Below are comments with pictures from the identification request page. The spiders in the pictures are not yet identified. If you can identify one of the species below, feel free to comment below.
Unidentified Spiders
Overview of Spider Species in the United States
Found this spider in Elmira, NY.
I was just bit by this guy…. I’m currently in North Carolina. Just wanted to know if I should be worried?!?! It welted up a bit like a mosquito bite. I used lavender essential oil several times. It seems to be getting better not worse. Just wanted to be sure?!?!
Seen outside a door in Albuquerque, NM. Looks deadly like a black widow, please advise.
Found this spider in Central FL. Thought it looked like a brown widow, but it has no orange mark on the underside of its abdomen. Front two legs are much longer than the rest. Web is round and also cobweb-y. There is another spider of the same type in the web also, but it is white. Like it lost its pigment. Help?? Thanks!
There are almost a dozen or so of these spiders(?) on my potato plants I’m growing in fabric grow bags. Woodland Gloucester county, NJ, USDA 7a.
Hello David, this is a harvestman (order Opiliones). They are not spiders but a related arachnid. Spiders havea two-sectioned body, harvestmen are also not venomous.
Posted a different photo previously – just looking to confirm if this is the same kind of spider. Sorry for poor photo quality. It’s about 3:30 AM here and this thing gave me quite the scare. This one was very large. Leg span would’ve almost covered my palm. Mostly brown. No web. Didn’t move too much when I got near it.
Last one was a wolf spider…not sure if this one is also. Are they aggressive? Attracted to anything specific? My apartment is less than 800 sq ft so if I can do anything to encourage them to go elsewhere, I definitely will
Hi Jennifer, I can’t be 100% certain but I would also say that this is a wolf spider. They are attracted to any type of other small animal in your house as a food source. It’s best to get rid of spiders by getting rid of their food source. Don’t leave the lights on in the evening, don’t leave any open food sources around in the open, etc.
You can also mix a little bit of peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spray the edges of doors and windows. The essential oils will deter spiders and other bugs to enter your home.
What spider is this? I foynd this spider on the side of the wall by the stairs while walking up them. The spider is dead now but can anyone tell me what spider this is?
Hi Kamryn, this is a nursery web spider (Pisaurina dubia). It’s not medically significant.
Should I scream and run or just capture it in a cup & let it outside? I live in Connecticut.
Hi Flash, no need to screm or run. This is some type of jumping spider, possibly Phidippus audax: https://usaspiders.com/phidippus-audax-daring-jumping-spider/
Is this possibly a camel spider?
Hi Lena, yes, this is a camel spider. These animals are arachnids, but not true spiders.
Found in a compost pile. No idea on the size. A neighbor sent the picture and asked what it was.
Hi Dom, this is a fishing spider (genus Dolomedes): https://usaspiders.com/dolomedes-fishing-spider/
Found this tiny guy on my leg while camping in the mountains of Eastern Washington. He’s a jumper just trying to find out what kind.
This photo was the best on short notice. I went back again, but it was gone. Overall leg span was hard to tell as they are pulled in, but the trim it is hanging on is 2 inches wide….so maybe 3-3.5 inches? The abdomen was at least 0.75in.
Hi Jason, assuming you are not located on the West Coast, this is most likely a fishing spider (Dolomedes sp.): https://usaspiders.com/dolomedes-fishing-spider/
I’ve been getting bitten regularly(mostly on back) for years in a mobile home located in far northern WISCONSIN/ @ Upper Peninsula if MI border. Bite leaves up to two inch sore and swollen area, can drain large amounts of white puss followed by black necrotic looking substance and leaves a hardened skin cap with visible dual punctures in each spot. Bite leaves very long lasting or permanent darkened blemish spot after a long healing period.
Hi there, it is very unlikely that you have been bitten by this spider. Spiders only bite in very desperate self-defense situations. Getting bitten several times by a type of spider is very very unlikely – your bites are much more likely from an animal that actually feed on human blood.
