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
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
Micrathena gracilis – Spined Micrathena
Micrathena mitrata – White Micrathena
Verrucosa Arenata – Arrowhead Spider
Acanthepeira Stellata – Starbellied Orb Weaver
Neoscona Arabesca – Arabesque Orb Weaver
Araneus Bicentenarius – Giant Lichen Orb Weaver
Araneus Marmoreus – Marbled Orb Weaver
Araneus Trifolium – Shamrock Spider
Neoscona crucifera – Spotted Orb Weaver
Leucauge venusta – Orchard Spider
Pachygnatha
Larinioides Cornutus – Furrow Spider
Araneus Gemmoides – Cat-Faced Spider or Jewel Spider
Argiope Trifasciata – Banded Garden Spider
Argiope Aurantia – Black and Yellow Garden Spider
Araneus diadematus – The European Garden Spider
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
Maevia Inclemens – Dimorphic Jumper
Salticus Scenicus – Zebra Spider
Phidippus audax – Daring Jumping Spider
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
Castianeira Descripta – Red-Spotted Ant Mimic Spider
Castianeira Longipalpa – Long-Palped Ant Mimic Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium Mildei – Northern Yellow Sac Spider
Clubiona – Leaf-Curling Sac Spider
Dolomedes – Fishing Spider
Enoplognatha Ovata – Candy-Striped Spider
Eratigena Atrica – Giant House Spider
Frontinella Pyramitela – Bowl and Doily Spider
Herpyllus Ecclesiasticus – Eastern Parson Spider
Hibana – Ghost Spider
Lycosidae – Wolf Spider
Misumena – Flower Crab Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum – The Common House Spider
Philodromus – Running Crab Spider
Pholcidae – Daddy Long-Legs or Cellar Spider
Pisaurina Mira – American Nursery Web Spider
Scytodes Thoracica – Spitting Spider
Steatoda Bipunctata – Rabbit Hutch Spider
Steatoda borealis
Steatoda Grossa – False Black Widow Spider
Steatoda Triangulosa – Triangulate Cobweb Spider
Trachelas Tranquillus – Broad-Faced Sac Spider
Ummidia – Trap-Door Spider
Xysticus – Ground Crab Spider
Xysticus Funestus – Deadly Ground Crab Spider
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.
