Spiders

Order Araneae

The Spiders (Order Araneae) includes 1,848 species across 82 families and 552 genera in our directory.

About Spiders

As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.

Economic Impact

The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.

Ecological Role

Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.

Families in Araneae (82)

Species in Araneae (1,848)

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'Hogna' ceratiola

Schizocosa ceratiola

Lycosidae

Identification: Variation in the epigynum seems to be an unreliable means of ID as stated by Wallace. Epigyne of females pictured here resemble the drawing in Wallace, 1942 of H. psuedoceratiola , but the male palpal organs are distinctly ceratiola a

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Aculepeira carbonarioides

Araneidae

This species was generally found in the center of the web during the day while packardi was more often found in a retreat next to the web in daylight hours.

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Aculepeira packardi

Araneidae

Identification: Female This species was generally found in a retreat next to the web in daylight hours while carbonarioides was more often found at the center of the web during the day.

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Adanson's House Spider

Hasarius adansoni

Salticidae

This is an introduced species that originated in Africa and the Middle East but has spread around the world.

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Admestina archboldi

Salticidae

The type specimen of this spider was collected at Archbold Biological Station on 26 March 1989 by William H. Piel.

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Agalenatea redii

Araneidae

Length 5-10mm. Prosoma eye region pale, sternum brown, often with bright median spot. Chelicerae brown. Legs brown, vaguely annulated. Opisthosoma brown, densely haired, with brown longitudinal stripe always visible. On dry grass, shrubs and bushes,

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Agelena labyrinthica

Agelenidae

Head and body up to 18mm long. The abdomen of the labyrinth spider features a central pale brown stripe with a darker, more greyish band on either side. The darker bands have tiny white dashes or chevron markings running through them. This spider pro

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Agelenopsis actuosa

Agelenidae

The common American grass spider (Agelenopsis actuosa, actuosa = "active, agile") is a species of grass spider native to southeastern Canada and the New England states. It is sometimes also encountered in such states as Michigan and New York.

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Agelenopsis aleenae

Agelenidae

Agelenopsis aleenae is a species of funnel weaver in the spider family Agelenidae. It is found in the United States.

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Agnyphantes arboreus

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Cephalothorax dull yellow, strongly suffused with dusky, darker at the margin and in a shield-shaped spot in front of dorsal groove. Abdomen light with scattered silvery spots, marked by a dark median longitudinal stripe with several

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Agrarian Sac Spider

Cheiracanthium inclusum

Cheiracanthiidae

Cheiracanthium inclusum, alternately known as the black-footed yellow sac spider or the American yellow sac spider (in order to distinguish it from its European cousin C. punctorium), was formerly classified as a true sac spider (of the family Clubio

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Agroeca proxima

Liocranidae

Body length male: 3.8 to 5 mm. Body length female: 5.2 to 7.5 mm. Opisthosoma brown-grey to light yellow-brown with distinct chevrons. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope

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Agyneta angulata

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light orange, shiny, finely reticulate; margin, radiating lines suffused with dark gray. Abdomen uniformly light gray. Legs yellow." Palp

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Agyneta barrowsi

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light orange-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; lightly suffused with gray along margin, radiating lines; sometimes with trident mark. Abdomen uniformly light to dark gray. Legs light yellow; basal part of femur darker." Epigy

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Agyneta bronx

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light yellow, shiny, finely reticulate. Abdomen uniformly off-white. Legs light yellow." Palp:

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Agyneta conigera

Linyphiidae

This is one of the 'money spiders' in the Linyphidae family - which has more UK species than any other. Most are small and need microscopic examination to identify. No additional images available for this species.

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Agyneta evadens

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace dark brown, shiny, finely reticulate; lightly suffused with light gray along radiating lines, pars cephalica and margin. Abdomen uniformly dark gray, sometimes with faint, off-white broken chevrons (males) sometimes off-whit

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Agyneta fabra

Linyphiidae

Identification: Male: Carapace dark orange-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; lightly suffused with gray along margin and radiating lines; sometimes with the dark gray trident mark. Abdomen uniformly gray, or pale off-white with four dark spots mediall

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Agyneta fillmorana

Linyphiidae

Identification: Carapace orange, shiny, finely reticulate; can be suffused with dark gray along radiating lines and pars cephalica. Abdomen pattern variable: large morph male's is off-white with pattern consisting of a dark median band extending late

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Agyneta olivacea

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light brown-yellow, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with dark gray along margin and radiating lines; trident mark present. Abdomen uniformly dark gray. Legs yellow, tip of femur, tibia and metatarsus brown" Epigynum

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Agyneta ramosa

Linyphiidae

This is one of the 'money spiders' in the Linyphidae family - which has more UK species than any other. Most are small and need microscopic examination to identify. Microscopic examination of the of the genitalia is required to confirm this species.