Unfortunately, I can’t ID this one but it’s definitely not one of the medically significant spiders out there.
Please help I’m in Baltimore, Maryland. Its very tiny spider but it looks like an amazing lion face on back. Its about 4mm in size.
Hi Jaclyn, this is an orbweaver (family Araneidae). I am not 100 % sure on the exact genus and species, possibly a juvenile barn spider (Araneus cavaticus): https://bugguide.net/node/view/653550
The spider I would say was at least an inch of combined body and legs. It had small pinchers by its mouth. It almost looked like a bigger daddy long legged spider. I have a second more detailed pic
Hi Kayla, this is a harvestman (order Opliones), not an actual spider.
Seem to have an infestation of these in my RV. Six or so in last couple of days. In Salmon Idaho area.
Hi Billy, this is a fishing spider (Dolomedes sp.): https://usaspiders.com/dolomedes-fishing-spider/
Spider bite last night on upper cheek, raised, red with small white pustule. In Monterey CA area.
Saw a spider a few hours later. Blurry picture attached. Spider was approximately 1/4 in length. Is this a wolf spider?
Hi Greg, this is a jumping spider (family Salticidae). I can’t ID this one closer than that: https://usaspiders.com/jumping-spiders-of-america-north-of-mexico/
Friend captured this image on their wall
Hi Seth, this is a false widow spider (Steatoda sp.). There are numerous species in the US, your location would help narrow down to the exact species: https://usaspiders.com/theridiidae/steatoda/
I found this is a closet. I live in Colorado. Any idea what it us?
Hi Holly, this is a sun spider (Solifugae). It’s not a spider but a close relative of spiders and scorpions. They are not venomous.
AKA wind scorpion
I found this running very fast across the floor at my work towards me. When I moved it turned its path and continued at me. Found in Northwestern Oklahoma. Does anyone know what this is?
Hi Blair, this is a sun spider (Solifugae). It’s not a spider but a close relative of spiders and scorpions. They are not venomous.
A co worker found this outside her house. We’re in central MN
Hi Dawn, this is a jumping spider. The iridescent chelicerae suggest that it belongs to the genus Phidippus: https://usaspiders.com/phidippus-audax-daring-jumping-spider/
Found in my bathroom this evening, i trapped it but I’m scared to touch it in case its poisonous
Hello Madison, this is a yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium sp.): https://usaspiders.com/cheiracanthium-mildei-northern-yellow-sac-spider/
They are venomous and a bite can be painful – but they are not considered medically significant.
I first saw this spider on my living room wall two weeks ago. It has moved to several places: on fold of curtains, between shower curtain and liner, on the floor one time, and now it is sitting at the edge of a mug sitting on my coffee maker. This thing is dark brown with lighter areas of tan. Bands on legs. Front legs to back approximately FOUR inches. Similar to wolfe spider. Thanks.
Hi Sue, this is a dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus): https://usaspiders.com/dolomedes-fishing-spider/
Hello I’ve had a hard time Identifying this spider. I think it might be an eastern parson spider but I’m not sure. This photo was taken in Northern California, east of San Francisco.
Hi Clayton, this is definitely a ground spider of the family Gnaphosidae – the family of parson spiders. I don’t think this is a parson spider. It might be a mouse spider (Scotophaeus blackwalli): https://usaspiders.com/scotophaeus-blackwalli-mouse-spider/
But it could also be a different type of ground spider as there are several similar-looking ones. None of them are medically significant.
Not sure what it is. I’ve Google it several times but it never comes up with anything. Sorry for the bad quality photo but it’s the best I’ve got since the damn thing decided that charging me was it’s only means of escape.
Hi Natasha, this is a wolf spider (family Lycosidae): https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Hi! Found this guy at a health food store in Fort Wayne, IN. Someone screamed in the produce section & this fellow scurried out. I took a couple pics before releasing him outdoors. The “screamer” woman who alerted me to him was concerned he was a venomous species as that store gets organic produce shipped in from various regions. Can you please provide me with insight as to what kind he is? Thank you kindly!
