Spider Identifier
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How to Identify Spiders
Spiders are arachnids belonging to the order Araneae, with over 49,000 described species worldwide. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and occupy virtually every terrestrial habitat. Spiders are distinguished from insects by having eight legs, two body segments, and no antennae or wings. They are sometimes confused with ticks (see our Tick Identifier tool), which are also arachnids, but spiders have a clearly defined two-part body and much longer legs relative to their body size.
Body structure consists of two main parts: the cephalothorax (prosoma) at the front, which bears the eyes, mouthparts, and legs, and the abdomen (opisthosoma) at the rear, connected by a narrow waist called the pedicel. This two-part body plan immediately separates spiders from insects, which have three body sections.
Eye arrangement is one of the most reliable identification features. Most spiders have eight eyes, but the size, spacing, and arrangement vary dramatically between families. Jumping spiders have two very large forward-facing eyes with six smaller ones. Wolf spiders have a distinctive eye pattern with two large posterior median eyes. Orb weavers typically have eight small eyes of similar size.
Web type, when present, provides strong identification clues. Orb weavers construct the classic circular spiral webs. Cobweb spiders build tangled, irregular three-dimensional webs. Funnel-web spiders create sheet-like webs with a tunnel retreat. Sheet-web spiders spin flat or dome-shaped webs. Many spiders, including wolf spiders and jumping spiders, do not build webs at all.
Body shape and proportions vary greatly. Crab spiders have flattened bodies with laterally extended legs. Jumping spiders are compact and stocky with short legs. Orb weavers may have round, elongated, or spiny abdomens. Long-jawed spiders have extremely elongated chelicerae.
Color and markings are useful identification features. The garden spider has a distinctive white cross pattern on the abdomen. Black widows are recognized by the red hourglass marking. Many species display species-specific abdominal patterns.
Size ranges from tiny money spiders under 2 mm to large tarantulas with leg spans exceeding 250 mm.
Did you know?
Spider silk is five times stronger than steel of the same diameter, and some species can produce up to seven different types of silk for different purposes. The Darwin's bark spider produces silk ten times tougher than Kevlar and spins webs that can span entire rivers.
Spiders
European Garden Spider
Araneus diadematus
A medium orb-weaving spider with a distinctive white cross pattern on a brown or orange abdomen. Body length 10-18 mm. Builds large circular webs.
Common House Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
A small cobweb spider, 5-8 mm, with a brownish body and mottled abdomen pattern. Builds tangled webs in corners of buildings.
Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
A stocky black spider, 8-15 mm, with iridescent green chelicerae and white spots on the abdomen. Active daytime hunter with large forward-facing eyes.
Wolf Spider
Hogna carolinensis
A large ground-dwelling spider, 18-35 mm, brown with darker markings. Does not build webs; hunts actively on the ground. Females carry egg sacs.
Golden Silk Orb-Weaver
Trichonephila clavipes
A large spider with females reaching 25-40 mm body length, with a cylindrical silver and yellow body. Builds large golden-colored webs.
Brown Recluse
Loxosceles reclusa
A medium tan to brown spider, 7-12 mm, with a distinctive dark violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax. Has six eyes arranged in three pairs.
Crab Spider
Misumena vatia
A small spider, 4-10 mm, that can change color between white and yellow. Has laterally extended front legs and ambushes prey on flowers.
Black and Yellow Garden Spider
Argiope aurantia
A large orb weaver with females reaching 20-28 mm, with bold yellow and black markings on the abdomen. Builds large webs with a zigzag stabilimentum.
FAQ
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