Spiders in Iowa

The state of Iowa has different spider species inhabiting various locations like fields, gardens, sheds, garages, ceilings and window corners. Out of all the species, the southern black widow and the brown recluse are considered deadly or dangerous. They are distributed evenly throughout Iowa, with the central part having some interesting species like the brown recluse, black widow as well as those belonging to the cellar and wolf family. 

Common spiders: Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia), Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata), Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)

Largest spiders: Carolina Wolf (Hogna carolinensis), Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus)

Highly Venomous Spiders

Sicariidae

• Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)

Less Venomous Spiders

Orb-weaver (Araneidae)

• Marbled Orb-weaver (Araneus marmoreus)
• Bridge Orb-weaver (Larinioides sclopetarius)
• Furrow Orb-weaver (Larinioides cornutus)
• Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia)
• White Micrathena (Micrathena mitrata)
• Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata)
• Arrow-shaped Micrathena (Micrathena sagittata)
• Labyrinthine Orb-weaver (Metepeira labyrinthia)
• Shamrock Orb-weaver (Araneus trifolium)
• Spotted Orb-weaver (Neoscona crucifera)
• Tuft-legged Orb-weaver (‎Mangora placida)

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Triangulate Cobweb (Steatoda triangulosa)
• Common House (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)

Nursery Web (Pisauridae)

• Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus)

Wolf (Lycosidae)

• Tiger Wolf (Tigrosa aspersa)
• Carolina Wolf (Hogna carolinensis)
• Arctosa rubicunda
• Tigrosa helluo
• Tigrosa grandis

Ground (Gnaphosidae)

• Eastern Parson (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus)

Funnel Weaver (Agelenidae)

• Barn Funnel (Tegenaria domestica)
• Hobo (Eratigena agrestis)

Jumping (Salticidae)

• Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax)
• Woodland Jumping (Thiodina sylvan)