Spiders in California

California is the third-largest and one of the most diverse States in the United States. From the dry and arid landscapes in Southwestern California to coastal landscapes around the largest cities of the state to cooler and higher-altitude areas to the north. Due to this natural diversity, the state of California is home to more spider species than any other state in the U.S.

Of the 67 spider families with thousands of species, 59 families are found in California. Fortunately, almost all spiders that you can find in California are harmless for humans or pets – the few potentially dangerous species are rare and relatively easy to identify.

Now available: The USAspiders California spider identification book – available as an ebook here or as a printed paperback on Amazon. Written in a simple, non-scientific language with illustrations, tips & tricks and identification sheets.

California poisonous spiders

Almost all spiders in the world are venomous. However, their main prey are insects and other small animals – therefore, the venom of most spiders is not strong enough to cause any serious effects on humans or larger pets. Usually, a spider bite leads to symptoms comparable to a bee sting with mild pain, local swelling and redness.

In California, two types of spiders are considered medically significant. That means that their bites can lead to symptoms that require medical attention. These spiders are western black widows (Loxosceles hesperus) and recluse spiders.

Black widows

Western black widows can come in a range of colors since they change their appearance as the reach maturity. Please note that only the adult female black widow is able to deliver medically significant bites – bites of juvenile and male widows may be uncomfortable but do usually not require medical attention. The adult female western black widow has a completely black and shiny body with an orange or red hourglass-shape at the bottom.

To learn more about the western black widow, follow the link below.

Latrodectus Hersperus – Western Black Widow

Latrodectus hesperus, the Western black widow spider is one of the few medically significant venomous spiders in the United States. As its common name suggests, it can be found in the Western States of the US as well as in Canada. Description of the Western Black Widow The larger female Western black widow looks very similar to the Northern black widow and the Southern black widow female. The best indicator ...
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Recluse spiders

Even though this spider has a very bad reputation and sightings are commonly reported, recluse spiders are very rare in California. The desert recluse, as its name says, lives in mostly uninhabited locations, and the Chilean recluse is only found in a few limited areas of Southern California. And hasn’t been able to establish sizeable populations. The most common recluse spider in the United States, the brown recluse, is not found in California.

Loxosceles reclusa – Brown Recluse

The brown recluse, loxosceles reclusa, is one of the more dangerous spiders indigenous in the United States. While usually not life-threatening, a brown recluse bite might lead to severe skin damage. This page gives an overview of how to identify a brown recluse and in which states in the US it appears. The brown recluse compared to the size of a penny. Brown Recluse Description The brown recluse spider is ...
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Are hobo spiders found in California?

Hobo spiders (Eratigena agrestis) are found in the Pacific Northwest of North America. They are occasionally found in California’s far north. However, despite their bad reputation, to date, no recorded verifications by a certified arachnologist (spider expert) have been made.

The hobo spider has sparked fears throughout the U.S. because its bites were thought to lead to cause necrosis (rotting flesh), like some rare dramatic bites of brown recluse spiders. However, it has been proven that hobo spiders are not dangerous for humans and that their bad reputation came from wrongly interpreted lab results in the 1980ies.

Eratigena Agrestis – Hobo Spider

Eratigena agrestis, commonly know as the hobo spider, is a funnel web spider that can be found in the Pacific Northwest. In the 90ies, the hobo spider has been listed as a medically important species. However, over the last 30 years, no actual evidence has been found that the spider is actually dangerous for humans. In 2017, the CDC removed the hobo spider from its list of dangerous spiders. Hobo ...
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Big brown spiders in California

Around one in three Americans is suffering from arachnophobia – the fear of spiders. The bigger, the greater the fear. Maybe we can comfort you in telling you that none of the big brown or black spiders found in the sunshine state are medically significant.

Here is a quick overview of the most common brown spiders you may find in or around your home. Most of the ID requests we receive are from wolf spiders.

Aphonopelma chalcodes – Arizona blonde tarantula

Aphonopelma chalcodes is a large tarantula that is commonly known as the western desert tarantula, Arizona blond tarantula, or Mexican ...
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Heteropoda venatoria – Pantropical huntsman

Heteropoda venatoria, the pantropical huntsman spider, is a member of the running crab spider family Sparassidae. They are commonly found ...
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Aphonopelma Eutylenum – California Ebony Tarantula

Aphonopelma eutylenum, the California ebony tarantula is a large spider that can be found in California and its surrounding states ...
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Olios Giganteus – Giant Crab Spider

Olios Giganteus, the giant crab spider, belongs to the family of Sparassidae spiders, which are commonly called huntsman spiders. As ...
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Eratigena Agrestis – Hobo Spider

Eratigena agrestis, commonly know as the hobo spider, is a funnel web spider that can be found in the Pacific ...
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Ummidia – Trap-Door Spider