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Agyneta rurestris

Linyphiidae

Length 1.4 to 3 mm. Prosoma dark brown, with black margin. Sternum dark brown. Chelicerae bright yellowish brown, sometimes tinged with black. Legs bright yellowish brown, sometimes tinged with black. Opisthosoma grey to almost black. This species ca

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Agyneta saxatilis sensu stricto

Linyphiidae

2.0 to 2.3 mm. Prosoma brown, sometimes darkened with black. Sternum black-brown. Chelicerae yellowish-brown. Legs yellowish-brown. Opisthosoma grey-black. This species can only be confirmed by examination of the genitalia of mature specimens. Widesp

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Agyneta semipallida

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light yellow, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with dark gray along margin, radiating lines. Abdomen off-white with an apical black mark. Legs yellow." Epigynum

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Agyneta serrata

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light orange, shiny, finely reticulate; radiating lines, margin suffused with dark gray; trident mark present. Abdomen uniformly light to dark gray, sometimes with apical white hourglass mark. Legs light yellow, femurs light

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Agyneta sheffordiana

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace light khaki-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with dark gray along margin, radiating lines; trident mark present. Abdomen uniformly light gray. Legs light yellow, prolateral and retrolateral surface of palpal femora

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Agyneta subtilis

Linyphiidae

Body length: 2.5 to 3 mm. Prosoma red-brown, margin darkened. Sternum red-brown. Chelicerae without denticles. Legs yellow-brown, tibia and metatarsus darker. Opisthosoma dark brown to black. Confirmation of this species requires examination of the g

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Agyneta unimaculata

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Carapace yellow-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; lightly suffused with gray along radiating lines and pars cephalica. Abdomen uniformly light to dark gray. Legs light yellow, base of femur slightly suffused with dark gray" Palp Epigy

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Alabama wandering spiders

Ctenus hybernalis

Ctenidae

Identification: Similar to Ctenus exlineae but can be separated by color. Carapace dark reddish brown with light medial band. Abdomen with five-lobed light colored folium on dorsal side and on the ventral side a v-shaped mark of light dots converging

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Aliatypus californicus

Antrodiaetidae

Aliatypus californicus is a species of folding-door spider in the family Antrodiaetidae. It is found in the United States.

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Allocosa absoluta

Lycosidae

Identification: "Carapace dark red brown to black, usually mottled with dull yellow or orange yellow, sometimes with pale median band and submarginal rows of pale spots; pale median band sometimes enclosing paired, dark, longitudinal streaks anterior

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Allocosa chamberlini

Lycosidae

Identification: "Carapace dark red brown, veined with black, with several dark lines radiating from vicinity of dorsal groove, with indistinct pale median band and submarginal bands (or series of spots), with few setae. Sternum pale orange, often suf

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Allocosa funerea

Lycosidae

Identification: Male: "Carapace dark red to black, often paler posteriorly, minutely and evenly punctate, with few setae. Sternum dark brown. Chelicerae dark red brown to black, paler distally. Legs with femora black, with femora tips and remaining s

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Allocosa mulaiki

Lycosidae

Identification: "Carapace dark red brown to nearly black, sometimes iridescent, darker at margins, with few setae. Sternum orange brown. Chelicerae dark red or red brown. Legs dark orange or red brown, sparsely covered with setae; femora and tibiae e

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Allocosa noctuabunda

Lycosidae

Identification: "Carapace dark red brown, with pale median band (which often encloses paired, dark streaks anterior to dorsal groove) and pale, sinuous submarginal bands (or series of spots), and with few setae. Sternum yellow or orange. Chelicerae d

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Allocosa sublata

Lycosidae

Identification: "Carapace dark red brown to black, sometimes iridescent, darker at margins, with few setae. Sternum orange brown. Chelicerae dark red or red brown. Legs dark orange or red brown, sparsely covered with setae; femora and tibiae each wit

