Spiders in Ontario

Spiders are most active in Ontario from late spring to early fall. Not only are they more visible, but their presence is often felt through the nearly invisible webs they spin. There aren’t too many dangerous spiders in Ontario, the most deadly being the western black widow, feared for its potent venom.

Spiders in Ontario

Spiders in Ontario Identification Chart

Common Spiders in Ontario

Black-footed Yellow Sac Spider Common House Spider

Biggest Spiders in Ontario

Dark Fishing Spider Striped Fishing Spider

Deadliest Spiders in Ontario

Western Black Widow Spider Eastern Parson Spider

Most Venomous Spiders

Comb-footed Spiders

Western Black Widow Spider Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) - Have you ever heard about the Western Black Widow spider? It's a special spider found mostly in the western areas of North America. They are closely related to the northern black widow.… Continue Reading >

Sac Spiders

Yellow Sac Spider Size Black-Footed Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium inclusum) - Meet the yellow sac spider! It's a spider that originally came from the Americas. Over time, it's been a part of different spider families, and now it's in the Eutichuridae family.… Continue Reading >

Northern Yellow Sac Spider Northern Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium mildei) - Discover the fascinating world of the northern yellow sac spider, part of the cheiracanthiidae family. With a shared name across its genus, this spider stands out for unique reasons.… Continue Reading >

Funnel Weaver Spiders

Hobo Spider Image Hobo (Eratigena agrestis) - The Hobo spider is different from the Australian funnel-web, even though they both belong to the funnel-web spider group. With various scientific names like Philoica agrestis and Tegenaria rhaetica, these spiders can be found in Europe, Central Asia, and North America.… Continue Reading >

Ground Spiders

Eastern Parson Spider Parson (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) - The eastern parson spider is a special kind of spider from the USA and Canada. It's part of the Gnaphosidae family. Instead of making webs to catch food, this spider likes to chase down its meals!… Continue Reading >

Less Venomous Spiders

Orb-weaver Spiders

Star Bellied Orb Weaver Spider Starbellied Orb-weaver (Acanthepeira stellata) - The Starbellied orb-weaver is a special spider from the Araneidae family. You can often see it in places like Mexico and Canada, especially between late spring and early fall.… Continue Reading >

Barn Spider Size Barn (Araneus cavaticus) - Have you ever seen a Barn spider? This spider loves to weave its webs at night and is found mostly in North America. You'll see them a lot in late summer and autumn.… Continue Reading >

Marble Orb-Weaver Marbled Orb-weaver (Araneus marmoreus) - The marbled orb-weaver is a spider with a special design on its body. It has patterns on its abdomen that look like marble, which is how it got its name.… Continue Reading >

Shamrock Orb Weaver Size Shamrock Orb Weaver (Araneus trifolium) - The shamrock orb weaver is a special spider from the Araneidae family. If you're curious, you'll find these little creatures in places like the United States and Canada.… Continue Reading >

Six Spotted Fishing Spider Six-spotted Fishing (Dolomedes triton) - Discover the Six-spotted Fishing Spider, often known as the dock spider. These large, semi-aquatic spiders are daytime hunters. They're experts at waiting near water edges, among bushes, ready to catch their next meal.… Continue Reading >

Banded Garden Spider Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata) - The banded garden spider is a common spider with two types: Argiope trifasciata deserticola and Argiope trifasciata kauaiensis. They prefer warm places and usually aren't around in cold winters because they don't like the chill.… Continue Reading >

Larinioides Sclopetarius Gray Cross Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius) - Discover the world of the gray cross spider, part of the family of orb weavers. These unique spiders, although not fans of the company, often create their webs near one another.… Continue Reading >

European Garden Spider Cross Orb Weaver (Araneus diadematus) - Did you know the Cross Orb Weaver spider comes from Europe and North America? Their legs are super cool because they can spin special round webs.… Continue Reading >

Yellow Garden Spider Images Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia) - Imagine a spider with bright yellow and black colors, weaving an amazing web in the garden. That's the Yellow Garden Spider for you! They're super peaceful and really good at making fancy webs.… Continue Reading >

Wolf Spiders

  • Sand Bear Wolf Spider (Arctosa perita)

Hacklemesh Weaver Spiders

Amaurobius Ferox Black Lace Weaver Spider (Amaurobius ferox) - The spider realm is diverse and filled with intriguing species. The Amaurobius ferox is one such captivating specimen. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into its unique characteristics and behaviors.… Continue Reading >

Crab Spiders

Female Goldenrod Crab Spider Goldenrod Crab (Misumena vatia) - Goldenrod Crab Spiders are super cool! They can change colors and hang out on flowers, waiting for their food. Instead of making big webs, they use silk for catching food or keeping their eggs safe.… Continue Reading >

