Spiders in Wisconsin

The northern and southern parts of Wisconsin have many spider species of which the northern widow and brown recluse are considered poisonous. The northern yellow sac could also hurt humans, though they are considered as mildly venomous. However, the deadly species do not dwell here in abundance, with the northern black widow being present in just 10 counties. The brown recluse thriving here is also present in minimum numbers.

Common spiders: Common House (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), Giant House (Eratigena atrica), Northern Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium mildei)

Largest spiders: Giant House (Eratigena atrica), Giant Lichen Orb-weaver (Araneus bicentenarius), members of the Fishing (Dolomedes) and Wolf (Lycosidae) family

Highly Venomous Spiders

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)

Sicariidae

• Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

Cheiracanthiidae

• Northern Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium mildei)

Less Venomous Spiders

Orb-weaver (Araneidae)

• Mabel Orchard Orb-weaver (Leucauge argyrobapta)
• Giant Lichen Orb-weaver (Araneus bicentenarius)
• Red-spotted Orb-weaver (Araneus cingulatus)
• Cross Orb-weaver (Araneus diadematus)
• Shamrock Orb-weaver (Araneus trifolium)
• Furrow Orb-weaver (Larinioides cornutus)
• Bridge Orb-weaver (Larinioides sclopetarius)
• Orchard Orb-weaver (Leucauge venusta)
• Tuft-legged Orb-weaver (Mangora placida)
• Cave Orb-weaver (Meta ovalis)
• Hentz Orb-weaver (Neoscona crucifera)
• Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia)
• Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata)
• Arrow-shaped Micrathena (Micrathena sagittata)
• Araneus saevus
• Larinioides patagiatus

Jumping (Salticidae)

• Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax)
• Tan Jumping (Platycryptus undatus)
• Zebra Back Spider (Salticus scenicus)
• Sitticus fasciger

Nursery Web (Pisauridae)

• Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus)
• Six-spotted Fishing (Dolomedes triton)
• Striped Fishing (Dolomedes scriptus)

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Triangulate Cobweb (Steatoda triangulosa)
• Steatoda borealis

Amaurobiidae

• Black lace-weaver (Amaurobius ferox)

Funnel Weaver (Agelenidae)

• Giant House (Eratigena atrica)
• Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica)

Ground (Gnaphosidae)

• Eastern Parson (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus)

Linyphiidae

• Hammock (Pityohyphantes costatus)

Wolf (Lycosidae)

• Tiger Wolf (Tigrosa aspersa)
• Ground Wolf (Trochosa terricola)
• Tigrosa helluo
• Trochosa ruricola

Tangle Web (Theridiidae)

• Common House (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)