While there are hundreds of different spider species native to Virginia, most are very rare or spend most of their life in hiding. On this page, you can find an overview of the most common spiders in Virginia. Just click on any of the images or links to learn more about the spider.
Venomous spiders in Virginia
If you are trying to identify a spider you found in Virginia, you might be worried if it can harm you. So we will first take a quick look at the venomous spiders in Virginia. While all spider species are venomous to some degree, only a few are actually of medical importance for humans. The most common venomous spider is the black widow.
Black widows in Virginia
In Virginia, both the northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) and the southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) can be found. The southern black widow is the more common species. You can see pictures of the two almost identical looking species below. The only visual difference between the two is that the red hourglass-shape on the bottom of the northern black widow’s abdomen is broken into two parts while the southern black widow has a connected red hourglass.
Latrodectus Mactans – Southern Black Widow
Latrodectus Variolus – Northern Black Widow
While the black widow is the most venomous spider in Virginia, the similar looking and related false widow (Steatoda grossa) can also deliver a painful bite. Another spider that bites in Virginia is the yellow sac spider. While not considered medically significant, it can cause some uncomfortable pain and even nausea.
Are there brown recluse spiders in Virginia?
While there are occasional reports of brown recluse sightings in Virginia, the spider is not native here and has not established a population. These sightings are always isolated cases where a venomous brown recluse spider has hitchhiked to Virginia in cars or cargo goods from its natural range further down south. The brown recluse spider is therefore not on our list of venomous spiders in Virginia.
Loxosceles reclusa – Brown Recluse
Common spiders in Virginia
All other spiders aside from the black widow found in Virginia are not medically significant. The largest spider families are jumping spiders, orb weaver spiders, cobweb spiders, wolf spiders, funnel-web spiders and grass spiders. We will have a closer look at some of the most common species for all these. Let’s first take a closer look at the big spiders in Virginia.
Large Spiders in Virginia – Wolf Spiders, Grass Spiders and more
The largest spider found in Virginia is the Carolina wolf spider. It is a brown spider and can reach a leg span of over 4 in (10 cm). Other large spiders are the similar-looking grass spiders (Agelenopsis sp.), fishing spiders and nursery web spiders.
Ummidia – Trap-Door Spider
Lycosidae – Wolf Spider
Pisaurina Mira – American Nursery Web Spider
Agelenopsis – American Grass Spider
Dolomedes – Fishing Spider
Virginia Orb Weavers
Orb weaver spiders are colorful creatures that spin large orb-shaped webs in our gardens or in the forests. They are harmless and act as a great natural bug control as they catch small flying and crawling insects that get stuck in their webs. The most common orb weavers in Virginia are Argiope spiders, spotted orb weavers or long-jawed orb weavers.
Acanthepeira Stellata – Starbellied Orb Weaver
Araneus Bicentenarius – Giant Lichen Orb Weaver
Araneus diadematus – The European Garden Spider
Araneus Marmoreus – Marbled Orb Weaver
Araneus Trifolium – Shamrock Spider
Argiope Aurantia – Black and Yellow Garden Spider
Argiope Trifasciata – Banded Garden Spider
Gasteracantha Cancriformis – Spinybacked Orb Weaver
Larinioides Cornutus – Furrow Spider
Leucauge venusta – Orchard Spider
Mangora gibberosa – Lined Orbweaver
Micrathena gracilis – Spined Micrathena
Micrathena mitrata – White Micrathena
Missing Sector Orb Weaver – Zygiella X-Notata
Neoscona Arabesca – Arabesque Orb Weaver
Neoscona crucifera – Spotted Orb Weaver
Neoscona domiciliorum – Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver
Pachygnatha
Verrucosa Arenata – Arrowhead Spider
Common House Spiders in Virginia
Spiders commonly found inside of houses are small jumping spiders, the common house spider, crab spiders, cobweb spiders, cellar spiders or daddy long-legs. You can find pictures and more information here:
Cheiracanthium Mildei – Northern Yellow Sac Spider
Herpyllus Ecclesiasticus – Eastern Parson Spider
Kukulcania Hibernalis – Southern House Spider
Lyssomanes Viridis – Magnolia Green Jumper
Maevia Inclemens – Dimorphic Jumper
Misumena – Flower Crab Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum – The Common House Spider
Phidippus audax – Daring Jumping Spider
Phidippus Regius – Regal Jumping Spider
Pholcidae – Daddy Long-Legs or Cellar Spider
Platycryptus Undatus – Tan Jumping Spider
Salticus Scenicus – Zebra Spider
Steatoda Bipunctata – Rabbit Hutch Spider
Steatoda borealis
Steatoda Grossa – False Black Widow Spider
Steatoda Triangulosa – Triangulate Cobweb Spider
Xysticus – Ground Crab Spider
Xysticus Funestus – Deadly Ground Crab Spider
Other common Virginia spiders
Below you can find a full list of all other common spiders in Virginia.
Hibana – Ghost Spider
Peucetia viridans – Green Lynx Spider
Castianeira Longipalpa – Long-Palped Ant Mimic Sac Spider
Frontinella Pyramitela – Bowl and Doily Spider
Scytodes Thoracica – Spitting Spider
Kukulcania Hibernalis – Southern House Spider
Philodromus – Running Crab Spider
Dysdera Crocata – Woodlouse Spider
Castianeira Descripta – Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider
Clubiona – Leaf-Curling Sac Spider
Trachelas Tranquillus – Broad-Faced Sac Spider
Virginia spider identification
If you have found a spider in Virginia that is not on our list, make sure to upload your picture, description and state where it was found here on our spider identification page. On that site, you can also try our new spider identification tool. We will try our best and find out what spider species you’ve got and get back to you. Follow the tips found on our spider identification page to take an ideal photo and describe the spider, so the identification is easier for us.
