The warm climate and the abundance of green areas make Florida the ideal habitat for numerous native and non-native animals – also for spiders.
While the vast majority of all Florida spiders are harmless for humans or larger pets, a few species can cause significant harm with their strong venom. This page provides an overview of the most common spiders in Florida and introduce you to the ones you should be careful about.
Table of Contents
Poisonous spiders in Florida
Even though almost all spiders use venom to subdue their prey, only very few species are considered medically significant, i.e. can deliver bites that frequently require medical attention.
Four species of widow spiders (Latrodectus) and the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles) are the only potentially dangerous spiders in Florida.
Widow spiders in Florida
Widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) are best identified by their large round shiny abdomen, long front and hind legs and a red or orange hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Since they often hang upside down in their webs, it’s usually easy to identify this obvious warning sign.
In Florida, four species of widow spiders can be found:
- Southern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus mactans)
- Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)
- Red Widow (Latrodectus bishopi)
- Brown Widow Spider (Latrodectus geometricus)
![Latrodectus mactans - Southern black widow](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Latrodectus-mactans-Southern-black-widow-300x300.jpg)
Latrodectus Mactans – Southern Black Widow
![Northern black widow latrodectus variolus](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Northern-black-widow-latrodectus-variolus-300x300.jpg)
Latrodectus Variolus – Northern Black Widow
![Brown_widow_spider_Latrodectus_geometricus_underside](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Brown_widow_spider_Latrodectus_geometricus_underside.jpg)
Latrodectus Geometricus – Brown Widow
Latrodectus mactans, the southern black widow
The adult female is mostly dark black with a red hourglass shape on the underside. The two sides of the hourglass are fused. The male is much smaller with long black and brown legs and red and white patterns on its back. Only the adult female is potentially dangerous.
Latrodectus variolus, the northern black widow
Northern black widows look almost identical to southern black widows. The best way to tell them apart is by looking at the hourglass shape: The northern black widow has two red triangles that look like an hourglass but don’t touch eachother.
Latrodectus bishopi, the red widow
The red widow is only found in southern and central Florida – nowhere else in the world. It almost exclusively appears in sand-pine scrub habitats. While the overall body shape is similar to other widows, the cephalothorax (head area) and legs are red, while the abdomen is black. This spider is also considered medically significant even though little is known about the potency and effects of its venom, as bites of this uncommon spider are rare.
Latrodectus geometricus, the brown widow
The brown widow is an introduced species, originally from South Africa. As their common name suggests, they are usually brown and also have an orange hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Since brown widows can only inject a smaller amount of venom than black widows, they are not considered medically significant.
Brown recluse spiders in Florida
The brown recluse spider, also known as the “violin” spider or “fiddleback spider,” is the one of the most feared spiders in North America. As they prefer dry climate, they are not very common in Florida and are only found in the northeastern parts of the Florida panhandle.
The body size of a brown recluse spiders is typically 3/4 in., always less than an inch. Its completely brown with a violin-shaped darker marking on its back. The long thin legs are not hairy and the abdomen is brown or cream-colored without any patterns or markings. Recluse sightings in Florida are quite rare as most alleged sightings are similar-looking large brown spiders (see section below).
![Loxosceles reclusa - brown recluse spider full body picture](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Loxosceles-reclusa-brown-recluse-spider-full-body-picture-300x300.jpg)
Loxosceles reclusa – Brown Recluse
Big brown spiders in Florida
The bigger the spider, the scarier it looks to many people. But rest assured, none of the large brown spiders that you may come across in Florida are dangerous to humans or pets. The only potentially dangerous brown spider, the brown recluse, never reaches a body size of 1 inch or above – any spider larger than one inch you may see in Florida is not dangerous. We’ll quickly introduce you to some of the most common ones: wolf spiders, fishing spiders and huntsman spiders.
Wolf spiders
Wolf spiders of the family Lycosidae are some of the largest and most commonly encountered spiders in North America. The Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) can reach a body size of up to 2 inches. Wolf spiders are active hunters and do not spin webs to catch their prey. They are mostly seen running on the ground – in or around homes.
