Spiders in Missouri

Among the different spider families living in Missouri, the brown recluse and the northern black widow are the deadliest.

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Common Spiders in Missouri

Largest Spiders in Missouri

Highly Venomous Spiders

Less Venomous Spiders

Common Spiders in Missouri

Triangulate Orb-weaver (Verrucosa arenata)	Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia)	Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata)
Goldenrod Crab (Misumena vatia)	Members of the Wolf (Lycosidae) family	—

Largest Spiders in Missouri

Species of the Wolf (Lycosidae) family

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Highly Venomous Spiders

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) - The Northern Black Widow is a cool spider found mainly on the 'East Coast' of North America. It's a close relative to the southern and western black widows.… Continue Reading >

Sicariidae

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 >

Less Venomous Spiders

Orb-Weaver (Araneidae)

Furrow (Larinioides cornutus) - Did you know there's a spider called the Furrow spider? It belongs to the orb-weaver family. You can find them in places like North Africa, Europe, parts of Asia, and even in North and South America!… Continue Reading >

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 >

Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta) - The orchard spider is a special kind of spider called an orb-weaver. It has a long jaw and is found in places like the United States, southern Canada, and parts of Central America.… 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 >

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 >

Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis) - The Spined Micrathena is a standout spider with its black and white body and spiky tummy. Part of the orb-weaver family, you'll mostly spot this daytime-loving spider during late summer and early autumn.… Continue Reading >

Arrowhead (Verrucosa arenata) - Imagine spiders weaving beautiful webs! They're called arrowhead spiders and mostly live in the New World. Their fancy name, Verrucosa, means 'warty' and arenata means 'sand' in a language called Latin.… Continue Reading >

Green-legged Orb-weaver (Mangora maculata)
Humped Trashline Orb-weaver (Cyclosa turbinata)
Six-spotted Orb-weaver (Araniella displicata)

Nursery Web (Pisauridae)

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 >

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 >

White Banded Fishing (Dolomedes albineus) - The white banded fishing spider is a cool member of the nursery web spider group. Guess where it's from? The United States of America!… Continue Reading >

Dolomedes striatus

Jumping (Salticidae)

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 >

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 >

Apache Jumping (Phidippus apacheanus) - Meet the Apache Jumping spider! This tiny jumper belongs to the Salticidae family and loves living in places like the United States, Cuba, and Mexico.… Continue Reading >

Cellar (Pholcidae)

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 >

Ground (Gnaphosidae)

Sergiolus capulatus

Wolf (Lycosidae)

Tigrosa Georgicola - The Tigrosa georgicola is a kind of spider that lives in the southeastern parts of the United States. It's part of the Lycosidae spider family.… Continue Reading >

Rabid Wolf (Rabidosa rabida) - Do you know about the Rabid Wolf spider? It's a yellow spider living in certain areas of North America. Even though its name sounds scary, it doesn't have rabies.… Continue Reading >

Dotted Wolf (Rabidosa punctulata)
Tiger Wolf (Tigrosa aspersa)
Tigrosa helluo
Varacosa avara

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most venomous spiders in Missouri?

The most venomous spiders in Missouri are the brown recluse and the northern black widow. Both species possess medically significant venom that can cause severe reactions in humans. While many spiders are venomous, only these two are considered a serious health threat in the state, requiring medical attention if a bite occurs.

What are the largest spiders found in Missouri?

The largest spiders found in Missouri typically belong to the wolf spider (Lycosidae) family. These robust spiders are active hunters that pursue prey rather than catching it in a web. While their size can be intimidating, their bite is not considered medically significant to humans, though it can be painful.

Are wolf spiders in Missouri dangerous to people?

Wolf spiders in Missouri are generally not dangerous to people, although their bite can be painful. Their venom is not medically significant and typically results in only localized pain, redness, and swelling. These spiders are not aggressive and will only bite if they are provoked or feel directly threatened.

What common orb-weaver spiders live in Missouri?

Common orb-weaver spiders in Missouri include the yellow garden spider, the banded garden spider, and the triangulate orb-weaver. These spiders are known for creating the large, intricate, circular webs often seen in gardens and fields. They are considered beneficial for controlling insect populations and are not harmful to humans.

How can you identify a brown recluse spider in Missouri?

A brown recluse spider is best identified by its uniformly tan or brown body, six eyes arranged in pairs, and a distinct violin-shaped marking on its back with the neck pointing toward the abdomen. They are about the size of a U.S. quarter and have slender legs without spines.

Are yellow garden spiders in Missouri harmful?

Yellow garden spiders in Missouri are not considered harmful to humans. While they are capable of biting if handled or trapped against the skin, their venom is not medically significant. A bite typically results in only mild, localized irritation similar to a bee sting. They are generally docile and beneficial.

Where are black widow spiders typically found in Missouri?

Black widow spiders in Missouri are typically found in dark, undisturbed, and protected areas. Common habitats include woodpiles, sheds, basements, crawl spaces, and under rocks or outdoor furniture. They build messy, irregular webs near the ground and are not typically found out in the open.

Spiders in Missouri

Common Spiders in Missouri

Largest Spiders in Missouri