Every country in the world and every state in the United States is home to spiders.
There are 60 common spiders you may encounter in California, some are considered medically significant, with the majority not causing harm to humans.
If you are wondering what spider you saw in your home, yard, or nature today, then continue reading to find out more about the spiders you may encounter in California.
The 60 common spiders you can encounter in California include:
1. Brown Widow
Scientific name: Latrodectus geometricus.
Common name: brown widow, brown button spider, grey widow, brown black widow, house button spider, geometric button spider.
The brown widow is smaller and lighter in color than the venomous black widow. Their color ranges from dark brown to black or tan with shades of gray.
They have an hourglass shape under their abdomen, which is bright orange to yellow.
2. Noble False Widow
Scientific name: Steatoda nobilis.
Common name: (noble) false widow.
The noble false widow has a brown bulb-shaped abdomen with cream markings, that are similar to a skull shape with red to orange colored legs.
Females are larger than males and can grow to 14mm in body length, where males only grow to between 7mm and 11mm.
They are common throughout the year both indoors and outdoors.
They live in a variety of habitats and have been seen on fence posts to cacti. They are common in urban habitats in California. Juveniles tend to live in holes and small crevices.
Male bites are not as severe as females, where a bite can cause intense pain.
3. Western Black Widow
Scientific name: Latrodectus hesperus
Common name: western black widow, western widow.
The black widow is one of the most venomous spiders that are found in North America with females growing to half an inch (16mm) in body length.
Their bodies are black with a red hourglass shape on their undersides. The hourglass can be yellow or white.
Males are about half the size of the female and tan in color with light stripes on the abdomen.
Female black widows have dangerous venom that can cause pain, localized swelling, and nausea.
If you think you have been bitten by a black widow, you should try and capture the spider in a jar to take with you to the emergency room. It is advisable to get immediate medical treatment for a bite.
4. Bold Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Phidippus audax
Common name: daring jumping spider, bold jumping spider.
Bold jumping spiders are common in North America and harmless to humans.
They have large eyes with excellent vision, which they use to capture prey.
They vary in size and color with females being larger than the male, growing to around 18mm in body length, and males growing anywhere up to 15mm in body length.
They are black in color with spots and stripes on their legs and abdomen.
They prefer open areas and do not build webs to capture prey. They are ambush predators using their excellent jumping abilities to ambush and capture their prey, which they then drag back to their webs.
They are common in grasslands and fields, along with fences, walls, and gardens.
5. Long-bodied Cellar Spider
Scientific name: Pholcus phalangioides
Common name: daddy long-legs spider, long-bodied cellar spider, skull spider.
The long-bodied cellar spider is also often referred to as a daddy long legs. Their head space resembles a human skull and was first described in 1775.
Females can grow to 8mm in body length with the males being slightly smaller.
Their leg span is around six times their body length.
They are commonly found in rooms, garages, cellars, and caves.
They are not harmful to humans and are not considered medically significant.
6. Silver Garden Orbweaver
Scientific name: Argiope argentata
Common name: silver argiope, silver garden orbweaver.
Silver garden orbweavers have a silver head space and belong to the orb-weaver family, where they prefer warm and dry environments.
They are known in Southern California, Florida, Arizona, and Texas in North America.
They create webs with UV reflecting silk, which attracts pollinating insects.
Females can grow to 12mm, three times the size of the male.
Their backs have a UV reflection, which has the same effect as their webs, attracting insects. Their belly is dark brown with a yellow stripe.
They are native to Southern California, where they thrive on prickly pear plants.
7. Johnson’s Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Phidippus johnsoni.
Common name: red-backed jumping spider, Johnson’s jumping spider.
The Johnson’s Jumping Spider is also known as the red-backed jumping spider and is one of the largest jumping spiders in North America.
It is often confused with the venomous redback spider.
Adults grow to 1cm in length with a bright red abdomen, females have a black central stripe. They are mostly black in color.
8. False Black Widow
Scientific name: Steatoda grossa.
Common name: False black widow, cupboard spider.