Hi Jeri, thanks for getting in touch. This is definitely a spider of the orbweaver family (Araneidae) and therefore not medically significant, i.e. no need to scream or run from this one. It is most likely in the genus Metepeira: https://bugguide.net/node/view/26091
From Tampa FL
Found in my kitchen
July 2022
What kind is spider is this?
Hi Donna, unfortunately, the spider on the image is too small to make a positive ID. I would guess that this is some type of wolf spider or a grass spider. It’s definitely not one of the medically siginificant spiders found in Florida.
Please help me identify this spider. There are 3 on my window screen, each living in separate parts of the window. All are very successful in trapping bugs
Hi Sue, due to the image quality, I can not make a positive ID. But I am fairly certain this is some type of sac spider – possibly in the genus Clubiona: https://usaspiders.com/clubiona-leaf-curling-sac-spider/
Sarasota Florida, my backyard, web from a large bush to the lanai, about 3 feet, multiple other smaller spiders present in the web, same type
Hi Dan, this is an orchard orb weaver (Leucauge sp.): https://usaspiders.com/leucauge-venusta-orchard-spider/
I found this tiny black in inside my den of my house. I’m in Plattsburgh NY.
This is on my wall. I live in Florida. With the legs it is about 2″ across. Any information would be helpful.
Hi Kim, this is most likely a wolf spider (Lycosidae). It’s definitely not one of the medically significant spiders of Florida: https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Can anyone help identify this black spider? Found in Albuquerque.
Hi Brandon, this is possibly a female black widow (Latrodectus hesperus). The abdomen seems deformed so it is probably quite old. A look on the underside and the presence of a red hourglass shape would confirm it.
https://usaspiders.com/latrodectus-hesperus-western-black-widow/
Not good at taking pictures but this picture is the best I can get and I don’t know what it is
Hi Estina, this is most likely a wolf spider (family Lycosidae). But I would need to know your location to exclude a funnel-weavering spider (Agenelidae).
A very curious jumping spider landed on my hand yesterday afternoon in Washington, DC. It was TINY — smaller than my fingertip — and mostly white with 4 black markings on its back. Its feet each had little black dots on them as well. (Pic 2 of 2)
D409CBB2-2787-4394-9605-E3E442399F5C
Found in White Bear Lake MN.
Very tiny.
Moves quickly
It almost looks like a dried leaf.
Hi Beckie, unfortunately, I can’t ID this due to the image quality. It could be some type of spider covered by some type of pathogenic fungus.
Perhaps a Reduvius personatus (Masked Hunter) nymph.
Found this fellow in George County, Mississippi. I’ve never seen one like this before! Entire body is a reddish-orange. Has a yellow patch on it’s back, with 4 tiny black dots. Overall body length 1/2″, not including legs.
Hi Missi, this is some type of orb weaver of the family Araneidae. Unfortunately, I can’t ID it on a genus or species level.
I found this spider on my van was wondering if anyone knew what kind of spider it is? I live in El Paso Texas. I zoomed the picture so it can be seen better. Thank you
Hi Missi, this is some type of orb weaver of the family Araneidae. Unfortunately, I can’t ID it on a genus or species level.
Central Florida. Inside car. Ran in vent! Seemed a tiny bit translucent. Nearly 1 inch total. More oval than round overall. Variegated legs seem more pronounced in pix.
Hi there, this is some type of sac spider, possibly of the genus Cheiracanthium: https://usaspiders.com/cheiracanthium-mildei-northern-yellow-sac-spider/
Daughter was bite by this spider in here shoe. We live in south east texas.
Hi Jeffrey, this is most likely some type of sac spider – I can’t say for certain what family or species. But it is not a medically significant spider.
Found in my mailbox. Contra Costa County, El Cerrito. Aaaaahhhhh !!
