Like many other countries in the Americas, Puerto Rico is home to creepy crawlies that have given many tourists the willies. While relaxing among palm palms or exploring nature areas in Puerto Rico, you should be prepared to encounter spiders. There are numerous spider species in Puerto Rico, and they may be found throughout the island. Thankfully, most don’t have poisonous bites, but a few do, and they can strike without warning. To prepare you for your upcoming trip to this lovely sun-soaked island, we will give you some of the most important information about spiders in Puerto Rico.
Spiders in Puerto Rico Identification Chart| Golden silk orb weaver | Banana spiders | Tent cobweb weavers |
| Banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) | Red house spider (Nesticodes rufipes) | Brown sailor spider (Neoscona nautica) |
| Grey House Spiders (Zosis geniculate) | — | — |
| Giant Huntsman spider or Giant Crab Spider (Heteropoda venatoria) | Tailless whip scorpions, or “guaba” or also known as Cave spiders | Puerto Rican brown tarantulas |
| Green Huntsman Spiders | Banana spiders or Golden silk spiders | — |
Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa) - The brown recluse spider is a special spider found mostly in the central and southern parts of the U.S. It's part of a small group of spiders in North America known for having strong venom, along with the Chilean recluse and black widow.… Continue Reading >
Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) - Did you know there's a spider called the southern black widow? It's mostly found in North America. It has family members like the western black widow and northern black widow, and they look a bit alike.… Continue Reading >
Cane (Heteropoda venatoria) - Picture a large spider called the Cane Spider. It lives in warm, tropical places and doesn't make webs. Instead, it hunts for food when the stars come out!… Continue Reading >
Green Huntsman (Micrommata virescens) - The green huntsman spider is a special spider from the Sparassidae family. It's found mostly in Northern and Central Europe. They are called "green huntsman" because of their bright green color.… Continue Reading >
Giant Huntsman (Heteropoda maxima) - The Giant Huntsman spider has a big claim to fame: it has the longest legs among all spiders! Found in the Laos region, this spider is also super speedy. It chases its prey really fast!… Continue Reading >
Puerto Rican Pinktoe Tarantula (Caribena laeta) - The Puerto Rican pinktoe tarantula is a special spider found only in the Americas. Known for its unique appearance, especially when young, many collectors and spider lovers want to have one.… Continue Reading >
Nephila Clavipes - The Golden-orb weaver family has a special member called Nephila Clavipes. This unique spider lives in both Northern and Southern America. Some people in the United States even call it the banana spider.… Continue Reading >
Frequently Asked Questions
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