False black widows are often referred to as cupboard spiders and are found throughout the world, including California, where they are often confused as the venomous black widow.
Females can grow to 10.5mm in body length and are dark in color with a round bulb-shaped abdomen.
Their color ranges from black to purple-brown with light-colored markings. They do not have the red hourglass on their undersides. Males tend to have red-colored legs.
They have poor eyesight, relying on vibrations to warn them that prey has entered the web.
They are not aggressive and the majority of bites to humans are defensive, usually because the spider is pinched or squeezed.
Even though they are not as dangerous as the black widow, their bites are considered medically significant. Common symptoms include blistering at the bite site, pain, muscle spasms, fever, and sweating.
9. Cross Orbweaver
Scientific name: Araneus diadematus
Common name: European garden spider, diadem spider, orangie, cross spider, crowned orb weaver, pumpkin spider
Cross orbweavers are sometimes named the pumpkin spider. Females are orange to brown in color, though they can range to light yellow or dark gray. They have white markings on the dorsal side of the abdomen.
Females are larger than the male, growing to around 0.79 inches (20mm) in body length, while males only grow to 0.51 inches (13mm) in body length.
Females often eat the male after mating.
10. Spotted Orbweaver
Scientific name: Neoscona crucifera
Common name: Hentz orbweaver, spotted orbweaver, barn spider.
Spotted orbweavers are known for their large webs, which can reach up to two feet in diameter.
They vary in color from orange and red to tan or yellow/brown. Some have light abdomens, some have zigzag patterns on the sides. Their bodies are covered in bristles.
They are commonly encountered in fields, parks, backyards, and gardens.
They are nocturnal and not often observed during the day.
11. Western Spotted Orbweaver
Scientific name: Neoscona oaxacensis
Common name: western spotted orbweaver, zig-zag spider.
Western spotted orbweavers are large spiders with females growing up to 0.7 inches (18mm) in body length and males growing to around 0.5 inches (13mm) in body length.
They have a distinct light central band with a wavy border.
12. Woodlouse Spider
Scientific name: Dysdera crocata.
Common name: woodlouse hunter, sowbug hunter, sowbug killer, pillbug hunter, slater spider.
Woodlice spiders prey mostly on woodlice, hence the name.
Females can grow to 0.59 inches (15mm) in body length with males growing to 0.39 inches (10mm) in body length.
They are orange to dark red on the legs and head space with a yellow/brown or beige abdomen.
13. Buttonhook Leaf-beetle Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Sassacus vitis.
Common name: Buttonhook Leaf-beetle Jumping Spider.
This is a jumping spider that is native to North America and grows to around 5mm in body length.
Females are larger than the male, as with most spiders. Males tend to be dull in color.
They feed on small insects and flies and are not considered harmful to humans.
14. Green Lynx Spider
Scientific name: Peucetia viridans.
Common name: green lynx spider.
The green lynx spider is a bright green spider that hides in green plants. It is the largest species in the family Ooxyopidae in North America.
Females grow to around 0.87 inches (22mm) in body length with males being half the size.
They have a red patch between the eyes and some red spots on their bodies. They have white oppressed hairs in the eye region and six chevron-like markings on the abdomen, which all point forwards. Their legs are yellow to green with long black spines.
These spiders are known to change color late in the season with gravid females changing their color based on their environment. Color changes can take two weeks to complete.
15. Desert Tarantula
Scientific name: Aphonopelma iodius.
Common name: Great Basin blonde, Fresno County blonde, desert tarantula, Salt Lake City brown, northern blonde.
The desert tarantula is common in California where they live in webbed burrows in desert areas.
Their burrows have silk or dirt plugs, which protect the spider against heat and predators.
They are not harmful to humans and will usually flee rather than be aggressive. Don’t be fooled though, while they are not venomous, they can pack a painful bite.
16. California Turret Spider
Scientific name: Aphonopelma iodius.
Common name: California Turret Spider.
The California turret spider is native to Northern California where it creates burrows.