Ummidia is a genus of spiders that can be found around the world. Among other genus, they are commonly called ...
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Kukulcania Hibernalis – Southern House Spider

Kukulcania hibernalis, the Southern House Spider is a large brown spider that can be found throughout the Southern United States, ...
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Philodromus – Running Crab Spider

Philodromus, commonly called running crab spider, is a genus of crab spiders. Various species can be found throughout the entire ...
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Lycosidae – Wolf Spider

The Lycosidae, commonly called wolf spiders are a family of hunter spiders found throughout the United States and the rest ...
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Agelenopsis – American Grass Spider

Agelenopsis, American grass spiders, are a genus of spiders that can be found around the world and in every US ...
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Dolomedes – Fishing Spider

As the name suggests, the fishing spider is a semi-aquatic genus of spiders that are found all over the world ...
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Common house spiders in California

The term “house spider” is not a scientific definition or classification of spiders. Several spiders that are commonly found in buildings are referred to as such. Some of the most common California house spiders are cobweb spiders, also called false widow spiders (Steatoda) or cellar spiders. These spiders build erratic tangle webs in corners, dark cupboards or basements to catch small insects.

The list below introduces you to some more common spiders that are commonly observed inside people’s home.

Steatoda nobilis – Noble False Widow

Known in the United Kingdom as the Noble False Widow, Steatoda Nobilis is a species of spider in the genus ...
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Frontinella Pyramitela – Bowl and Doily Spider

The bowl and doily spiders, known as Frontinella pyramitela, are a small species of spiders that belong to the family ...
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Metaltella Simoni – Hacklemesh Weaver

Metaltella simoni is a spider species that is commonly often referred to as hacklemesh weaver. This may lead to confusion ...
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Gray House Spider – Badumna Longinqua

The gray house spider, Badmuna longinqua, is a medium sized black and gray spider originally native to Australia. It has ...
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Steatoda Grossa – False Black Widow Spider

The Steatoda grossa, commonly called the false black widow spider or cupboard spider can be found throughout the United States ...
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Latrodectus Hersperus – Western Black Widow

Latrodectus hesperus, the Western black widow spider is one of the few medically significant venomous spiders in the United States ...
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Latrodectus Geometricus – Brown Widow

Latrodectus geometricus, commonly called the brown widow spider, is one of the most common widow spiders that can be found ...
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Scytodes Thoracica – Spitting Spider

The spitting spider, scientifically called Scytodaes thoracica, is a fascinating type of hunting spider that captures and paralyzes its prey ...
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Herpyllus Ecclesiasticus – Eastern Parson Spider

Herpyllus ecclesiasticus, The Eastern parson spider is one of the most commonly encountered hunter spiders in the United States. The ...
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Cheiracanthium Mildei – Northern Yellow Sac Spider

Cheiracanthium mildei, the northern yellow sac spider is one of the most common spiders in Northeastern America. However, it can ...
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Steatoda Triangulosa – Triangulate Cobweb Spider

The Steatoda triangulosa, commonly called the triangulate cobweb spider is a brown-black spider found throughout the US. It has an ...
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Steatoda Bipunctata – Rabbit Hutch Spider

The Steatoda bipunctata, commonly called rabbit hutch spider is a black spider found throughout the United States. It comes from ...
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Dysdera Crocata – Woodlouse Spider

As the name suggests, the Dysdera crocata, or commonly called woodlouse spider, primarily preys on woodlice. The spider can be ...
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Pholcidae – Daddy Long-Legs or Cellar Spider

As strange as it sounds, the Pholcidae, or Cellar Spider is one of the most misunderstood spiders in the world ...
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Parasteatoda tepidariorum – The Common House Spider

Parasteatoda tepidariorum, or the common house spider can be found in every US state. The spider is also distributed throughout ...
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Orb weavers

If you head out into your backyard, you will encounter completely different spiders. They often spin large circular webs to catch flying insects. These spiders are called orb-weavers. Even though their webs can sometimes become a nuisance, these spiders are not dangerous and they catch annoying flying insects and pests. Some of the most common species, like the black and yellow garden spider can be colorful and fun to identify. Check our the most common CA orbweavers here:

Verrucosa Arenata – Arrowhead Spider

The arrow-head spider, Verrucosa arenata, is an orb-weaver spider found throughout the United States. Its common name arrowhead spider or ...
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Argiope Argentata – Silver Garden Spider

The silver garden spider, Argiope argentata, is a common orb weaver in the warm and humid regions in the Southern ...
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Western Spotted Orb Weaver – Neoscona Oaxacensis

The western spotted orb weaver, Neoscona oaxacensis, is a large orb weaving spider found in the Southwestern United States and ...
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Missing Sector Orb Weaver – Zygiella X-Notata

The missing sector orb weaver, Zygiella x-notata, is a common spider species found throughout Europe and the United States. The ...
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Tropical Orb Weaver – Eriophora Ravilla

