According to a 2005 study, there are 479 species of spiders in Wisconsin. Other sources claim that there are over 1,000 species to be found in the state. Regardless of the exact number of species, this page provides an overview of the most common spiders in Wisconsin. The information and pictures below will help you identify Wisconsin spiders. Just click on any of the images or links to learn more about each spider.
The largest family of spiders found in Wisconsin with over 20% of all species are Linyphiidae. These are small and timid spiders, often called money spiders. None of these spiders is dangerous and they are rarely seen or noticed given their small size. Other large groups of spiders in Wisconsin with around 10% of all species each are jumping spiders (Salticidae), cobweb spiders (Theriidiae), wolf spiders (Lycosidae), orb weavers (Aranidae) and ground spiders (Gnaphosidae).
If you are looking to identify a spider you found in Wisconsin, scroll through the images and articles linked in this post or check out our spider identification tool here.
Poisonous Spiders in Wisconsin
While almost all spiders are venomous (not poisonous), there is only one venomous spider species in Wisconsin that is considered medically significant, meaning that it could seriously harm people: the northern black widow, Latrodectus variolus:

Latrodectus Variolus – Northern Black Widow
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The black widow is often confused with other species of the cob-web spider family, especially the false black widow, Steatoda grossa. If you see a red hourglass marking on the bottom of the spider, you are almost certainly looking at a real black widow.
Are there brown recluse spiders in Wisconsin?
We are often asked if there are brown recluse spiders in Wisconsin. The answer is not really simple. Generally, the entire state of Wisconsin is out of the range of the brown recluse. So the answer is: there are no native brown recluse spiders in Wisconsin. However, occasional sightings of brown recluse spiders in Wisconsin occur as they might be carried into the state on cargo. However, the climate in Wisconsin is too cold for the brown recluse to develop a stable population.
Common spiders in Wisconsin
Some of the most common spiders found in Wisconsin are orb weaving spiders and jumping spiders. Orb weavers are often colorful spiders that spin large orb-shaped webs to catch flying insects. They are very common in our gardens in autumn. Jumping spiders are relatively small spiders that don’t spin webs with the ability to jump very far.
The biggest spiders in Wisconsin are wolf spiders and fishing spiders. Both can reach a maximum leg span of over 3 inches (8 cm).
We have separated the most common Wisconsin spiders into the categories orb weavers, jumping spiders and other common species. Just scroll through the images to identify your spider
Orb Weavers in Wisconsin

Mangora gibberosa – Lined Orbweaver
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Micrathena gracilis – Spined Micrathena
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Micrathena mitrata – White Micrathena
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Verrucosa Arenata – Arrowhead Spider
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Acanthepeira Stellata – Starbellied Orb Weaver
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Neoscona Arabesca – Arabesque Orb Weaver
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Araneus Bicentenarius – Giant Lichen Orb Weaver
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Araneus Marmoreus – Marbled Orb Weaver
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Araneus Trifolium – Shamrock Spider
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Neoscona crucifera – Spotted Orb Weaver
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Leucauge venusta – Orchard Spider
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Pachygnatha
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Larinioides Cornutus – Furrow Spider
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Araneus Gemmoides – Cat-Faced Spider or Jewel Spider
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Argiope Trifasciata – Banded Garden Spider
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Argiope Aurantia – Black and Yellow Garden Spider
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Araneus diadematus – The European Garden Spider
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Jumping Spiders Wisconsin
Jumping spiders are small to medium-sized spiders with the ability to jump impressive distances. They don’t use muscles in their legs to propel forward but suddenly increase the “blood pressure” that kicks them into the desired direction. Jumping spiders, Salticidae, are one of the most common spider family in the United States and Wisconsin.
Spiders of the genus Phidippus are the most commonly found jumpers in Wisconsin.

Platycryptus Undatus – Tan Jumping Spider
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Maevia Inclemens – Dimorphic Jumper
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Salticus Scenicus – Zebra Spider
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Phidippus audax – Daring Jumping Spider
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Other common house spiders and large spiders in Wisconsin
Sac spiders, crab spiders, wolf spiders and fishing spiders are some of the most common other large spiders found in Wisconsin. The most commonly found house spiders in Wisconsin are daddy long-legs (Pholcidae), common house spiders (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), cobweb spiders of the genus Steatoda and ground crab spiders (Xysticus). Here are images of the most common Wisconsin house spiders – learn more and see more images by clicking on the individual images or titles:

Agelenopsis – American Grass Spider
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Castianeira Descripta – Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider
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Castianeira Longipalpa – Long-Palped Ant Mimic Sac Spider
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Cheiracanthium Mildei – Northern Yellow Sac Spider
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Clubiona – Leaf-Curling Sac Spider
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Dolomedes – Fishing Spider
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Enoplognatha Ovata – Candy-Striped Spider
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Eratigena Atrica – Giant House Spider
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Frontinella Pyramitela – Bowl and Doily Spider
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Herpyllus Ecclesiasticus – Eastern Parson Spider
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Hibana – Ghost Spider
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Lycosidae – Wolf Spider
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Misumena – Flower Crab Spider
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Parasteatoda tepidariorum – The Common House Spider
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Philodromus – Running Crab Spider
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Pholcidae – Daddy Long-Legs or Cellar Spider
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Pisaurina Mira – American Nursery Web Spider
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Scytodes Thoracica – Spitting Spider
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Steatoda Bipunctata – Rabbit Hutch Spider
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Steatoda borealis
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Steatoda Grossa – False Black Widow Spider
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Steatoda Triangulosa – Triangulate Cobweb Spider
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Trachelas Tranquillus – Broad-Faced Sac Spider
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Ummidia – Trap-Door Spider
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Xysticus – Ground Crab Spider
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Xysticus Funestus – Deadly Ground Crab Spider
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If you have found a spider in Wisconsin that is not on our list below, make sure to upload your picture, description and state where it was found here on our spider identification page. 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.