![Lycosidae wolf spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Lycosidae-wolf-spider-2-300x300.jpg)
Lycosidae – Wolf Spider
Fishing spiders
Fishing spiders of the genus Dolomedes are often found near bodies of water and feed on insects as well as small fish or tadpoles. These spiders have perfected their life around water so much that some species even have the ability to walk on water.
![fishing spider dolomedes vittatus](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/fishing-spider-dolomedes-vittatus-300x300.jpg)
Dolomedes – Fishing Spider
Huntsman spiders
The tropical huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria) is the largest spider in Florida in terms of leg span. Adult females can reach a leg span of up to 5 inches (12 cm). Their bodies are usually slightly smaller than those of large wolf spiders. Huntsman spiders are also hunting spiders who don’t spin webs.
![Heteropoda venatoria huntsman spider in the united states](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Heteropoda-venatoria-huntsman-spider-in-the-united-states-300x300.png)
Heteropoda venatoria – Pantropical huntsman
![Olios giganteus giant crab spider in California](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Olios-giganteus-giant-crab-spider-in-California-300x300.jpg)
Olios Giganteus – Giant Crab Spider
Banana spider
The golden orb-weaver (Trichonephila clavipes) also known as the “Banana spider” by Floridians is a colorful large spider that spins large, golden webs. The female can reach a total leg span of three inches, males are less colorful and considerably smaller with an average body size of 1/4 inch (6 mm).
In autumn, these spiders, along with other orb-weavers are some of the most commonly encountered arachnids in gardens or forests. They are rarely encountered inside. Over the last years, a relative of the banana spider, the joro spider (Trichonephila clavata) has been introduced to Georgia from Asia and has established sizeable populations that are also spreading into northern Florida. Neither the banana spider nor the joro spider can cause medically significant bites.
![Trichonephila clavipes Banana Spider golden silk orb weaver](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Trichonephila-clavipes-Banana-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Trichonephila Clavipes – Banana Spider
Other common spiders in FL
Below is an overview of some of the most common FL spiders that we haven’t introduced in this article yet. Florida’s most common house spiders are cellar spiders (Pholcidae), false widows (Steatoda sp.), common house spiders (Parasteatoda sp.). In your backyard, you are more likely to find orb-weavers (Araneidae) who spin large webs, flower crab spiders (Misumena) or jumping spiders (Salticidae).
![female acanthepeira stellata star bellied orb weaver](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/female-acanthepeira-stellata-star-bellied-orb-weaver-300x300.jpg)
Acanthepeira Stellata – Starbellied Orb Weaver
![Agelenopsis American grass spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Agelenopsis-American-grass-spider-300x300.jpg)
Agelenopsis – American Grass Spider
![Araneus bicentenarius giant lichen orb weaver cover image](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Araneus-bicentenarius-giant-lichen-orb-weaver-cover-image-300x300.jpg)
Araneus Bicentenarius – Giant Lichen Orb Weaver
![Araneus Trifolium - Shamrock Spider Picture](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Araneus-Trifolium-Shamrock-Spider-Picture-300x300.jpg)
Araneus Trifolium – Shamrock Spider
![Argiope argentata Silver Argiope information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Argiope-argentata-Silver-Argiope-information-300x292.jpg)
Argiope Argentata – Silver Garden Spider
![Arigope Aurantia Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Arigope-Aurantia-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Argiope Aurantia – Black and Yellow Garden Spider
![Arigope Trifasciata Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Arigope-Trifasciata-Spider-300x300.png)
Argiope Trifasciata – Banded Garden Spider
![Red-Spotted ant mimic spider Castianeira descripta](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Red-Spotted-ant-mimic-spider-Castianeira-descripta-300x300.jpg)
Castianeira Descripta – Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider
![Castianeira longipalpa long-palped ant mimicking spider information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Castianeira-longipalpa-long-palped-ant-mimicking-spider-information-300x300.jpg)
Castianeira Longipalpa – Long-Palped Ant Mimic Sac Spider