Hi there, this spider may be large but it is nothing to worry about. It’s most likely a wolf spider: https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
With legs, probably 1-1/2 – 2″. Hard to get a better picture, as the web is kinda dense and in the fold of a garage door.
Trenton, SC – Edgefield County
IMG_7733
Hmmm. Not sure what happened with the image. Trying again.
Hi Leonard, thanks for sharing this picture. This is a male funnel-weaver of the family Agelenidae. Given your location, possibly a grass spider: https://usaspiders.com/agelenopsis-american-grass-spider/
Found this dead spider under my desk. Body is about 3/4″ – 1″ long with out legs. In Monitor Valley Nevada.
Should I be worried 😟.
Hi Annet, this is a camel spider or sun spider. They are close relatives of spiders but they are not true spiders. These animals are not venomous – so nothing to worry about.
VERY fast crawling pale/white spider, long front & back legs, about 3/4 the size of a penny. Located inside my home in Prospect Park, NJ (Northern NJ). It crawled up my wall and stopped on the woodwork.
Hi Irene, this is a northern yellow sac spider: https://usaspiders.com/cheiracanthium-mildei-northern-yellow-sac-spider/
Their bites can be quite painful.
This one was crawling on my neck. Curious little thing. And fearless! When I brushed it off it crawled over another spider’s web to make its way home! Amy Idea what it is?
Hello Charles, this is a male orbweaver spider of the family Araneidae. Possibly a spotted orbweaver: https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
I found a group of about 20 of these guys on the frame of a vinyl window on my house’s exterior. They all seem to be group aware. They have six double-jointed legs with faint hair on them. The antennae are at least as long as the legs and are straight. Their bodies are reddish-orange. There are two or three pairs of dark dots or marks on rear dorsal surface. There are three or four spikes on each side of rear end of body. Tip of “butt” looks dark. Feel free to use this photo as you wish.
Hi Tom, these are not spiders, these are some type of bug nymphs.
Found two of these in my bathroom in the PNW part of Oregon, a few days apart. And possibly a third in my office.
Hello Codi, this is definitely some type of ground spider in the family Gnaphosidae. These spiders are not dangerous for humans or larger pets. Given your location, it could be a mouse spider (Scotophaeus blackwalli), but there are several similar genera and species in the U.S.
If you are interested in learning more about spiders in Oregon, check out our Oregon spider identification and information book – available as an ebook here or as a printed paperback on Amazon.
This spider is so small, most people would not even see it. It, also, is camouflaged perfectly into it’s environment. Brought it home with a contained Black Baca Fig tree, in New Mexico. Web is messy and has more than 1 level. Likes to sunbathe, at times, and rests mostly on its back. Eats tiny gnats, as primary food source. Underside of abdomen is black with a solid white rectangular shape that comes to a point toward the end of the body. The sides of the rectangular shape running parallel with the length of the abdomen appear to curve in slightly. From underneath the head is pointy and black and appears to be surrounded by hair. I had to magnify the camera x8 and pull back to obtain a focused photo. Admittedly, not the best camera. Thank you!
Hi Estee, unfortunately, I am not so great at identifying these tiny spiders. This one might be some type of sheetweb spider of the family Linyphiidae, but I can’t say more than that.
Found this spider in the Tacoma area In Washington state in august. It is crawling around the celling with no web. Body size is relatively small, probably the length of a thumb nail with legs included probably around the size of a water bottle cap.
Hi Randy, this is definitely a ground spider of the family Gnaphosidae. Since a large number of genera and species in this family look quite similar, I can’t say for certain what species it is. None of these spiders are medially significant. Given your location and the overall appearance, I am quite confident that this could be a mouse spider (Scotophaeus blackwalli): https://usaspiders.com/scotophaeus-blackwalli-mouse-spider/
If you are interested in learning more about spiders in Washington State, check out our Washington spider identification and information book – available as an ebook here or as a printed paperback on Amazon
I am North Florida. This strioed-legged spider is currently at the top landing of my deck, nicely blocking my descent. I’m afraid to get too close and it’s raining so I hope my feeble efforts can help you help me know what I’m dealing with. The body actually looks translucent up close, as are the spaces between the black bands on legs. I hope this will helps in spite of the less than clear photos.