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Allocosa subparva

Lycosidae

Identification: "Carapace dark red brown to black, with indistinct pale median band (but lacking pale submarginal bands), with dark lateral margins, and with few setae. Sternum orange to black. Chelicerae dark orange to black. Legs orange to black; f

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Allomengea dentisetis

Linyphiidae

Identification: "Cephalothorax, chelicerae and legs light brown. Abdomen cream-colored with gray suffusion, a faint pattern of grayish chevrons dorsally." Epigynum

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Alopecosa aculeata

Lycosidae

Identification: Female: Voucher specimens: South Dakota: Alberta: epigyne epigyne with some setae removed to reveal more structure Male: Voucher specimens: Alberta: Newfoundland: left palp, retrolateral view left palp, distal view - showing the "mesa

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Alopecosa exasperans

Lycosidae

Alopecosa exasperans is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is found in Canada and Greenland.

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Alopecosa pictilis

Lycosidae

Identification: Emerton called it a distinct and bright-colored species: See Emerton 1919: plate 1, figures 11 & 12 HERE . Written description under Lycosa pictilis on page 4H. Also Emerton 1885: plate XLVI, figure 5 HERE . Written description under

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Amaurobius borealis

Amaurobiidae

Amaurobius borealis is a species of hacklemesh weaver in the spider family Amaurobiidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.

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Amaurobius fenestralis

Amaurobiidae

This is a dark brown spider with a pale oval ring marking on its abdomen which has a dark 'cardiac' mark in its centre. It often has orange/brown chevrons below this cardiac mark. It is very similar to A. similis and the two cannot reliably be distin

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Anachemmis sober

Zoropsidae

Identification: Carapace light brown, with darker triangular markings radiating from thoracic groove to intercoxal areas; abdomen mottled brownish gray; femora light brown, more distal leg segments grading to dark reddish brown on metatarsi and tarsi

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Anelosimus analyticus

Theridiidae

Anelosimus analyticus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It is found in the United States and Mexico.

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Anelosimus studiosus

Theridiidae

Identification: Female Only about 23 among more than 38,000 known spider species can be considered social! Unlike social insects, where the workers are sterile and only the queen lays eggs, all social spiders in a colony are able to reproduce. Debora

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Anelosimus vittatus

Theridiidae

A small spider with a wide, rich brown band running the length of the abdomen. Carapace is light brown with a thin dark border and a broad brown median band tapering towards the rear. This species constructs its scaffold webs on bushes, trees and tal

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Antistea brunnea

Hahniidae

Antistea brunnea is a species of true spider in the family Hahniidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.

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Antistea elegans

Hahniidae

Length 2.5 to 4 mm. Prosoma yellow-brown to reddish yellow, with dark spots. Opisthosoma dark grey-brown with bright areas. Identification of this species "Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the geni

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Antrodiaetus hageni

Antrodiaetidae

Antrodiaetus hageni is a species of folding-door spider in the family Antrodiaetidae. It is found in the United States.

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Antrodiaetus microunicolor

Antrodiaetidae

Antrodiaetus microunicolor is a species of antrodiaetid mygalomorph spider. It is found in the United States of America.

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Antrodiaetus montanus

Antrodiaetidae

Antrodiaetus montanus is a species of folding-door spider in the family Antrodiaetidae. It is found in the United States.

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Antrodiaetus unicolor

Antrodiaetidae

A very detailed treatment of Antrodiaetus bicolor appears on pp. 271-284 of Coyle(1971) . Of particular interest, this species is a larval host for the rare dipteran parasitoid Eulonchus marialiciae .

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Anyphaena accentuata

Anyphaenidae

Size 4.5 to 7 mm. Although variable in appearance, the two chevron marks on the abdomen are the indicator of this species. There are three Anyphaena species in the UK and all are extremely similar. Microscopic examination of the genitals of mature sp

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Anyphaena aperta

Anyphaenidae

Identification: Palp Epigynum "Although the distribution indicates that this might be an introduced species, no specimens or described species from the Palearctic or Oriental regions resemble Anyphaena aperta ."

