Spiders in North Carolina

North Carolina has a large number of spiders belonging to the fishing, jumping, cobweb, and huntsman family. Out of all the species, the brown recluse, and black widow are considered the deadliest.

Spiders in North Carolina Identification Chart

Common Spiders in North Carolina

Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia)
Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax)

Largest Spiders in North Carolina

Members of the Fishing (Dolomedes) familyWolf (Lycosidae) family

Highly Venomous Spiders

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

Southern Black Widow Size 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 >

Northern Black Widow Spider Size 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 >

False Black Widow Spider False Black Widow (Steatoda grossa) - The False Black Widow spider is part of the Steatoda genus and is frequently confused with the more dangerous Black Widow Spider. Known by various names, including 'cupboard spider' and 'brown house spider' in Australia, this species sometimes earns the label of a pest in certain areas.… Continue Reading >

Sicariidae

Brown Recluse Image 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)

Giant Lichen Orbweaver Spider Giant Lichen Orb Weaver (Araneus bicentenarius) - Discover the world of the Giant Lichen Orb Weaver, a spider native to areas in the United States and Canada. Known for their impressive size, these spiders are fascinating creatures.… Continue Reading >

Marble Orb-Weaver 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 >

Six Spotted Fishing Spider 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 >

Yellow Garden Spider Images Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia) - Imagine a spider with bright yellow and black colors, weaving an amazing web in the garden. That's the Yellow Garden Spider for you! They're super peaceful and really good at making fancy webs.… Continue Reading >

Furrow Spider Size 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 >

Leucauge Argyrobapta Mabel’s Orchard Orb Weaver Spider (Leucauge argyrobapta) - The Mabel’s Orchard Orb Weaver Spider is a kind of long-jawed orb weaver. Fun fact: Charles Darwin found this spider in Brazil in 1832. It's the first of its kind to be known among orb weavers.… Continue Reading >

Orchard Orbweaver Spider 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 >

Neoscona Domiciliorum Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona domiciliorum) - Explore the red-femured spotted orb weaver spider, part of the orb weavers family. With a name like "domiciliorum," which means "of dwellings" in Latin, it's no surprise they often live around buildings.… Continue Reading >

Spotted Orb Weaver Spider 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 >

Arabesque Orb Weaver Spider 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 >

Spined Micrathena Spider Web 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 >

  • Metazygia wittfeldae

Jumping (Salticidae)

Bold Jumping Spider Picture 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 >

Canopy Jumping Spider Canopy Jumping (Phidippus otiosus) - The Canopy Jumping Spider belongs to the Salticidae family and lives in trees in southeastern North America. It's closely related to other spiders like the Phidippus regius, Phidippus pius, and Phidippus californicus.… Continue Reading >

Male Tan Jumping Spider 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 >

Paraphidippus Aurantius Emerald Jumping Spider (Paraphidippus aurantius) - Discover the emerald jumping spider, also known as Paraphidippus aurantius. Found everywhere from the United States to Panama and even the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, these spiders stand out due to their size, being notably larger than many other jumping spiders.… Continue Reading >

  • Phidippus princeps
  • Metacyrba taeniola

Cellar (Pholcidae)

Long Bodied Cellar Spider 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 >

Nursery Web (Pisauridae)

Dark Fishing 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 Spider 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 Spider Picture 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 >

Wolf (Lycosidae)

Rabid Wolf Spider Size 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 >

Tigrosa Georgicola Spider 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 >

  • Tigrosa helluo
  • Tigrosa annexa
  • Tiger Wolf (Tigrosa aspersa)

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

Triangulate Cobweb Spider 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 >

Purseweb

Funnel Weaver (Agelenidae)

Barn Funnel Weaver Spider Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica) - Discover the Barn Funnel Weaving Spider, a spider known by various names worldwide, like the Domestic House Spider in Europe and the Common House Spider in the Pacific Northwest.… Continue Reading >

Huntsman (Sparassidae)

Giant Cane Spider 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 >