They can grow to 0.71 inches (18mm) in body length.
They are only found in California, both in the Coastal Range and Sierra foothills, where they prefer moist woodlands, close to streams and thickets.
They hide during the day, though their small turrets can be found. The turrets are usually well hidden with plant debris. Their burrows can be up to eight inches in depth.
17. Colonus hesperus
This jumping spider belongs to the Salticidae family and is common in the United States. As with other jumping spiders they do not spin webs to capture prey but are ambush predators.
They use their jumping ability to jump at fast speeds, ambushing prey, throwing out single silk which reduces the risk of the prey escaping. Once captured, the prey is then dragged to the web where the spider can eat it when it is ready.
18. Marbled Cellar Spider
Scientific name: Holocnemus pluchei.
Common name: marbled cellar spider.
Marbled cellar spiders are often referred to as daddy long legs. They are common household spiders where they build webs in basements, eaves of houses, and attics.
The size difference between males and females is insignificant with barely any difference.
They have very long and fragile legs that have white and black circles at the joints.
They are native to Europe and North Africa and have been introduced to the United States and are commonly observed in Southern California, where they are considered pests.
Their webs are built in basements, on the walls of buildings, and under rocks. They prefer warm areas. They are venomous but are considered harmless to humans.
There is one study where a bite caused an allergic reaction to an asthmatic person. This is the only harm to humans that has been documented.
19. Mouse Spider
Scientific name: Scotophaeus blackwalli.
Common name: mouse spider.
Mouse spiders belong to the Gnaphosidae family and are found under bark and in holes. They are nocturnal. Females are larger growing to around 12mm with males growing to around 9mm. The head space is dark brown with a gray to brown abdomen and covered in hairs.
20. Goldenrod Crab Spider
Scientific name: Misumena vatia
Common name: goldenrod crab spider, flower (crab) spider.
Crab spiders have the unique ability to walk forwards, sideways, and backward.
The goldenrod crab spider is distributed throughout North America where they are common in goldenrod sprays and milkweed plants.
As with most spiders, the female is larger than the male, growing to 0.39 inches (10mm) in body length with males reaching 0.20 inches (5mm) in body length.
They have the ability to change color based on their environment, the color change occurs during the molting process, enabling the spider to change between pale green, pink, or yellow with a white pattern.
21. Yellow Garden Spider
Scientific name: Argiope aurantia
Common name: yellow garden spider, black and yellow garden spider, golden garden spider, writing spider, zigzag spider, zipper spider, black and yellow argiope, corn spider, Steeler spider, McKinley spider.
Yellow garden spiders are black and yellow spiders first described in 1833.
They are common in California and are have distinct black and yellow on their abdomen and an almost white head space.
Females can grow up to 1.10 inches (28mm) in body length with males growing to 0.35 inches (9mm).
They will bite if you harass them, but their venom is completely harmless and no worse than a bee sting.
Their webs are often found adjacent to sunny fields, where they can stay hidden and protected.
They are sometimes found on the eaves of homes and outbuildings.
22. Banded Garden Spider
Scientific name: Argiope trifasciata
Common name: banded garden spider, banded orb weaving spider.
Banded garden spiders are native to North America, where they build webs that can span up to two meters in diameter.
The female tends to stay in her web, hanging upside down with her legs making a cross shape. The males, which are smaller in size, have their webs within proximity to the females.
They wait for insects to get entangled in their non-sticky webs, using their venom to inject the prey to reduce the risk of the prey escaping.
They are completely harmless to humans.
23. Northern Yellow Sac Spider
Scientific name: Cheiracanthium mildei.
Common name: Northern yellow sac spider.
Northern yellow sac spiders are tan or pale green with dark brown. Adults can reach up to 0.4 inches (10mm) in body length. Each leg has a double claw with the front pair being double the size of the other legs.
They are commonly found inside homes and while they are not considered dangerous, they will give a painful bite if threatened.
24. Grey House Spider
Scientific name: Badumna longinqua.
Common name: grey house spider.