![Cheiracanthium Mildei - Northern Yellow Sac Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cheiracanthium-Mildei-Northern-Yellow-Sac-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Cheiracanthium Mildei – Northern Yellow Sac Spider
![Clubiona - Leaf-Curling Sac Spider picture](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Clubiona-Leaf-Curline-Sac-Spider-picture-300x300.jpg)
Clubiona – Leaf-Curling Sac Spider
![Dysdera Crocata - Woodlouse Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dysdera-Crocata-Woodlouse-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Dysdera Crocata – Woodlouse Spider
![bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bowl-and-doily-spider-Frontinella-pyramitela-information-300x300.jpg)
Frontinella Pyramitela – Bowl and Doily Spider
![Spiny Orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis small round spider with spikes white black red](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Spiny-Orbweaver-Gasteracantha-cancriformis-small-round-spider-with-spikes-white-black-red-300x300.jpg)
Gasteracantha Cancriformis – Spinybacked Orb Weaver
![Gray House Spider - Badumna Longinqua information - Kopie](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Gray-House-Spider-Badumna-Longinqua-information-Kopie-300x300.jpg)
Gray House Spider – Badumna Longinqua
![Herpyllus ecclesiasticus eastern parson spider hunting](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Herpyllus-ecclesiasticus-eastern-parson-spider-hunting-300x300.jpg)
Herpyllus Ecclesiasticus – Eastern Parson Spider
![Hibana Incursa](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Hibana-Incursa-300x300.png)
Hibana – Ghost Spider
![Kukulcania Hibernalis - Southern House Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Kukulcania-Hibernalis-Southern-House-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Kukulcania Hibernalis – Southern House Spider
![Larinioides Cornutus - furrow orb weaver](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Larinioides-Cornutus-furrow-orb-weaver-300x300.png)
Larinioides Cornutus – Furrow Spider
![Leucauge venusta Colorful orchard spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Leucauge-venusta-Colorful-orchard-spider-300x300.jpg)
Leucauge venusta – Orchard Spider
![Lyssomanes Viridis - Mangolia Green Jumper cover image](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Lyssomanes-Viridis-Mangolia-Green-Jumper-cover-image-300x300.jpg)
Lyssomanes Viridis – Magnolia Green Jumper
![Dark morph dimorphic jumper](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Dark-morph-dimorphic-jumper-300x300.jpeg)
Maevia Inclemens – Dimorphic Jumper
![Mangora gibberosa - Lined Orbweaver information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Mangora-gibberosa-Lined-Orbweaver-information-300x300.jpg)
Mangora gibberosa – Lined Orbweaver
![Menemerus Bivittatus - Grey Wall Jumper](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Menemerus-Bivittatus-Grey-Wall-Jumper-300x300.jpg)
Menemerus Bivittatus – Gray Wall Jumper
![Metaltella simoni hacklemesh weaver information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Metaltella-simoni-hacklemesh-weaver-information-300x300.jpg)
Metaltella Simoni – Hacklemesh Weaver
![White spider with black spines brown legs is a Micrathena gracilis – Spined Micrathena found in Georgia United States](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/White-spider-with-black-spines-brown-legs-is-a-Micrathena-gracilis-–-Spined-Micrathena-found-in-Georgia-United-States-300x300.jpg)
Micrathena gracilis – Spined Micrathena
![Micrathena mitrata – White Micrathena information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Micrathena-mitrata-–-White-Micrathena-information-300x300.jpg)
Micrathena mitrata – White Micrathena
![Micrathena Sagittata - Arrow-Shaped Orbweaver information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Micrathena-Sagittata-Arrow-Shaped-Orbweaver-information-300x300.jpg)
Micrathena Sagittata – Arrow-Shaped Orbweaver
![Misumena Flower Crab Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Misumena-Flower-Crab-Spider.jpg)
Misumena – Flower Crab Spider
![Neoscona arabesca Arabesque orbweaver in the United States](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Neoscona-arabesca-Arabesque-orbweaver-in-the-United-States-300x300.jpg)
Neoscona Arabesca – Arabesque Orb Weaver
![Neoscona crucifera Spotted Orbweaver Information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Neoscona-crucifera-Spotted-Orbweaver-Information-300x300.png)
Neoscona crucifera – Spotted Orb Weaver