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Anyphaena californica

Anyphaenidae

Identification: Very similar to A. pacifica . Requires microscopic examination of the genitalia of adults to distinguish them. Palp (ventral/retrolateral view) Epigynum

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Anyphaena celer

Anyphaenidae

Identification: Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (ventral/ventral dissected/dorsal dissected) Anyphaena maculata (as of 10/5/25 not listed in BugGuide) is very similar to Anyphaena celer , and shares much of the same range, though is more southern in

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Anyphaena dixiana

Anyphaenidae

Identification: May be quickly recognized by the spur borne on the dorsal prong of the RTA of males and the greatly reduced epigynal midpiece of females. Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (ventral/dorsal dissected) Closest to A. crebrispina .

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Anyphaena fraterna

Anyphaenidae

Identification: A species that can be fairly easily recognized under a microscope by the long and narrow median apophysis of the males and by the female's epigynal plate being wider anteriorly than posteriorly. Habitus (male/female) Palp (ventral vie

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Anyphaena numida

Anyphaenidae

Length 6mm. Pale yellow to reddish brown, with darker brownish spots on legs, prosoma and opisthosoma. Prosoma yellowish with faint radial stripes and a dark spot in the centre. Abdomen yellow-brown to red-brown with six distinctive black spots and s

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Anyphaena pacifica

Anyphaenidae

Identification: Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (ventral/dorsal dissected)

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Anyphaena pectorosa

Anyphaenidae

Identification: Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (ventral/ventral dissected/dorsal dissected)

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Apache Recluse

Loxosceles apachea

Sicariidae

Loxosceles apachea, the Apache recluse, is a species of recluse spider in the family Sicariidae. It is found in the United States and Mexico.

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Aphileta misera

Linyphiidae

Identification: Palp: Epigynum: Additional palp/epigynum images can be found here .

Aphonopelma iodius

no rights reserved

Theraphosidae

Aphonopelma iodius or desert tarantula is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States (California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah).

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Aphonopelma moderatum

Theraphosidae

Identification: "Females and subadult males are morphologically unique and can be readily identified by possessing an orange body disrupted by distinctly darkened (black or dark brown) banding on the patellae, metatarsi, and tarsi."

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Apollophanes margareta

Philodromidae

Identification: ...has the posterior eye row equidistant (not like Philodromus with the posterior median eyes conspicuously closer to the laterals than to each other), a second, bigger "v" behind the usual small v-mark on the carapace, and 4 big ligh

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Araneus alboventris

Araneidae

Identification: Carapace, sternum, legs greenish yellow. Bright yellow rings around posterior median eyes. Abdomen dorsum with black patch bordered by crimson red border on golden yellow background. Epigynum

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Araneus andrewsi

Araneidae

Identification: Female (adult/juvenile) -also see remarks below Epigynum Compare these two different voucher females, collected only 32 miles apart in California:

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Araneus bispinosus

Araneidae

Identification: Palp Epigynum See notes below about distinguishing A. bispinosus from A. montereyensis .

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Araneus bivittatus

Araneidae

Identification: A. bivittatus is the only species (of the small Araneus ) that has the abdomen longer than wide, widest in the middle, with a median anterior hump and two longitudinal dorsal red or green bands on the abdomen.

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Araneus bonsallae

Araneidae

Identification: To separate from other similar looking green Araneus, look for the dark patch on the dorsum. Palp

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Araneus calusa

Araneidae

Identification: Distinct red mark anterior on each lateral hump. A pair of red spots posteriorly on each side.

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Araneus detrimentosus

Araneidae

Identification: Typical fresh female: Male Abdomen can sometimes be white or white with brown marks. It can looks very similar to A. thaddeus but the only area it appears they overlap is southern Arizona.

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Araneus gadus

Araneidae

Identification: Female legs banded, male legs not banded.

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Araneus gemma

Araneidae

Identification: Female: carapace and abdomen vary in color from gray to brownish purple. The abdomen has anterior paired humps and may have a medial light stripe that varies in length. Male: similar in color and pattern to the female. This species is

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Araneus illaudatus

Araneidae

Identification: It closely resembles A. gemma . Ventral view

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Araneus iviei

Araneidae

Araneus iviei is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.

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Araneus juniperi

Araneidae

Identification: Juniperi differs from bivittatus by having the abdomen subspherical rather than oval, and the bands much less distinct, separated by lighter green rather than white. Palp

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Araneus mammatus

Araneidae

Araneus mammatus is a species of orb weaver in the spider family Araneidae. It is found in the United States.