Grey house spider females can grow to 0.59 inches (15mm) in body length with males growing to 0.43 inches (11mm) in body length.
Their head space and abdomen are covered in light gray. hairs with spot markings, the legs are purple to brown with hairs that form a stripe on each leg.
25. Phidippus adumbratus
This jumping spider belongs to the Salticidae family that lives in dry grasslands, deserts, and fields. They are often observed on cacti and shrubs. In the desert, they make their nests under sunflower leaves and the thorns of cactus.
These are large jumping spiders that can grow to 22mm for females and 3.3mm for males.
Females are black with orange on the top of the head space and abdomen and a black stripe on the abdomen. Males are smaller with solid colors of red or orange with dark pedipalps.
26. Gray Wall Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Menemerus bivittatus.
Common name: Gray wall jumping spider.
The gray wall jumping spider is a flattened spider with short gray to white-colored hairs. They have dark brown bristles near the eyes.
They grow to around 9mm in length with males being slightly smaller than the female.
Males have a black stripe with a white stripe on either side of the abdomen.
Females are lighter in color with more brown, along with a larger head space and abdomen. Females have two black bands and a thin white stripe on their abdomen and a wide black stripe on either side.
These spiders are native to Africa and have been introduced to California where they are often observed outside homes, barns, garages, and sheds.
27. Western Lynx Spider
Scientific name: Oxyopes scalaris.
Common name: western lynx spider.
The western lynx spider is a small spider with spiny legs. It is an abundant spider in yards, fields, and gardens. They slowly stalk their prey, pouncing on it. They are ambush predators and their webs are not to catch prey.
They can grow up to 7mm in body length with a long abdomen that tapers near the back.
These spiders have two black lines that run from the middle of the eyes to the lips, they also have black lines under their legs.
Females have pale yellow heads with white and dark bands on the top of the abdomen. Males are similar with copper-colored heads and silver-green or purple abdomen.
28. Habronattus pyrrithrix
This is a jumping spider that is common in the southwestern United States. The male has bold black stripes, where females remain uniform in color. Their webs are used as retreats and a place to protect egg sacs.
They are ambush spiders using their exceptional jumping ability to ambush their prey.
They are active during the day and are not considered dangerous to humans.
29. California Ebony Tarantula
Scientific name: Aphonopelma eutylenum.
Common name: California ebony tarantula.
The California ebony tarantula belongs to the Theraphosidae family and is found in California. They come in a variety of brown colors from light beige to ebony.
Females can grow up to five inches (13cm) in leg span with a twenty-five-year lifespan.
Males only reach maturity between eight and twelve years, which is when he leaves his burrow searching for a mate.
Although large, hairy, and scary, these spiders are not considered medically significant.
30. South American Toothed Hacklemesh Weaver
Scientific name: Metaltella simoni
Common name: South American Toothed Hacklemesh Weaver.
These mottled gray spiders can grow up to 9mm in length for females and 8.5mm in length for males.
Both have brown on the front of their head space and legs with a mottled gray abdomen with pale chevrons near the back. Males have orange to yellow near the back of their heads.
They are often found under logs and are considered widespread in coastal southern California.
31. Menemerus semilimbatus
These are large jumping spiders that can grow to 0.33 inches (8.4mm) in body length with the males being slightly smaller.
They are covered in short gray to white hairs with a white band on the head space. They have large eyes and excellent vision. Their legs are light brown with dark rings and patches. The abdomen is yellow or gray with bright V-shaped markings.
They are common both indoors and outdoors of homes, along with gardens. They are often found on building walls where they hunt for prey.
32. Steindachner’s Ebony Tarantula
Scientific name: Aphonopelma steindachneri.
Common name: Steindachner’s Ebony Tarantula.
This tarantula belongs to the Theraphosidae family and is common in the United States.
As with other tarantulas, they are large, hairy, and unnerving if you come across one, but they are not considered harmful to humans.
33. False Tarantula
Scientific name: Calisoga longitarsis.
Common name: False tarantula.