The tropical orb weaver, Eriophora ravilla, is a harmless orb weaver spider found throughout the tropical areas of the Americas ...
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Gasteracantha Cancriformis – Spinybacked Orb Weaver

The spinybacked orbweaver is a small harmless spider with six characteristic spines along the back of its abdomen. It can ...
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Acanthepeira Stellata – Starbellied Orb Weaver

Acanthepeira stellata, commonly called the starbellied orb weaver, is one of the most remarkable and memorable orb weaver spiders. Its ...
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Neoscona Arabesca – Arabesque Orb Weaver

Neoscona arabesca, commonly known as the arabesque orbweaver, is one of the most common orbweaver species that can be found ...
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Trichonephila Clavipes – Banana Spider

Trichonephila clavipes, commonly called banana spider or golden-silk orb weaver is a unique orb weaver species due to its shape ...
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Araneus Trifolium – Shamrock Spider

Araneus trifolium, the shamrock spider, is a widely distributed orb weaver that can come in various colors, mostly beige or ...
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Pachygnatha

The Pachygnatha is technically part of the Orb Weaver family. However, it does not spin a web and is a ...
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Larinioides Cornutus – Furrow Spider

Larinioides Cornutus, commonly known as the furrow spider, is an orb weaver species that can be found throughout the Northern ...
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Araneus Gemmoides – Cat-Faced Spider or Jewel Spider

The Araneus Gemmoides is an orb weaver species that occurs in the Western United States. It is also known under ...
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Argiope Trifasciata – Banded Garden Spider

The Argiope trifasciata or Banded Garden Spider is one of the most common species of the Argiope orb weaving spider ...
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Argiope Aurantia – Black and Yellow Garden Spider

The Argiope Aurantia or black and yellow garden spider appears in every US state and in many other countries around ...
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Araneus diadematus – The European Garden Spider

Araneus diadematus, also called the European garden spider or the cross spider is an orb weaver spider with an iconic ...
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Jumping spiders

Salticidae, or jumping spiders, are one of the largest spider families with over 600 identified genera and over 6,000 described species. As their common name suggests, these spiders have the ability to make huge sudden jumps – of distances up to 45 times their own body size.

Phidippus Johnsoni – Red-Backed Jumping Spider

The red-backed jumping spider, Phidippus johnsoni, is found throughout the Western United States and Canada. The spider has a black ...
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Phidippus Regius – Regal Jumping Spider

Phidippus regius, the regal jumping spider, is one of the largest species of the jumping spiders of the Phidippus genera ...
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Salticus Scenicus – Zebra Spider

Salticus scenicus, the zebra spider, is a jumping spider that can be found in the entire Northern Hemisphere. As its ...
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Menemerus Bivittatus – Gray Wall Jumper

Menemerus bivittatus, commonly called the gray wall jumper or the gray jumping spider, is a jumping spider that can be ...
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Phidippus audax – Daring Jumping Spider

Phidippus audax, commonly known as the daring jumping spider is a jumping spider found throughout the USA. As their name ...
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Other common California spiders

Misumena – Flower Crab Spider

The misumena, commonly called flower crab spider, is a genus of spiders that hunt their prey in or around flowers ...
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Xysticus – Ground Crab Spider

Spiders of the Xysticus genus, also called ground crab spiders are a rather indistinct species. As all crab spiders, they ...
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Clubiona – Leaf-Curling Sac Spider

Spiders of the genus Clubiona, commonly called leaf-curling sac spiders, can be found throughout the world and in every US ...
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Castianeira Descripta – Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider

Castianeira descripta, more commonly know as the red-spotted ant mimic spider gets its common name from the similar look and ...
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Kukulcania Hibernalis – Southern House Spider

Kukulcania hibernalis, the Southern House Spider is a large brown spider that can be found throughout the Southern United States, ...
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Xysticus Funestus – Deadly Ground Crab Spider

Even though Xysticus funestus has a dangerously-sounding common name, the deadly ground crab spider, it is of absolutely no concern ...
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Hibana – Ghost Spider

Hibana are a genus of spiders commonly referred to as ghost spiders. They are common throughout South and Central America, ...
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Peucetia viridans – Green Lynx Spider

Peucetia viridans, commonly known as the green lynx spider, is a large bright green spider found on many kinds of ...
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California spider identification

If you’ve discovered a spider in California that is not listed here or that you cannot identify, go to our spider identification page for help. We created a spider identification tool that allows you to answer a few questions. The identification tool will generate a list of possible matches of what type of spider you encountered. If that doesn’t help you identify your California spider, you can instead take a picture of it and upload it to that page. Our spider specialists will do their utmost to identify the spider and contact you as soon as they finally identify what spider you have encountered.

Do you want to learn more about spiders in California? Check out our California spider identification guide ebook or the paperback version on Amazon – the best California spider identification book out there!