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Spiders

Spiders in and around the house

Most spiders are beneficial because they eat pest insects, and the jaws of most spiders are too small to bite people. Spiders seen out in the open during the day are unlikely to bite; control focuses on removing webs and hiding places, and pesticides generally aren't needed.[1]

The short answer

  • Only a few spiders, such as black widows and brown recluses, have venom that is very harmful to people. Widows generally stay hidden in places such as woodpiles and garage clutter. Anyone bitten should stay calm and seek medical advice.[3][6][1]
  • Brown recluses live in the south-central and Midwestern U.S.; there are no brown recluse or hobo spiders in California, and many skin conditions are misdiagnosed as recluse bites.[2][1]
  • Vacuum spiders and webs; their soft bodies usually don't survive the trip through the hose.[1]
  • Seal foundation cracks and gaps around windows and doors, keep screens tight, and cut clutter indoors and along the foundation.[1]

If someone may be poisoned

  • If someone has been bitten by a spider, keep the person calm and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.[5]
  • Wash the bite with soap and water, apply a cold, damp cloth or ice to reduce swelling, raise the area if possible, and don't try to remove venom. Contact a physician for an unusual or severe reaction, such as increasing pain or extreme swelling.[6][1]

Spider profiles

Female southern black widow, shiny black with red markings Southern Black Widow Latrodectus mactans Black widows are shy, web-building spiders with a neurotoxic venom; they live throughout North America and are most common in the southern and western United States. The southern black widow is found throughout states such as South Carolina. Adult brown recluse spider, uniformly brown legs and a dark violin-shaped mark behind the eyes Brown Recluse Loxosceles reclusa The brown recluse is a secretive spider of the south-central and Midwestern United States whose bite can occasionally cause serious wounds; it is widely over-reported outside its range. The Illinois Department of Public Health says it occurs in roughly the southeastern quarter of the country and that bites are uncommon even where the spider is common. Female brown widow, mottled tan and brown with banded legs Brown Widow Latrodectus geometricus The brown widow is a non-native widow spider. It was found only in Florida for decades, then in the 2000s turned up from Texas along the Gulf Coast and up the Atlantic coast and became common around homes and parks in Southern California. Carolina wolf spider, a large brown hunting spider Carolina Wolf Spider Hogna carolinensis Wolf spiders are large hunting spiders that don't use webs; they wander into homes by accident, especially males searching for mates, and they don't persist indoors. Agrarian sac spider, a pale yellowish spider with dark jaws Yellow Sac Spider Cheiracanthium species (shown: C. inclusum) Yellow sac spiders are small, pale hunting spiders that rest by day in silk sacs in the corners of walls and ceilings, under siding or among leaves, and come out at night to hunt instead of building a web. Common house spider next to its egg sacs Common House Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum The common house spider is a cobweb weaver found through most of the world. It builds its tangled webs in the corners of walls and windows, along floor joists and in basements, barns and crawl spaces. Bold jumping spider with iridescent green mouthparts, with a 1 mm scale bar Bold Jumping Spider Phidippus audax Jumping spiders are compact, day-active hunters that build no web; they stalk prey by sight and pounce from a short distance. They live on plants, bark and walls and only occasionally wander indoors. Hobo spider, a light brown funnel-weaver with long legs Hobo Spider Eratigena agrestis The hobo spider is a European funnel weaver that was labeled potentially toxic in the 1980s. Later research questioned that, and UC IPM says it is no longer considered of probable medical importance. Broad-faced sac spider with a shiny reddish-brown front body, darker front legs and a pale abdomen Broad-Faced Sac Spider Trachelas tranquillus The broad-faced sac spider is a small hunting spider that wanders into homes as temperatures fall in autumn; its bite can be painful. Hacklemesh weaver, a reddish-brown spider, in its tangled mesh web Hacklemesh Weavers Amaurobius and Callobius species (shown: Callobius bennetti) Hacklemesh weavers are mahogany-brown spiders with gray abdomens that spin tangled mesh webs outdoors and often turn up in damp basements in fall and winter. Barn funnel weaver, a brownish spider with banded legs and a mottled abdomen, on a pale surface Barn Funnel Weaver Tegenaria domestica The barn funnel weaver is a fast, shy funnel-web spider of sheds, barns and door crevices, found in buildings at any time of year. Banded garden spider female hanging in her web, her abdomen striped yellow, silver and black Banded Garden Spider Argiope trifasciata The banded garden spider is a large orb weaver with a silvery-yellow abdomen crossed by many thin black bands. Adults hang in big wheel-shaped webs in open, sunny spots from midsummer until the first freeze, catching grasshoppers and other insects. Marbled orbweaver female with a large yellow-orange abdomen, next to a ruler Marbled Orbweaver Araneus marmoreus The marbled orbweaver has a large, rounded abdomen, usually orange marbled in brown and purple; it builds webs in moist woods and hides in a leaf retreat beside them. Its color and fall timing have earned it the name pumpkin spider. Cross orbweaver in its web, showing the pale spots that form a cross on its brown abdomen Cross Orbweaver Araneus diadematus The cross orbweaver, also called the garden cross spider, is a variable yellow-to-brown orb weaver with pale spots forming a cross on its abdomen. Probably introduced from Europe, it is often found on or next to buildings with outdoor lighting from late summer through autumn. Orchard orbweaver in its web, with green legs and a silvery abdomen marked with dark lines Orchard Orbweaver Leucauge venusta and L. argyrobapta (shown: L. venusta) Orchard orbweavers are small, gleaming silvery spiders with long green legs that build horizontal or slanted orb webs in low shrubs and hedges. They hang under the center of the web, belly up. Nursery web spider, light brown with a dark stripe down its back, feeding on an insect on white fabric Nursery Web Spider Pisaurina mira The nursery web spider (Pisaurina mira) is a long-legged, slender hunting spider of tall grass, shrubs and woodland edges. It doesn't spin a web to catch prey. Its name comes from the leaf tent the female builds and guards around her egg sac. The Missouri Department of Conservation calls nursery web spiders harmless to people and useful predators of garden insects. Desert recluse spider seen from above on carpet, a pale tan spider with long, plain legs and a uniformly colored, finely haired abdomen Desert Recluse Loxosceles deserta The desert recluse is the most common recluse spider in California and the one most likely behind a true recluse find there. It is native to the desert Southwest, lives mainly outdoors in native vegetation and is seldom found indoors. False black widow spider, a dark, glossy purplish-black spider with a round abdomen and small pale spots, in its cobweb False Widow Spiders Steatoda species (mainly S. grossa; also S. triangulosa) False widows are Steatoda cobweb spiders, close relatives of black widows with the same round-bellied shape. The false black widow, Steatoda grossa, is common in homes and often mistaken for a black widow; its bite can hurt but is usually much milder. Dark fishing spider seen from above on a concrete surface, a large hairy gray-brown spider with dark chevron marks on the abdomen and long banded legs Fishing Spiders Dolomedes species (e.g., D. tenebrosus, the dark fishing spider) Fishing spiders, genus Dolomedes, are large brown hunting spiders that can run across water and even dive. The dark fishing spider, the species most often found around homes, lives mainly in wooded areas and is harmless despite its size. Bright green green lynx spider with spiny legs, perched on a plant Green Lynx Spider Peucetia viridans The green lynx spider is a bright, neon-green hunter with spiny legs that stalks insects on plants instead of building a web. Females guard their egg sacs fiercely, but bites to people are rare and cause only local symptoms. Pantropical huntsman spider, a large flat brown spider with long legs, on a white surface Pantropical Huntsman Spider Heteropoda venatoria The pantropical huntsman spider is a large, fast, flattened brown spider with a leg span of 3 to 5 inches. It hunts cockroaches and other insects without a web and is not dangerous, though it can give a painful bite if handled carelessly. Mouse spider with a velvety, mouse-gray abdomen and pale brown legs resting on a weathered brick Mouse Spider Scotophaeus blackwalli The mouse spider is a European ground spider, named for its gray, furry-looking abdomen, that was introduced to North America. Along the Pacific coast it often lives in and around houses, where it hunts at night instead of building a web. Pantropical jumping spider, a dark spider with white face stripes and large front eyes, facing the camera Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli and Menemerus bivittatus The pantropical jumper (Plexippus paykulli) and the gray wall jumper (Menemerus bivittatus) are jumping spiders from Africa that have been introduced to the Americas and many other parts of the world. In the United States most records of both come from Texas, Florida and other Gulf states (plus California for the gray wall jumper), and the gray wall jumper is often found close to buildings. Regal jumping spider male, black with white spots on the abdomen, on a green leaf Regal Jumping Spider Phidippus regius The regal jumping spider is the largest jumping spider in eastern North America and, apart from two pantropical species, the one most often seen in Florida. It is a harmless, beneficial hunter. Female southern house spider, a dark charcoal spider with a rounded abdomen, on its tangled web against a white wall beside a large winged insect it caught Southern House Spider Kukulcania hibernalis The southern house spider, also called a crevice weaver, is a spider of buildings in the southern United States. It worries people mainly because its males are mistaken for brown recluses, but verified bites have been minor. Female spiny-backed orb weaver with a white, black-spotted body and red spines, hanging from a twig Spiny-Backed Orb Weaver (spinybacked orbweaver) Gasteracantha cancriformis The spiny-backed orb weaver is a small, hard-shelled spider with six pointed spines, common throughout the South in late summer and fall. A bite is rare and usually no big deal: about like a fire ant sting, with no lasting effects. Cork-lid trapdoor spider seen from above on sandy soil, a stout glossy black spider with thick legs and a rounded dark abdomen Trapdoor Spiders (cork-lid trapdoor spiders) Ummidia species (e.g., Ummidia audouini) Trapdoor spiders are chunky relatives of tarantulas that spend their lives in silk-lined burrows hidden under a hinged lid. They are rarely seen, and their bite, while it can hurt, is not considered dangerous. Zoropsis spider, a long-legged brown spider with dark markings, on a white surface Zoropsis Spider Zoropsis spinimana The Zoropsis spider is big enough to startle people in Bay Area homes, but it's harmless and needs no control. Female spined micrathena spider with a spiny, mottled abdomen hanging in its web Spined Micrathena Micrathena gracilis The spined micrathena is a small orbweaver with a spiny, pyramid-like abdomen whose webs often stretch across woodland trails and yard openings in late summer; it is not known to bite people. Brown spotted orbweaver spider at the center of a dew-covered web Spotted Orbweaver Neoscona crucifera The spotted orbweaver, also called the barn spider, Hentz orbweaver or arboreal orbweaver, is a large orbweaver that spins a big wheel-shaped web on eaves, porches, trees and shrubs. Through much of the season the female eats her web at dawn and spins a new one at dusk. It eats flying insects and is not one of the venomous spiders of concern in the U.S. Female striped lynx spider with