This spider may look just like a tarantula, but it’s a Calisoga spider. While tarantulas have large hairs that are black or red-brown, the Calisoga spider has silver brown hairs and is common in the Bay Area.
They are rarely observed as they spend the majority of their time in burrows, though males will venture out to find a mate during the fall.
34. Western Parson Spider
Scientific name: Herpyllus propinquus.
Common name: western parson spider.
The Western parson spider has a white stripe on its back which resembles a ruffled necktie worn by the clergy in the eighteenth century, which is where it got its name. They are hairy, medium in size, and very fast.
This spider may be observed on walls and the ground at night hunting for insects. During the day they hide under rocks and debris. They are frequent visitors to homes and buildings while searching for their next meal.
Their venom is not considered lethal, but there are reports that it can cause an allergic reaction.
35. Gem-shaped Orbweaver
Scientific name: Araneus gemma.
Common name: Gem-shaped orbweaver, cat-faced spider.
Gem-shaped orbweavers are also known as cat-faced spiders and are common outdoor spiders. They are completely harmless to humans.
They build large orb-shaped webs, where the spider hangs upside-down waiting for prey to get ensnared.
36. Wall Spider
Scientific name: Oecobius navus.
Common name: Wall Spider.
Wall spiders are small spiders that grow to around 3mm in body length.
They are light gray with darker legs. They are known for their flat webs with lateral openings that are only around 3mm, usually found on ceilings, corners of walls, and under rocks.
37. Schizocosa mccooki
This wolf spider belongs to the Lycosidae family and can grow up to an inch for females and half an inch for males.
They are gray to light brown with two dark bands on the head space and an oval marking on the abdomen. They have a light band on both sides of the oval markings with white dogs outside the bands.
38. Uloborus diversus
This is an orb weaver, belonging to the Uloboridae family.
They have a uniquely shaped abdomen and make horizontal or slanted orb webs. They can grow to 4mm in females and 2.4mm in males. Juveniles look like smaller adults.
They are common in most of California except for the northern counties.
39. California Trapdoor Spider
Scientific name: Bothriocyrtum californicum.
Common name: California trapdoor spider.
California trapdoor spiders are native to southern California. They look like small tarantulas but have hairless shiny bodies. They are black with a rusty brown abdomen.
They live in burrows, which can be up to eight inches deep, which they use as a trap and a home. The top of the burrow is covered with a silk-hinged door. They often use leaves and debris to conceal the door.
Any prey wandering past will be lunged on and trapped in the burrow, covered in silk until the spider is ready to feed.
40. Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider
Scientific name: Zoropsis spinimana.
Common name: Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider.
These false wolf spiders resemble wolf spiders with females growing to 0.71 inches (18mm) in body length and males being smaller, growing to 0.47 inches (12mm) in body length.
Their eyes are more spread out than the wolf spider. They are brown at the front of the body with darker markings, their abdomens have black markings and their legs are brown with specks.
They are commonly found under rocks and tree bark on forest edges. They are frequent visitors to homes where food is abundant and temperatures are milder.
41. Zebra Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Salticus scenicus
Common name: zebra jumping spider
Zebra jumping spiders can grow to 9mm in length with males being slightly smaller. They are covered in black and white hairs that form stripes.
They are commonly found near or in homes, on walls, fences, and plants, on window sills, and behind curtains.
They are not harmful and are ambush predators, searching for their next meal.
42. Common House Spider
Scientific name: Parasteatoda tepidariorum.
Common name: common house spider, American house spider.
Common house spiders range from tan to black with patterns of varying shades. Females grow to 0.24 inches (6mm) and males to 0.19 inches (4.7mm) in body length. Their bodies have a similar shape to widow spiders and they are often confused.
This spider’s color and size help it blend into its background, escaping unnoticed.
They are not aggressive and you can approach tier web. They will bite if provoked. If cornered, they play dead.
43. Ribbon Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Metacyrba taeniola
Common name: Ribbon Jumping Spider.