  • Utah Crab Spider (Bassaniana utahensis)

Nursery Web Spiders

Striped Fishing Spider Size Striped Fishing (Dolomedes scriptus) - Discover the Striped Fishing Spider! This big spider is part of the Pisauridae family and lives in both the United States and Canada. With its striking patterns and unique habits, it has become a topic of interest.… Continue Reading >

Dark Fishing Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus) - The Dark Fishing Spider is a special spider from the Pisauridae family. It looks a lot like the striped fishing spider. Here's something wild: after these spiders mate, the male often becomes a meal for the female!… Continue Reading >

  • American Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira)

Funnel Weaver Spiders

Barn Funnel Weaver Spider Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica) - Discover the Barn Funnel Weaving Spider, a spider known by various names worldwide, like the Domestic House Spider in Europe and the Common House Spider in the Pacific Northwest.… Continue Reading >

Jumping Spider

Bold Jumping Spider Picture Bold Jumping (Phidippus audax) - Bold jumping spiders are super cool members of the Salticidae spider family. They get attention for their amazing jumps and colorful looks. Instead of using webs to catch food, they like to sneak up on bugs and jump on them!… Continue Reading >

Male Tan Jumping Spider Tan Jumping (Platycryptus undatus) - Tan jumping spiders are super interesting! They hop around and belong to the jumping spider family. You can find them in places like North and Central America.… Continue Reading >

Zebra Spider Size Zebra (Salticus scenicus) - Discover the fascinating world of the Zebra Spider, a creature from the northern hemisphere with stripes like a zebra. These lively spiders don't spin webs to catch their dinner.… Continue Reading >

  • Common Hentz Jumper Spider (Hentzia palmarum)

Comb-footed Spiders

Common House Spider Size Common House (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) - Guess what? The American house spider is a popular spider many people meet! Even though its name says "American," it's also found in places like Pakistan and Myanmar.… Continue Reading >

Rabbit Hutch Spider Rabbit Hutch Spider (Steatoda bipunctata) - Discover the intriguing world of the rabbit hutch spider, a comb-footed spider family member. Known for its unique habit of dwelling in places where rabbits live, this spider is more than just its name.… Continue Reading >

Triangulate Cobweb Spider Triangulate Cobweb (Steatoda triangulosa) - Meet the triangulate cobweb spider from the Steatoda genus! Found in places like North America, New Zealand, and Europe, this little spider has a neat triangular pattern on its back.… Continue Reading >

Intertidal Spiders

  • Metaltella simoni

Hackled Orb-weaver Spiders

  • Feather-legged Orb-weaver Spider (Uloborus glomosus)

Woodlouse Hunter Spiders

Woodlouse Spider Size Woodlouse (Dysdera crocata) - Guess what? There's a spider called the woodlouse spider because it loves eating woodlice! It comes from places near the Mediterranean Sea.… Continue Reading >

Purse-web Spiders

  • Black Purse-web Spider (Sphodros niger)

Frequently Asked Questions

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The most dangerous spider in Ontario is the Western Black Widow. This species is feared due to its potent neurotoxic venom, which can cause significant health issues for humans. While encounters are uncommon, its presence requires caution, and a bite should receive immediate medical attention from a professional.

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Spiders are most active in Ontario from late spring to early fall. During this period, warmer temperatures and abundant insect prey lead to increased spider activity, growth, and reproduction. You are more likely to see spiders and their webs in and around homes between May and October.

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The biggest spiders found in Ontario are the Dark Fishing Spider and the Striped Fishing Spider. Often found near water sources like docks and shorelines, these spiders can have impressive leg spans. Despite their large size, they are generally shy and not considered medically significant to humans.

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Yes, there are several types of venomous spiders in Ontario. The most potent is the Western Black Widow, but other groups like Sac Spiders, Comb-footed Spiders, and Funnel Weavers also possess venom. Most spider bites are not medically significant, but some can cause painful reactions.

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The Common House Spider and the Black-footed Yellow Sac Spider are two species frequently found inside Ontario houses. These spiders adapt well to indoor environments, building webs in quiet corners, basements, and attics. They are generally considered harmless and can help control other common household insect pests.

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Yes, the Eastern Parson Spider is listed among the more dangerous spiders in Ontario. While not as potent as a black widow, its bite can be painful and may cause localized swelling, itching, and redness. In rare cases, an allergic reaction can occur, so monitoring the bite is important.

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A fishing spider in Ontario can be identified by its large size and typical location near water. Species like the Dark Fishing Spider and Striped Fishing Spider are robust, often brownish or grayish with distinct patterns. They are semi-aquatic and can be seen on docks, boats, or shoreline vegetation.