspiders.com
If for some reason, the upload form doesn’t work or you prefer that your spider picture is not published publicly, you can email us with the information to [email protected] and we will get back to you with an ID via email. However, we do prefer that you upload your picture in the comment form below as it will benefit all our readers.
This one was following me on a wooded trail in central VA. About the size of a nickel, didn’t seem aggressive.
Saw this one in my bedroom in Indianapolis, IN. It’s only about half the width of my little finger
Found inside on the floor in Salt Lake City, UT. Please ID.
Hello Craig, this is a wolf spider, possibly in the genus Trochosa: https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Found this in my garage. It doesn’t really want to move when I’ve tried to broom him toward the door.
This was sitting on the back door of my house in West Caldwell, NJ.
Hi RGB, the image quality is not great so I am not 100% sure. It could be a male southern house spider: https://usaspiders.com/kukulcania-hibernalis-southern-house-spider/
Or some type of nursery web spider (Pisaurina): https://usaspiders.com/pisaurina-mira-nursery-web-spider/
Trying to identify this spider. Found in Washington state, in the town of Clarkston.
Great photo! This is a woodlouse hunter (Dysdera crocata): https://usaspiders.com/dysdera-crocata-woodlouse-spider/
Found this one when I moved my covers to go to bed. I live in northern Ohio. I’ve never seen a spider like this before in person, and I have an idea of what it could be but I would rather have someone else verify for me. I did treat it as if dangerous because I really didn’t want to take a chance if I didn’t and something happened.
Hello Vincent, this is a woodlouse hunter (Dysdera crocata): https://usaspiders.com/dysdera-crocata-woodlouse-spider/
This little fella unfortunately lost his life startling me by descending onto my shoulder in my bed. Found in Camanche, IA. Rather small, only about a centimeter. Wondering if this is the critter thats been biting me and leaving an itchy double bump.
Hello Matthew, this is a triangulate cobweb spider (Steatoda triangulosa): https://usaspiders.com/steatoda-triangulosa-triangulate-cobweb-spider/
This was in my house and was full of babies.
Hi Dawn, this is a wolf spider: https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
They are the only spiders that carry the spiderlings on their backs.