Ribbon jumping spiders belong to the Salticidae family with females growing to 0.28 inches (7.2mm) and males growing to 0.24 inches (6mm) in body length.
As with all jumping spiders they use their fast jumping abilities to ambush their prey, throwing out a single strand of silk, which ensnares the prey and reduces the risk of it escaping.
44. Bull-headed Sac Spider
Scientific name: Trachelas pacificus.
Common name: Bull-headed Sac Spider.
The bull-headed sac spider belongs to the Trachelidae family and is common in California. They are often encountered in homes and buildings.
These wandering hunters have a dark magenta head space and a tan abdomen with large eyes.
They can grow to 0.82mm in females and 0.59mm in males.
They are common in California except in the northern counties.
They are nocturnal and known to lay eggs in grapes.
45. Six-spotted Orbweaver
Scientific name: Araniella displicata.
Common name: Six-spotted orb weaver
Six spotted orbweavers are as their name suggests with six distinct spots on their abdomens.
They belong to the Araneidae family and are known for their large orb-shaped webs, which can span up to two meters in diameter. The spider hangs upside down in the web waiting for prey.
46. Striped Lynx Spider
Scientific name: Oxyopes salticus
Common name: striped lynx spider.
Striped lynx spiders range from orange, brown to cream with females having stripes on the head space and abdomen.
They usually have a diamond marking on their legs.
Females can reach up to 6mm in body length, while males are smaller, growing to 5mm.
47. Koch’s Wolf Spider
Scientific name: Alopecosa kochi.
Common name: Koch’s wolf spider.
This wolf spider from the Lycosidae family is common in North America with a cosmopolitan distribution. They prefer drier climates where they are wandering hunters.
They are not considered deadly, but their bites are painful with uncomfortable symptoms. While they are not considered dangerous to humans, you should call your doctor if the symptoms get worse.
48. Humped Trashline Orbweaver
Scientific name: Cyclosa turbinata.
Common name: Humped Trashline Orbweaver.
The humped trashline orbweaver is a small spider that grows to around 7mm in length. They are a mix of brown, white, and black with a tapered abdomen.
While they do bite and have venom, they cannot cause serious injury to humans or larger pets, such as dogs and cats.
49. Conical Trashline Orbweaver
Scientific name: Cyclosa conica.
Common name: Conical Trashline Orbweaver.
These orbweavers create small orb-shaped webs which are lined with debris. They are small and well-camouflaged spiders, which sit in the center of the web with legs tucked upward, so they blend in with the debris.
They can be brown, tan, or gray with some being white, black, rusty red, or yellow.
They prefer wooded habitats, such as yards and parks. It’s not uncommon for them to bounce in their web, creating a blurring effect, making it harder to see them.
50. Giant Crab Spider
Scientific name: Olios giganteus.
Common name: giant crab spider.
The giant crab spider belongs to the Sparassidae family and is black, orange, or tan. They look like cabs with a leg span of up to three inches.
They are able to move forwards, backward, and sideways using their front legs to capture their prey.
51. Coppered White-cheeked Jumping Spider
Scientific name: Pelegrina aeneola.
Common name: Coppered White-cheeked Jumping Spider.
This jumping spider belongs to the Salticidae family and is common in North America. They are excellent jumpers and fast, though they are not harmful to humans and are often as curious about you as you are of them.
They do create webs, which are used for rest, privacy and to eat the prey they capture, along with a safe place to keep their eggs until they hatch.
52. Shamrock Orbweaver
Scientific name: Araneus trifolium
Common name: Shamrock orb weaver
The Shamrock orbweaver comes in a variety of colors, though most commonly are beige or brown. They sometimes have green on their abdomen, some have yellow or orange.
They have several white dots on their backs, helping to identify them from other orb weavers. They have brown to beige legs with white bands at the joint.
Their webs are used to capture prey, which includes small flying insects. Their webs can be up to two feet.
They do give a painful bite, but are not considered medically significant and are described as a bee sting.
53. Bowl-and-doily Spider
Scientific name: Frontinella pyramitela.
Common name: bowl-and-doily spider.
