Spiders in Texas

There are almost 1,100 species of spiders in Texas. That number seems high and intimidating but on this page we are having a close look at the most common spiders found in Texas. The most common groups of spiders in Texas are orb weavers, jumping spiders, ground spiders, wolf spiders, tarantulas, cobweb spiders, huntsman spiders and crab spiders. On this page, you can find a full overview of all these common Texas spiders.

If you have found a spider in Texas and want to identify it, you are at the right place. To rule out any potential danger to you, your family or your pets, let’s first take a close look at the potentially dangerous spiders in Texas.

Poisonous Spiders in Texas

While almost all spiders are venomous (not poisonous), there are only two types of medically significant spiders in Texas: (black) widows and recluse spiders.

(Black) Widows in Texas

Widow spiders are cobweb spiders of the genus Latrodectus. There are four species of Latrodectus in North America: the Northern, Southern and Western Black Widow and the Brown Widow. While the brown widow is considered less dangerous, the bite of a black widow can cause severe pain, muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea as well as local skin damage.

To some extent, all four species occur in Texas. However, the range of the northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) only extends from the Eastern U.S. until the border with Arkansas in eastern Texas. Therefore, sightings of northern black widows in Texas are extremely rare and only in the far Northeast.

The range of the western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) extends from the West Coast as far as Odessa and Sanderson. The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) and the brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) appear throughout Texas. The least likely area to encounter a black widow is in Northern Texas, around Amarillo.

How to identify a widow spider?

Widow spiders reach a body size of around 1/2 in (10 mm) and can reach three times that length with extended legs. The larger female spiders have a large round and shiny abdomen. Their characteristic feature is a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Northern, southern and western black widows are usually black and younger individuals have additional red or white markings on their back, in addition to the red hourglass shape. Brown widows are predominantly brown with alternating lighter and darker brown bands around their legs. They also have the characteristic red hourglass shape on their underside. Black widows are confused with less venomous cobweb spiders, especially false black widows (Steatoda grossa).

You can see the pictures of the four widow species found in Texas below. Just click on any of the links to learn more about them and to see more pictures:

Latrodectus Mactans – Southern Black Widow

Latrodectus mactans, the Southern black widow is a close relative of the Northern black widow and the Western black widow ...
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Latrodectus Variolus – Northern Black Widow

Latrodectus, the black widow spider is one of the most famed and feared spider genera in the world. Hollywood tends ...
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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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Recluse Spiders in Texas

Brown recluses are some of the most feared spiders in the United States. While they occur throughout most of Texas, sightings and bites are actually quite rare as recluses prefer undisturbed, isolated habitats. Brown recluses are medium-sized spiders with a body length of no more than 3/4 in (19 mm). Their legs are long and slender. They can best be identified by their eye pattern with six eyes (most spiders have eight eyes). If you prefer not to get too close, the darker brown violin shape on the spider’s back is another great identification marker.

Bites of brown recluses can cause severe skin necrosis, and you should consult a medical profession if you are bitten. To learn more about brown recluses and what to do in case of a bite, check out the detailed article below.

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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Other spiders in Texas that bite

Next to the medically significant widow and recluse spiders, here are some of the less-venomous spiders of Texas that are known to bite. You can click on the individual images or links to see more pictures and find more information about the spider.

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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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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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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Big Spiders in Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas! Even the spiders? Well, to some extent, that may be true. The largest spiders found in Texas are Carolina wolf spiders that can reach a leg span of up to 4 in (100 mm) and tarantulas that can reach a similar length with an even larger body mass. There are six species of tarantulas in Texas and the most commonly found species is the Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi). Other large spiders found in Texas are grass spiders, huntsman spiders and fishing spiders.

Some older sites report sightings of potentially dangerous hobo spiders in Texas. Both facts, about hobo spiders occurring in Texas and being dangerous are urban myths. In the U.S., hobo spiders are only found in the Pacific Northwest and they are not known to be more aggressive or more dangerous than other funnel-web spiders like grass 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 Hentzi – Texas Brown Tarantula

Aphonopelma hentzi, the Texas brown tarantula is one of the largest species of spiders native to the Southern United 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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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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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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Pisaurina Mira – American Nursery Web Spider

Piraurina Mira, commonly called nursery web spider, is a brown spider species with long legs. They are endemic to the ...
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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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Texas House Spiders

Some spider species just feel more comfortable inside homes than outside in the garden or forests. The most commonly found spiders in Texas houses are the following:

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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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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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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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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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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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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Jumping Spiders in Texas

With almost 150 species, jumping spiders (Salticidae) are the largest spider family in Texas. Jumping spiders are small to medium sized spiders (max. body size 1 in) with relatively short legs. They have the ability to jump and are hunter spiders and don’t spin any webs to catch their prey. The commonly seen zebra jumping spider is one of the most common small black and white spiders found in Texas. Here is an overview of all common jumping spiders in Texas:

Platycryptus Undatus – Tan Jumping Spider

The tan jumping spider is a mostly black and gray jumping spider found in the Eastern United States. The can ...
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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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Orb weaver spiders in Texas

Orb weaver spiders are often found in forests or our gardens where they build large impressive (and sometimes annoying) orb-shaped webs. Orb weavers come in a variety of colors and shapes. The most commonly found orb weavers in Texas are banana spiders (Trichonephila clavipes), Argiope garden spiders and spotted orb weavers. Here is an overview of the most common orb weavers in Texas:

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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Araneus Bicentenarius – Giant Lichen Orb Weaver

While the giant lichen orb weaver may not be the largest orb weaver in terms of diameter, thanks to its ...
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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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Araneus Marmoreus – Marbled Orb Weaver

Araneus marmoreus, The marbled orb weaver is a colorful orb weaver species. Due to its orange color, it is sometimes ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Leucauge venusta – Orchard Spider

Leucauge venusta, commonly called orchard spider is an orb weaver spider that can be found in the Eastern US states, ...
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Mangora gibberosa – Lined Orbweaver

Mangora gibberosa, the lined orbweaver, is a common spider found throughout the eastern part of North America. One of the ...
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Micrathena gracilis – Spined Micrathena

Micrathena gracilis, commonly known as spined micrathena, is one of the spiny orb weaver spiders. The spiny body serves to ...
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Micrathena mitrata – White Micrathena

The spider species Micrathena mitrata, commonly called white micrathena, is an orb weaving spider. They have a large bulbous white ...
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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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Neoscona crucifera – Spotted Orb Weaver

Neoscona crucifera, commonly known as the spotted orbweaver, is an orb weaver species indigenous to the Eastern part of North ...
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Neoscona domiciliorum – Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver

Commonly known as Red-femured spotted orb weaver or spotted orb weaver, these spiders are in the family of Araneidae which ...
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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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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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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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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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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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Other common spiders in Texas

Next to the large spiders, common house spiders, jumping spiders and orb weavers, Texas is home to a number of crab spiders and several other ground spiders. Here is an overview:

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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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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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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Castianeira Longipalpa – Long-Palped Ant Mimic Sac Spider

Castianeira longipalpa, sometimeys referred to as the long-palped ant mimic sac spider is found along the Eastern United States as ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Texas Spider Identification

If you have found a spider in Texas 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 with potential matches. If that still fails to identify your spider, you can take a photo of your Texas spider and upload it on that page. Our experts will give their best to identify the spider for you and get back to you as soon as possible.