Hi Linda, this appears to be a golden silk orbweaver aka banana spider (Trichonephila clavipes): https://usaspiders.com/trichonephila-clavipes-banana-spider/
Found in my bathtub. I live in a suburb of Cincinnati, OH. It’s between 1/4″ and 3/8″ long. Mostly brown, with some very dark brown some tan colors. It looks a little bit hairy. Anyone recognize it?
Hi Veronica, this is some type of jumping spider of the family Salticidae. Unfortunately, I can’t ID this one closer than that.
This is a picture I took a while back of one if found in my basement in NY. It was hanging from the ceiling and was probably around 1.5 inches, maybe a little larger. I snapped the picture thinking it looked very widow-like. Very curious what it is, because I can’t seem to find anything that looks close to it from a few searches. The alternating leg colors, terminating in black, the distinctive colors otherwise. Figure it should be too difficult for an expert to identify
Spider found in our house in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Hi Matthew, this is a male false widow (Steatoda sp.)
Hi,
I found this in my daughters bathroom in San Diego.Can you help me identify it .Dince it’s my daughters room I am a worried that it might be poisonous. Thanks
Hi Julia, this is not one of the medically significant spiders found in California. This is most likely some type of false widow spider (genus Steatoda).
This Spider is posted up near my door by the light . Would like to know what it is & know if it may be dangerous or not. As of now spider(think I’ll call it Phil ) just feasts on the bugs attracted to the light at night
This Spider is posted up near my door by the light . Would like to know what it is & know if it may be dangerous or not. As of now spider(think I’ll call it Phil ) just feasts on the bugs attracted to the light at night spotted in West TX near El Paso
Hi Sami, this spider is not dangerous – spiders that build these orb-shaped webs – so called orb-weavers – are never medically significant for humans or larger pets. This is either Neoscona oaxacensis or Aculepeira packardi – I can’t tell with certainty from the image.
Found this in my garden in central Wisconsin. I think it bit me while I was weeding.
Hi Jimmy, this is a common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum): https://usaspiders.com/parasteatoda-tepidariorum-common-house-spider/
This spider only comes out at night . So it’s hard to get a good photo
Hi Tambi, this might be a tropical orb weaver (Eriophora ravilla) or a spotted orb weaver (Neoscona crucifera). The location would help to get a better ID.
This guy is hanging around my office today.
Do I need to be concerned?
Hi Jen, no need to be concerned. This is a wolf spider (family Lycosidae): https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Please help me identify this spider
First time seeing it inside my home
Phelan, ca
This is about the size of the palm of your hand, different shades of brown with 2 stripes. Moved faster than I could run away.
Hi Kimberly, this is most likely some type of wolf spider (family Lycosidae): https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
This spider is huge. Never seen one like it. Now I can never go into my bedroom again
Hi Donna, this is some type of wolf spider (family Lycosidae). This spider is not medically significant. You can learn more about them here: https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Hi… this guy formed a web on the outside of my home. I’m in Southern Delaware
Thanks!
Hi Megan, this is a spotted orbweaver (genus Neoscona):
Either Neoscona crucifera: https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
or Neoscona domiciliorum: https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-domiciliorum-red-femured-spotted-orbweaver/
Hello I walked into this spiders web earlier today and it scared the hell out of me. Couldn’t figure out what it was as I’ve never seen one like this before. It’s web was on my pergola on the deck.
Hi Vincent, this is a western spotted orbweaver (Neoscona oaxacensis): https://usaspiders.com/western-spotted-orb-weaver-neoscona-oaxacensis/