21 Different Types of Spiders in North America

Passive Hunters (Web Builders)

Create intricate webs that capture prey in sticky fibers. They wait for victims to get stuck rather than actively pursuing them.

Active Hunters

Do not create complex webs. Instead, they actively pursue prey, relying on mobility and predatory instincts.

Shiny black with red hourglass on abdomen. Found in warmer southern regions. Prefers dark, undisturbed locations like garages, sheds, firewood piles. Females bite when guarding eggs. No US fatalities since 1983.

Violin-shaped marking on light to dark brown body. 1/4 to 3/4 inch. Central Midwest US. Found in laundry rooms, basements, crawl spaces, attics. Not aggressive but bites in self-defense. Venom causes skin necrosis.

Brown Widow

Tan to dark brown with yellow/orange hourglass. Southern US. Less likely to bite than black widow and venom less potent. Found in debris, hollow tree trunks, garden furniture.

Yellow Sac Spider

Pale beige, green, or yellow with dark brown feet. Midwest and eastern US. Active hunters that build silk tubes for hiding. More aggressive than most house spiders but venom not dangerous. More prevalent during fall.

American House Spider

Yellow-brown, 1/10-1/4 inch. Found in closets, crawl spaces, basements. Non-aggressive, harmless.

Domestic House Spider

Shades of brown with pale/black stripes. Found in cupboards, under furniture, attics. Not dangerous.

Southern House Spider

Females mistaken for tarantulas, males for brown recluse. Dark, undisturbed places. Harmless.

Long-Bodied Cellar Spider

Pale yellow to light brown, legs up to 2 inches. "Daddy long-legs." Basements, cellars. No threat to humans.

Jumping Spider

Compact, colorful markings. Best vision of all spiders. Can jump 10-50x body length. Harmless.

Cobweb Spider

Create haphazard, non-symmetrical webs. Most harmless, but includes widow species.

Wolf Spider

Large, hairy, dark brown. Active hunters that chase prey. Females carry egg sacs. Bites cause bee-sting-like symptoms.

Funnel Spider

Brown/gray with elongated body. Create funnel-shaped retreat webs. Not aggressive, bites not serious.

Grass Spider

Brown with long spinnerets. Found around home foundations. Males may enter homes. Generally harmless.

Ground Spider

Red or gray-brown. Nocturnal hunters under rocks, leaves, logs. No medical threat to humans.

Orb Weaving Spider

Build large geometric webs daily. Spiny or smooth abdomens. Harmless and beneficial pest predators.

Hobo Spider

Brown with chevron markings. Despite rumors, CDC does not list as venomous to humans.

Crab Spider

Leg arrangement like crabs. Can change color to match flowers. Ambush predators. Not harmful.

Woodlouse Spider

Red legs, large fangs for eating pill bugs. Nocturnal. Bite painful but not medically significant.

Huntsman Spider

Large, gold colored (US species). Very fast. Shy, avoids humans. Bite painful but not serious.

Harvestmen

"Daddy long-legs" - actually not spiders. Single body segment. Non-venomous, no threat to humans.

Tarantula

Up to 11 inches. Burrow dwellers. Non-aggressive. Venom non-lethal but bites painful due to fang size.

Prevention

• Maintain clean, clutter-free environment
• Keep garages, attics, basements tidy
• Do not leave clothing/shoes on floor
• Seal cracks and crevices
• Remove rocks, wood piles, compost heaps

Control Methods

• Vacuum/brush away webs regularly
• Manual removal with gloves or container
• Sticky traps along baseboards
• Control other insects (spider prey)
• Residual insecticides (pyrethroids)