![Neoscona domiciliorum red-femured spotted orbweaver found in Florida](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Neoscona-domiciliorum-red-femured-spotted-orbweaver-found-in-Florida-300x300.jpg)
Neoscona domiciliorum – Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver
![pachygnatha orb weaver Picture](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/pachygnatha-orb-weaver-Picture-300x300.jpg)
Pachygnatha
![Parasteatoda Tepidariorum the common house spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Parasteatoda-Tepidariorum-the-common-house-spider-300x300.jpg)
Parasteatoda tepidariorum – The Common House Spider
![Female Green Lynx Spider Peucetia viridans in the United States](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Female-Green-Lynx-Spider-300x199.jpg)
Peucetia viridans – Green Lynx Spider
![Daring Jumping Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Daring-Jumping-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Phidippus audax – Daring Jumping Spider
![Phidippus Regius - Regal Jumping Spider female grey](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Phidippus-Regius-Regal-Jumping-Spider-female-grey-300x300.jpg)
Phidippus Regius – Regal Jumping Spider
![Philodromus - Running Crab Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Philodromus-Running-Crab-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Philodromus – Running Crab Spider
![Pholcidae or Cellar Spider Photo](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Pholcidae-or-Cellar-Spider-Photo-300x300.jpg)
Pholcidae – Daddy Long-Legs or Cellar Spider
![Picture of Pisaurina Mira](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Picture-of-Pisaurina-Mira-300x300.jpg)
Pisaurina Mira – American Nursery Web Spider
![Platycryptus undatus Tan Jumping Spider Information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Platycryptus-undatus-Tan-Jumping-Spider-Information-300x300.jpg)
Platycryptus Undatus – Tan Jumping Spider
![Salticus Scenicus - Zebra Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Salticus-Scenicus-Zebra-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Salticus Scenicus – Zebra Spider
![Scytodes Thoracica - Spitting Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Scytodes-Thoracica-Spitting-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Scytodes Thoracica – Spitting Spider
![Rabbit hutch spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Rabbit-hutch-spider-300x300.jpg)
Steatoda Bipunctata – Rabbit Hutch Spider
![Steatoda Grossa - Cupboard Spider or False black widow](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Steatoda-Grossa-Cupboard-Spider-or-False-black-widow-300x300.jpg)
Steatoda Grossa – False Black Widow Spider
![Steatoda triangulosa triangulate cobweb spider picture](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Steatoda-triangulosa-triangulate-cobweb-spider-picture-300x300.jpg)
Steatoda Triangulosa – Triangulate Cobweb Spider
![Trachelas Tranquillus Broad Faced Sac Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Trachelas-Tranquillus-Broad-Faced-Sac-Spider-300x300.jpg)
Trachelas Tranquillus – Broad-Faced Sac Spider
![Eriophora Ravilla tropical orb weaver yellow orange with black spots in large web](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Eriophora-Ravilla-tropical-orb-weaver-yellow-orange-with-black-spots-in-large-web-300x300.jpg)
Tropical Orb Weaver – Eriophora Ravilla
![Ummidia trapdoor spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ummidia-trapdoor-spider-300x251.jpg)
Ummidia – Trap-Door Spider
![Arrowhead orb weaver Verrucosa arenata information](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Arrowhead-orb-weaver-Verrucosa-arenata-information-300x300.jpg)
Verrucosa Arenata – Arrowhead Spider
![Xysticus - Ground Crab Spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Xysticus-Ground-Crab-Spider-300x300.png)
Xysticus – Ground Crab Spider
![Xysticus funestus deadly ground crab spider](https://usaspiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Xysticus-funestus-deadly-ground-crab-spider-300x300.jpg)
Xysticus Funestus – Deadly Ground Crab Spider
Florida spider identification
If you have found a spider in Florida that is not on this article or that you cannot identify, head over to our spider identification page. We have built a spider identification tool where you can answer a couple of questions and the tool will show you a list of potential matches. If that still fails to identify your spider, you can take a photo of your Florida spider and upload it to that page. Our experts will give their best to identify the spider for you and get back to you as soon as possible.