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Araneus niveus

Araneidae

Araneus niveus is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States.

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Araneus nordmanni

Araneidae

Identification: Epigynum (ventral/posterior/lateral)

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Araneus sturmi

Araneidae

Length male: 4-5.5mm. Prosoma brown. Sternum unicoloured brown, darker than coxa. Opisthosoma red-brown. https://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Araneus+sturmi No additional images available for this species.

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Araniella inconspicua

Araneidae

Body length male 4 to 5 mm, female 5 to 8.7mm. Prosoma brown. Legs brown. Opisthosoma dorso-laterally always without black spots, ventrally without spots. Detailed examination of genitalia of mature specimens is required to confirm this species. http

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Araniella opisthographa

Araneidae

Araniella cucurbitina - Conspicuous red spot above spinnerets, visible only from below. Male femur I with ventral median part lacking bristles (regularly 3 bristles basally, 1 bristle distally). Females difficult to identify as this species with cert

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Arctosa lama

Lycosidae

Identification: Carapace reddish brown, with few short dark setae. Anterior row of eyes straight or procurved, shorter than middle row; eyes uniform in size. Chelicerae reddish brown. Legs reddish brown, darker distally, lacking dark rings; scopulae

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Arctosa leopardus

Lycosidae

Length 5 to 10 mm. Prosoma red-brown, dark. Legs reddish yellow, annulated. Opisthosoma dark, median with slender, arrow-shaped, yellowish longitudinal stripe, posteriorly 2 rows of yellow-greenish spots. Identification of this species "Requires exam

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Arctosa littoralis

Lycosidae

Identification: Male Palps: Female Epigynum: Eye Arrangement:

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Arcuphantes arcuatulus

Linyphiidae

Arcuphantes arcuatulus is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.

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Arethyna coloradensis

Dictynidae

Identification: Palp This species is very similar to A. volucripes . Both sexes of A. coloradensis average larger in size and the coloration is much darker. The epigynum is not easily differentiated from that of A. volucripes with the median atria sl

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Argiope blanda

Araneidae

Identification: Very similar to A. argentata , however the adult doesn't have the rounded "Mickey Mouse ear" shaped protusions on the anterior of the abdomen. The ventral markings are also different. Epigynum The images placed here are from the sout

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Argyrodes elevatus

Theridiidae

Identification: Voucher specimens (Det. Lenny Vincent): - Female - Male This is a kleptoparasite that steals small insects from the orb webs of other spiders, as well as pillages large prey items that have already been caught and often predigested by

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Argyrodes nephilae

Theridiidae

Identification: Abdomen silver with a dark narrow median line on dorsum and usually a small black spot at tip. Abdomen higher and proportionally heavier than in males of A. elevatus .

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Ariadna bicolor

Segestriidae

Ariadna bicolor is a tube-dwelling spider. Found in North America, the spider's cephalothorax and legs are yellowish-brown and its abdomen is purplish-brown.

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Arizona Recluse

Loxosceles arizonica

Sicariidae

Identification: Tibia and tarsus of palps typically dark; darker than other US spp. (except reclusa , range does not include AZ)

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Arrowshaped Micrathena

Micrathena sagittata

Araneidae

Identification: Female: three pairs of pointed tubercles on the abdomen, with the rear pair large and spreading to give the abdomen a triangular look. Tubercles are black-tipped and red at the base. The center of the dorsum is yellow. Male abdomen do

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Artema atlanta

Pholcidae

Identification: Largest pholcid in the world. Abdomen is globular. Males' chelicerae have a very conspicuous black modification. Web is a domed sheet with a network of irregular threads above it.

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Asagena pulcher

Theridiidae

Identification: Abdomen varies from reddish to black and can have a variable pattern of white spots. See diagrams in Gertsch, 1960 , page 34, for examples. Sometimes the white spots can be extensive enough to cover most of the abdomen in white. Legs

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Attulus finschi

Salticidae

Attulus finschi is a species of spider from the jumping spider family Salticidae. It is found in Russia, Canada, and the United States.

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Atypoides gertschi

Antrodiaetidae

Atypoides gertschi is a species of folding-door spider in the family Antrodiaetidae. It is found in the United States.