Spiders in California

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.

Common spiders: Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus), Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus), Long-bodied Cellar (Pholcus phalangioides)

Largest spider: Giant Crab (Olios giganteus)

Highly Venomous Spiders

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
• Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus)
• Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus)

Less Venomous Spiders

Orb-weaver (Araneidae)

• Cross Orb-weaver (Araneus diadematus)
• Arabesque Orb-weaver (Neoscona arabesca)
• Hentz Orb-weaver (Neoscona crucifera)
• Western Spotted Orb-weaver (Neoscona oaxacensis)
• Tropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla)
• Missing Sector Orb-weaver (Zygiella x-notata)
• Silver Garden (Argiope argentata)
• Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata)
• Cat-faced  (Araneus gemma)
• Araneus andrewsi

Jumping (Salticidae)

• Gray Wall Jumper (Menemerus bivittatus)
• Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax)
• Johnson Jumping (Phidippus johnsoni)
• Menemerus semilimbatus
• Phidippus adumbrates
• Phidippus nikites
• Sassacus vitis

Funnel Weaver (Agelenidae)

• Desert Grass (Agelenopsis aperta)
• Tegenaria pagana

Wolf (Lycosidae)

• Beach Wolf (Arctosa littoralis)
• Alopecosa kochi
• Schizocosa maxima
• Schizocosa mccooki

False Wolf  (Zoropsidae)

• Zoropsis spinimana

Tarantula (Theraphosidae)

• Aphonopelma johnnycashi

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Common House (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)
• Triangulate Cobweb (Steatoda triangulosa)
• Asagena fulva
• Asagena medialis

Desidae

• Grey House (Badumna longinqua)

Trapdoor (Ctenizidae)

• California Trapdoor (Bothriocyrtum californicum)

Amaurobiidae

• Hacklemesh Weaver (Metaltella simoni)
• Callobius severus

Corinnidae

• Castianeira Athena
• Castianeira thalia

Cellar (Pholcidae)

• Long-bodied Cellar (Pholcus phalangioides)
• Marbled Cellar (Holocnemus pluchei)

Homalonychidae

• Homalonychus theologus

Crevice Weaver (Filistatidae)

• Southern House (Kukulcania hibernalis)

Crab (Thomisidae)

• Giant Crab (Olios giganteus)
• Golden-rod Crab (Misumena vatia)
• White-banded Crab (Misumenoides formosipes)

Linyphiidae

• Eared Dome Sheet-web (Neriene digna)

Lynx (Oxyopidae)

• Green Lynx (Peucetia viridans)
• Peucetia longipalpis

Euctenizidae

• Promyrmekiaphila clathrata

Pirate (Mimetidae)

• Reo eutypus

Ground (Gnaphosidae)

• Mouse (Scotophaeus blackwalli)
• Sergiolus montanus

Tube Web (Segestriidae)

• Segestria pacifica

Running Crab (Philodromidae)

• Tibellus oblongus

Trachelidae

• Trachelas pacificus

Cribellate Orb-weaver

• Uloborus diversus