The bowl and doily spider is a sheet weaver spider. They are small, growing to no more than 4mm in body length.
They are known for weaving very complex sheet webs that include an inverted dome or bowl. The spider then hangs upside down in the bowl, biting through the web at small flies.
It’s not uncommon to see their webs in fields and shrubs, often containing both a male and female spider.
They are usually red to brown with yellow legs and decorative white dogs on the sides of the abdomen with short hairs. They prefer woods and alpine forests, along with humid areas.
They are most common from May to June and then from September.
54. Silver-sided Sector Spider
Scientific name: Zygiella x-notata.
Common name: missing sector orb weaver, silver-sided sector spider.
The silver-sided sector spider belongs to the Araneidae family and is a solitary spider that lives in orb webs.
Females have a leaf-like marking on their back with a yellow to brown head space.
They eat flying insects or any insect that gets caught in their sticky web. They detect vibrations, helping them identify when something is ensnared.
Once males reach maturity, they stop spinning webs and go in search of a mate.
Females are larger than the male, growing to 11mm in body length, while males grow to 7mm. Females have a silver sheen on their abdomen with gray bands on their legs and gray waves on their dorsal side.
Males are similar to the female with dark legs and head space.
55. Triangulate Combfoot
Scientific name: Steatoda triangulosa
Common name: triangulate cobweb spider, triangulate bud spider.
A female adult triangulate combfoot will grow to 6mm in length and have spindly legs with tiny hairs. The legs are yellow and the head space is orange to brown.
Their abdomens are bulb-like and cream in color with purple to brown zigzag lines that run down the back.
They create the typical cobweb, that you know from Halloween, a messy tangle of silken fibers.
They have terrible eyesight and rely on vibrations in the web to help them identify when prey is ensnared.
They are not aggressive and completely harmless to humans. Their bites are not considered medically significant, though they can be painful, the pain is restricted to the bite area.
They are common house spiders that build their webs in the dark corners of man-made structures.
56. White-banded Crab Spider
Scientific name: Misumenoides formosipes.
Common name: White-banded crab spider.
White banded crab spiders are members of the Thomisidae family and have a white line that runs between their eyes.
They are sit-and-wait predators that capture pollinating insects when they visit flowers where the spider is waiting. They have exceptionally strong front legs, which helps them seize their prey, even prey that is much larger than themselves.
Females are larger than the male and can grow to 0.44 inches (11.3mm) in length. They vary in color and can change their color between yellow and white, based on their surroundings.
Males never change their color and have darker front legs with a gold abdomen.
57. Lesser Green Lynx Spider
Scientific name: Peucetia longipalpis.
Common name: lesser green lynx spider.
The lesser green lynx spider can grow to 22mm in length for females and 12mm in length for males.
They are bright green with most having white or burgundy diagonal lines on their abdomen. Their legs have dark spots.
They are not known to bite, though they may defend themselves. Their venom is not considered dangerous to humans.
58. Araneus andrewsi
This is an orb weaver that is found throughout the United States, part of the Araneidae family.
These spiders build large orb-shaped webs, which they use to capture their prey. The female usually sits upside down in the center of the web, waiting to feel vibrations, which lets her know that prey is entangled.
59. Johnny Cash Tarantula
Scientific name: Aphonopelma johnnycashi.
Common name: Johnny Cash tarantula.
This is a tarantula from the Theraphosidae family and was first found in California at Folsom Prison in 2015. It was named after the famous singer Johnny Cash, who sang Folsom Prison blues.
They can grow to 15cm in length with males being black and females being dark brown.
They are considered harmless to humans with venom that is slightly irritating and not considered a medical emergency.
60. Sierra Dome Spider
Scientific name: Neriene litigiosa.
Common name: sierra dome spider.
This is a sheet weaver spider belonging to the Linyphidae family common in North America.
They create a dome-shaped web that is strung between bushes, on roads, and the edge of woods, usually at head level.
The female sits upside down in her dome waiting for prey to come within proximity, getting caught in the web.