California has about 60 spider species of which the black widow is the most dangerous. Another deadly spider, the brown recluse is rarely found here, with just 20 of them being collected over a span of many decades.
| Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) | Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) | Long-bodied Cellar (Pholcus phalangioides) |
| Giant Crab (Olios giganteus) | — | — |
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 >
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 >
Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) - The Brown Widow Spider is a cool spider that belongs to the cobweb spiders family. Some people know more about its cousin, the Black Widow, but the Brown Widow has its own interesting story.… Continue Reading >
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 >
Arabesque Orb-weaver (Neoscona arabesca) - The Arabesque orb-weaver is a fascinating spider from the Araneidae family. Common in North America, this orb-weaving spider isn't limited to just one continent.… Continue Reading >
Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera) - The spotted orb weaver is a tiny spider that lives in places like Florida, Maine, Arizona, and Minnesota. Part of the orb weavers family, they usually roam at night.… Continue Reading >
Western Spotted Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona oaxacensis) - Discover the world of the western spotted orb weaver spider! This fascinating creature belongs to the orb weaver spiders family and calls the Americas its home.… Continue Reading >
Tropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla) - The tropical orb-weaver is a fascinating spider from the Eriophora genus, part of the Araneidae family. You'll often find it in many areas of the United States.… Continue Reading >
Silver Garden (Argiope argentata) - The silver garden spider, shimmering with a unique silvery glow on its carapace, hails from places like Central and South America, as well as parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean Island.… Continue Reading >
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 >
Cat-Faced (Araneus gemmoides) - The cat-faced spider, known to some as the jewel spider, thrives during the nighttime. Part of the orb-weaver family, these spiders create spiral webs shaped like wheels.… Continue Reading >
Gray Wall Jumping (Menemerus bivittatus) - Did you know there's a spider called the Gray wall jumper? It belongs to the Salticidae family and is found in warm tropical places in both the north and south.… Continue Reading >
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 >
Red Back Jumping Spider (Phidippus johnsoni) - The Red Back Jumping Spider pops with vibrant red on its rounded belly. This colorful creature loves to leap around, making it a standout among American spiders.… Continue Reading >
Beach Wolf (Arctosa littoralis) - The Beach wolf spider is a fascinating creature from the wolf spider family. Guess where they love to hang out? On the beaches! And you can find them all over the United States and even some parts of Canada.… Continue Reading >
Aphonopelma johnnycashi - Did you know there's a tarantula named after the legendary singer Johnny Cash? It's true! In 2015, a unique black tarantula was found near Folsom prison.… Continue Reading >
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 >
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 >
Grey House (Badumna longinqua) - The Grey house spider is a fascinating creature from the Desidae family, originally from eastern Australia. But guess what? These spiders have traveled far and wide!… Continue Reading >
California Trapdoor (Bothriocyrtum californicum) - Get ready to learn about the spiders from the Ctenizidae family! Often called California trapdoor spiders, they live not just in California but all across the United States.… Continue Reading >
Long Bodied Cellar (Pholcus phalangioides) - The long-bodied cellar spiders are quite interesting! Often seen in America's dark and damp spots, they have really long legs. This is why some folks call them daddy-long-legs.… Continue Reading >
Marbled Cellar Spider (Holocnemus pluchei) - Meet the marbled cellar spider! Many call it the "daddy-long-legs" because of its long, thin legs. These cellar spiders love to hang out in homes, especially in attics and basements, making silky webs.… Continue Reading >
Southern House (Kukulcania hibernalis) - The Southern House Spider lives in many parts of America, from the north to the south. It's quite a big spider! Interestingly, people often confuse the male Southern House Spider with another spider called the brown recluse because they look a lot alike.… Continue Reading >
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 >
White Banded Crab (Misumenoides formosipes) - Did you know there are spiders called White banded crab spiders? They're part of a big family named Thomisidae. These spiders live in the United States and Canada.… Continue Reading >
Green Lynx (Peucetia viridans) - The Green Lynx is a big, bright green spider that lives in some areas of the Americas. Sometimes people mix it up with other similar-looking spiders from Africa and India such as Peucetia.… Continue Reading >
Trachelas pacificus - Trachelas pacificus is a special kind of spider that lives in North America. It's part of the ground sac spiders family. Discover interesting facts about this spider right here.… Continue Reading >
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