Spider Identification
Know your invasive arachnids
Missouri is home to many different types of spiders of all different sizes, shapes and colors. Some of them are very poisonous and could require medical attention after a bite! Unlike insects, spiders have eight legs and are in the arachnid family along with mites and ticks. Spiders can live in almost any habitat. Below are some of the most common spiders in Missouri.
Spider Identification
Brown Recluse
The brown recluse in Missouri is light-tan to dark brown, with a violin-shaped mark starting at the front of the spider, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the rear. They prefer to live in undisturbed, seldom-used areas, such as boxes, underneath tables and chairs, closets, attics, crawlspaces, and basements. Outside, they live around rocks, logs, woodpiles, utility boxes, exterior rodent bait stations, and debris. When disturbed, the spider usually attempts to run for cover, instead of biting. Bites most commonly occur when putting on rarely used clothing and shoes, cleaning out closets or storage areas, and rolling over on one while in bed. Their bite is not usually felt immediately, but pain is usually felt within 6–8 hours of being bitten. An ulcer usually forms where the bite was, and can lead to severe scarring. There is no antitoxin available for brown recluse bite victims.
Black Widow
The female black widow is easily identifiable with her black body and reddish hourglass shape on her abdomen. Male black widows are lighter in color with a median row of red spots with white lines radiating out to the sides. Young black widows are orange and white, turning black as they mature, with 1 or 2 reddish markings on the abdomen. Outside, black widows are commonly found in protected areas under firewood, decks, hollow stumps, rodent burrows, etc. Indoors, black widows are found in seldom-used areas of basements, crawlspaces, and garages. It is a poisonous spider, and if bitten, medical attention should be sought immediately. The venom is a neurotoxin and should be treated with an antitoxin.
Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders are typically found in Missouri basements, cellars, crawl spaces, and other dark, damp places. They are usually pale yellow, light brown, or gray, and have long, thin legs. They hang upside down from their webs, which are built in the corners of garages, sheds, barns, on eaves, window frames, ceilings, closets, etc. The cellar spider is harmless to homes or people.
Funnel Web Spiders
The barn funnel weaver is a widespread spider species found throughout most of the United States, often inhabiting sheds, barns, door crevices, cracks in rock faces, and under rocks or boards. Females measure 7.5 to 11.5 millimeters, while males range from 6 to 9 millimeters. These spiders have a red-brown cephalothorax with pale-yellow hairs and gray longitudinal lines, a pinkish to pale flesh-colored abdomen with gray or black patches, and spiny legs with pale gray markings. They spin distinctive funnel-shaped webs similar to grass spiders, though typically smaller and with the retreat centered within the sheet. Living up to seven years, barn funnel weavers can produce nine egg sacs placed near their webs, with males often seen during mating season from May to July. While shy and extremely fast, these spiders are not known to pose significant medical risk, with any potential bite likely resulting in mild symptoms similar to grass spiders.
Garden Spiders
Black and yellow Garden Spiders are found in Missouri and throughout the United States. Females are much brighter in color and are up to four times larger than males. They can produce a complex web with a distinctive zig-zag pattern in the center. Their diet consists of flies, bees, and other flying prey. Garden spiders produce venom, but are not harmful to humans. You do not have to worry about garden spiders disturbing you in the cooler months, as most females die off after the first frost.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping Spiders in Missouri can be black, brown, or gray with white, gray, yellow, red, blue, or green markings. They have a furry, compact body with relatively short legs. Despite their short legs, they can jump up to 20 times their body length! Unlike most spiders, the Jumping Spider is active during the day and prefers sunlight. They may be found in Missouri homes underneath furniture, in drapery, on bookshelves, around door or window molding, etc. Outdoors, Jumping Spiders are found under loose bark, between leaves, under stones, on decks, etc. Bites from a jumping spider are not venomous, and they are typically harmless, though you still probably don’t want them in your home.
Orb-Weaver
Orb-Weaver Spiders come in various shapes, colors, and sizes. They generally have a rounded abdomen and orange, brown, or black coloring. Body size ranges from 6mm for males to 10-20mm for females. They’re commonly found in corners of Missouri homes, eves, and under decks and protective porches near the Lake of the Ozarks. Orb-weaver spiders often spin a new web every night, which can build up around your Missouri home or lake house.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are common in Missouri and can become quite large. These spiders have long legs and can vary in color from gray, brown, black, and tan with dark brown or black stripes. Wolf spiders don’t spin webs, but instead hunt down their prey. Females are larger than males and will vary in size from 1/4th” to 1” not counting their legs. Wolf spiders dwell in Missouri woodlands and near areas of water, so watch out if you live around Lake Ozark. A wolf spider’s diet consists of all ground-dwelling insects, including other spiders. If provoked, wolf spiders can bite, but are generally harmless to humans. Female wolf spiders will carry an egg sac at the bottom of their abdomen, and later carry the babies on their back.
Long-Jawed Spiders
The Long-Jawed Spider is a common sight around docks at Lake of the Ozarks and other large bodies of water in Missouri. This slender, delicate-looking spider has an elongated body and notably long, thin legs, giving it a distinctive appearance. It gets its name from its extended, fang-like mouthparts (jaws), which it uses to catch small flying insects. The long-jawed spider is most often found near water, where it spins its orb-shaped webs on dock posts, railings, and vegetation close to the shoreline. Although its presence may look intimidating, it is harmless to humans and helps control the insect population.
Facts about missouri spiders
- Despite having six to eight eyes, spiders are nearsighted, meaning they can’t see very far. This is mostly because spiders wait until prey is close by and trapped in their web.
- Young spiderlings produce silk-like parachutes to allow the wind to disperse them as far as 10,000 feet. This process is known as ballooning.
- A female spider deposits up to 250 eggs into a single egg sac, and can produce up to 17 egg sacs in their lifetime - or over 4,000 spiders.
- There are only 2 poisonous spiders in Missouri: the brown recluse and the black widow.
- Missouri spiders have between 4 and 8 eyes, and are actually very near-sighted.
- There are more than 300 different species of spiders in Missouri.
- Female spiders can lay 3,000 eggs in one sitting! If you see a white sac sitting around your mid-Missouri home, a spider has laid offspring nearby. Depending on the species, female spiders may die immediately after laying an egg sac.
- Missouri is home to 300 species of spiders out of nearly 50,000 around the world!
Are there tarantulas in missouri?
There is only one species of tarantula native to Missouri, also known as the Texas brown tarantula. They are Missouri’s largest spider, mainly located in the southern and central area of the state. Although tarantulas are jarring to look at, they truly are more scared of you than you are of them! These furry arachnids are typically pretty mild, and sometimes are even kept as pets.
Signs of a spider infestation
- Finding numerous webs on the exterior of the structure and on the landscaping.
- Numerous sightings of egg sacs.
- Visible black ink-like splattering of spider droppings.
- Seeing spiders more than usual around your mid-Missouri home
- Regular sightings of spiders and webs.