spiny legs on a dry leaf Striped Lynx Spider Oxyopes salticus The striped lynx spider is a small, spiny-legged hunting spider of fields, prairies, grasses and gardens. It builds no web; it runs down and jumps on insects. Twin-flagged jumping spider carrying an ant it caught Twin-Flagged Jumping Spider Anasaitis canosa (iNaturalist: Anasaitis canosus) The twin-flagged jumping spider is a small jumping spider from Florida that is unusual among jumping spiders because it eats ants, and it takes them in preference to other insects. Zebra jumping spider with black and white stripes, face showing large eyes Zebra Jumping Spider Salticus scenicus The zebra jumping spider is a small black-and-white striped jumping spider that hunts by day on walls, fences and windows and often comes indoors. It was introduced from Europe and western Asia, and Penn State calls it harmless and beneficial to have around. Female northern black widow, glossy black with red spots along the top of its round abdomen, on a pale wall Northern Black Widow Latrodectus variolus The northern black widow is the most medically significant spider in the Northeast. It is timid and rarely bites, usually only when pressed against bare skin, but its venom is a neurotoxin and a bite calls for medical help right away. Female western black widow with a red hourglass marking Western Black Widow Latrodectus hesperus The western black widow is the only black widow species in the western United States, ranging from British Columbia and Alberta to Mexico, and it is often very common around homes, barns, outbuildings and rock walls. Its bite is venomous, though NIOSH notes that spiders are usually not aggressive and most bites happen when one is trapped or touched. Longbodied cellar spider with a pale, elongated body and very long, thin legs, hanging on a white wall Longbodied Cellar Spider Pholcus phalangioides The longbodied cellar spider is the most common cellar spider in the United States: a small, pale spider with extremely long legs that lives in buildings all year. Penn State says it isn't known to be harmful in any way; its main offense is messy webbing. Giant house spider, a large brown spider with long, faintly banded legs and a mottled abdomen, on a concrete wall Giant House Spider Eratigena atrica (formerly Tegenaria gigantea and T. duellica) The giant house spider is one of the largest spiders in the Pacific Northwest, with a leg span that can reach 4 inches. It is common in and around homes west of the Cascades and is often mistaken for the hobo spider, but its bite is not known to threaten people. Grass spider sitting on a dew-covered sheet web, its brown body marked with pale and dark stripes Grass Spiders (Funnel Weavers) Agelenopsis species Grass spiders are common funnel weavers whose flat, sheet-like webs with a funnel off to one side show up in lawns, ground covers and shrubs. They are fast and shy, often wander indoors in fall, and are considered beneficial. Parson spider seen from above on a white background: a dark, hairy spider with a black abdomen crossed by a white band and long brown legs Parson Spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus The parson spider is the most commonly encountered ground spider in the United States. It hunts at night without a web, hides in a silken retreat by day, and enters buildings in fall looking for a place to spend the winter. Woodlouse spider with a dark red head and legs and a pale pinkish-tan abdomen, seen from above on a white background Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata The woodlouse spider, or woodlouse hunter, is a Mediterranean spider now found around homes across much of North America. It hunts sowbugs and pill bugs in damp places and looks fierce because of its large fangs, but Utah State calls it beneficial. Spitting spider seen from above on a white surface: a pale yellowish-tan spider with a high, domed head region, black spots and streaks, and long banded legs Spitting Spider Scytodes thoracica The spitting spider is a slow-moving, spotted spider found in and around buildings. It builds no web; instead it spits a zigzag of silk, glue and venom that pins insects in place. Female yellow garden spider, black with bright yellow markings, resting at the center of its orb web with a white zigzag band of silk Orb Weaver Spiders (yellow garden spider) Argiope aurantia Orb weavers are the spiders that spin classic wheel-shaped webs in gardens and around porches. The best known is the yellow garden spider, a large black-and-yellow spider whose web has a white zigzag down the middle. They eat insects and aren't considered dangerous. Female golden silk orb weaver with long legs banded in black and orange, hanging in her web with a much smaller male above her Golden Silk Orb Weaver (banana spider) Trichonephila clavipes (formerly Nephila clavipes) The golden silk orb weaver, often called the banana spider, is a large native spider known for its golden webs. It is docile, would rather run than bite, and eats many flying insects. Adult female Joro spider in her web, showing a yellow abdomen with blue-gray bands and long black legs banded in yellow Joro Spider Trichonephila clavata The Joro spider is a large, colorful orb weaver from East Asia, first documented in the U.S. in northeast Georgia in 2014. It spins big golden webs outdoors, is timid around people, and isn't considered a threat to people. Yellow goldenrod crab spider with a round abdomen holding a captured bee fly on a leaf beside a pale violet flower Crab Spiders (e.g., goldenrod crab spider) Family Thomisidae (e.g., Misumena vatia) Crab spiders are small hunters that sit still on flowers, leaves or the ground and grab insects that come within reach. They spin no webs, they rarely bite people, and flower crab spiders are some of the most familiar spiders in gardens. Texas brown tarantula on gravel, a large hairy spider with black legs, a tan head region and a reddish-brown abdomen Tarantulas Aphonopelma species (e.g., Texas brown tarantula, A. hentzi) Tarantulas are the heaviest spiders in Texas and alarm people with their size and hairiness, but bites of native species are generally not serious. Texas A&M AgriLife says they are not pests and don't warrant control.

Spiders at a glance

Spiders have eight legs, not the six that insects have. North America has about 2,500 species and Connecticut alone about 550, and most go unnoticed because they are reclusive.[3][7]

Most spiders found in homes are accidental invaders that came in around doors, windows or other openings, Kentucky Extension says. Houses in wooded areas or with planted foundations tend to get more of them. A few species that like dark, shaded places such as cellars and basements can settle in for good.[3]

Spiders feed mostly on small insects and other arthropods. Virtually all of them have venom, which they use to kill or paralyze prey, but most cannot bite through human skin, according to Kentucky Extension and NPIC.[3][5]

The spiders that matter: widows and recluses

CDC's NIOSH names the black widow and the brown recluse as the venomous spiders found in the United States, and notes that spiders are usually not aggressive: most bites happen because a spider is trapped or touched.[6]

Black widows occur throughout North America but are most common in the southern and western states, NIOSH says, in undisturbed places such as woodpiles, eaves, fences and debris piles. UC IPM adds that they spend most of their time hidden outside homes.[6][1]

The brown recluse lives in the south-central Midwest, from southeastern Nebraska to southwestern Ohio and south through Texas to north Georgia, according to UC IPM. NIOSH lists the Midwest and South, outdoors in dry, sheltered spots and indoors in dark closets, shoes and attics. It does not live in California, though related native recluse species occur in its southeastern deserts.[2][6][1]

The hobo spider is common in the northwestern United States and British Columbia and has spread to northern Utah, Wyoming and Colorado; it has not been documented in California.[1]

About spider bites

Many skin wounds blamed on spiders have other causes. UC IPM says many skin lesions are misdiagnosed as brown recluse bites, including bacterial infections such as MRSA, and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says that unless the spider is caught in the act, a spider bite diagnosis remains inconclusive.[2][7]

  • Some spiders bite when trapped in clothing or bedding, but the effect is usually no worse than itching or a bee sting.[1]
  • Yellow sac spiders run on walls and ceilings at night; bites usually happen when one gets trapped against skin, causing pain like a bee sting, redness and sometimes swelling.[1]
  • If any spider bite causes an unusual or severe reaction, contact a physician, hospital or poison control center. If the spider can be caught safely, having it identified helps the doctor.[1][7][6]

Keeping spiders out

  • Spiders come in through cracks and openings and on plants, firewood and boxes.[1]
  • Outdoor lights attract the insects spiders eat; keep fixtures off the house and away from windows and doors where possible.[1]
  • Keep the foundation free of trash, leaf litter and heavy vegetation, and trim plants away from the house.[1]
  • In storage areas, keep boxes off the floor and away from walls, tape them shut, and wear gloves when cleaning clutter in garages and sheds.[1]
  • To move a spider outside, cover it with a jar, slide paper underneath and release it.[1]
  • NPIC suggests yellow or sodium vapor bulbs for outdoor lights, so fewer insects gather for spiders to feed on.[5]
  • Trim shrubs and plants that touch the house, keep grass short near the home, and knock spiders and webs off plants and yard items with a hard spray of water.[5]
  • Indoors, avoid clutter and control humidity in attics, basements and other dark areas, and seal stored boxes with tape.[5]

Why sprays disappoint

Insecticides don't provide long-term control and generally shouldn't be used against spiders outdoors; spraying works only if you hit the spider and lasts only with good housekeeping. Sticky traps placed out of reach of children and pets are a nonchemical option. Dusts of silica gel combined with pyrethrins can be applied only by professional applicators and may help in certain indoor spots, such as wall voids and attics.[1]

NPIC says residual pesticides indoors may help control the other pests spiders eat, but may not provide long-term spider control. If you choose a pesticide, identify the spider first, read the label before you buy, and try a lower-toxicity product first.[5]

Common questions

Are most house spiders dangerous?
No. Kentucky Extension says only a few species, such as the black widow and the brown recluse, have venom that is very harmful to people, and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says very few spiders are truly dangerous.[3][7]
Is a daddy longlegs a spider?
It depends which one. Cellar spiders are sometimes called daddy-long-legs and are true spiders, while harvestmen, also called daddy-long-legs, are not spiders at all. The idea that cellar spiders are highly venomous is a myth: their mouthparts are too small to puncture human skin.[4][7]
Should I spray for spiders?
Usually not. UC IPM says insecticides don't give long-term control and generally shouldn't be used against spiders outdoors, and NPIC says indoor residual sprays may not provide long-term spider control. UC IPM adds that crushing or vacuuming a spider is just as easy and much less toxic.[1][5]
Where can I get a spider identified?
Your local county Extension office can help identify spiders in or around your home, NPIC says.[5]

Spider guides

Each guide goes deeper than this overview: start with identification, then the guide for your situation.

Photo credits

Sources

  1. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Spiders (Pest Notes, Home and Landscape).” ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/spiders/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Pest Notes: Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders, Publication 7468 (revised November 2018).” ipm.ucanr.edu/legacy_assets/PDF/PESTNOTES/pnbrownrecluse.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
  3. University of Kentucky Entomology, “ENTFACT-622: Common Spiders Found Around Homes and Buildings.” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef622 (accessed 2026-11-10)
  4. University of Kentucky Entomology, “Urban Spider Chart (B. Newton and L. Townsend).” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/spider-chart (accessed 2026-11-10)
  5. National Pesticide Information Center, “Spiders.” npic.orst.edu/pest/spiders.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
  6. CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Venomous Spiders at Work.” www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-spiders.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
  7. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, “Spiders Found in the House (G. E. Ridge and K. Dugas).” portal.ct.gov/-/media/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/entomology/spiders_in_the_house.pdf (accessed 2026-11-10)

Updated 2026-11-10. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.