Black spiders with white stripes are drawing attention with their striking coloration and unique markings. These spiders, characterized by their jet-black bodies adorned with contrasting white stripes or markings, belong to various species across different genera.
From the bold patterns of jumping spiders to the elegant designs of orbweavers, black spiders with white stripes exhibit remarkable diversity in appearance and behavior.
In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of these arachnids, exploring their characteristics, habitats, and roles in ecosystems.
Different Types of Black Spiders with White Stripes
Zebra Jumping Spider
The Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) stands out as one of the largest among its black and white counterparts. With both colors evenly distributed across their hairy bodies, these spiders exhibit little variation in appearance.
Females typically outsize males, reaching up to 9mm compared to the male’s maximum of 5mm. Widely distributed across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, they eschew web-spinning in favor of relying on vision to hunt. Their keen lateral eyes detect motion, aiding in capturing prey, which can include surprisingly large insects like moths, despite the spider’s small size.
Often found near trees and buildings, they adapt well to various habitats, including beaches.
Twin-Flagged Jumping Spider
The Twin-Flagged Jumping Spider (Anasaitis canosa) is distinguished by its black body adorned with white setae, often featuring up to four white marks on the cephalothorax. This species exhibits high variability in appearance, with individuals displaying different colors and numbers of white marks based on environmental factors.
Typically found on the ground in forests, they forgo web-building in favor of actively hunting insects. While primarily forest dwellers, some may venture into man-made structures like homes, basements, and attics in search of prey, occasionally attracted to artificial lights at night where insects gather.
Coppered White-Cheeked Jumping Spider
The Coppered White-Cheeked Jumping Spider (Pelegrina aeneola) exhibits a striking combination of black, white, and brown coloring. Females display dominant white hues, while males lean towards black. Female spiders boast white legs with brown and black markings, while males feature a black body adorned with white spots and legs patterned in black and white.
Although females are slightly larger, with a size of 5.5mm compared to the male’s 5mm, both sexes share four principal eyes, with the central pair larger. Found primarily in western parts of the US, they prey on insects and their eggs.
Red-Femured Spotted Orbweaver
The Red-Femured Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona domiciliorum), also known as the spotted orbweaver, stands out with its distinctive black and white body complemented by striking red legs. As an orbweaver, it constructs vertical webs to ensnare insects, typically spinning them in the evening and dismantling them by morning. Females may leave their webs intact during summer days, likely due to increased nutritional needs for mating.
Nocturnal by nature, these spiders are elusive, even in hardwood forests where they often reside, occasionally venturing into suburban areas under the cover of darkness.
Eastern Parson Spider
The Eastern Parson Spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) is easily identified by the distinctive white necktie-shaped marking adorning its black body. Common throughout North America, this species is a skilled predator that doesn’t rely on web-spinning for hunting. Instead, it actively stalks and ambushes various prey, preferring hiding spots under rocks, wood, and leaves. While some may report bites, they’re non-venomous and medically insignificant.
Agile and fast-moving, these spiders may occasionally venture indoors in search of prey but pose no threat. Outside, they remain active at night, often seen on both flat and vertical surfaces, especially near illuminated areas where insects gather.
Noble False Widow
The Noble False Widow (Steatoda nobilis) earns its fearsome reputation for its exceptional predatory abilities. Renowned for constructing robust cobwebs, it ensnares a variety of prey, including insects and even mammals like bats. This species employs a potent venom to paralyze its victims, swiftly incapacitating them for consumption.
Despite their potency, they inhabit diverse environments, ranging from outdoor habitats to indoor settings where they’re unafraid to establish themselves. Their ability to quickly subdue prey and adapt to various environments underscores their status as formidable predators.
Gray Wall Jumping Spider
The Gray Wall Jumping Spider (Menemerus bivittatus), native to Africa, has been introduced to several regions in the US, including Texas, California, and Florida. Renowned for its agility and jumping prowess, it efficiently hunts prey like crane flies. Males sport striking black and white coloration, with horizontal stripes across their bodies. Females, larger at 10mm, exhibit less conspicuous markings.
Known for complex mating rituals, males may produce distinct sounds to attract females. Often found on walls and tree trunks, their climbing ability aids in hunting various flies attracted to lights and windows.
Bronze Jumping Spider
The Bronze Jumping Spider (Eris militaris) derives its name from the striking bronze coloration that distinguishes it, alongside dominant black and white hues on its cephalothorax. Males exhibit particularly vivid colors and strong black-and-white contrast. Characterized by a black cephalothorax with a white band along the sides, these spiders also feature bronze-colored hairs on their legs. With two large central eyes and two smaller lateral ones aiding vision, they’re adept at hunting on various surfaces.
Often found near homes, especially around lights and windows, they may exhibit aggressive behavior but pose no significant danger to humans, inflicting only momentary pain with their bites.
False Black Widow
The False Black Widow (Steatoda grossa) comes in brown for females and a mix of black, white, and brown for males, reaching sizes of up to 10.5mm. Widely distributed, they establish webs wherever possible. Despite poor vision compared to other species, they rely on web vibrations to detect prey.
While they can bite if handled roughly, their venom, though not deadly, can cause various reactions in humans, including fever, swelling, sweating, and nausea.
Although less harmful than the Redback Black Widow, unexpected bites can occur if mistaken for prey.
Peppered Jumping Spider
The Peppered Jumping Spider (Pelegrina galathea) is among North America’s smallest black and white spiders. Males can be as diminutive as 2.7mm, while females reach up to 5mm. Sporting black cephalothoraxes with distinctive white markings, they’re commonly found in US crops and agricultural fields worldwide, where they likely play a beneficial role in insect control.
Agile climbers, they frequent vertical surfaces like walls in search of food, particularly prevalent in abandoned crops and farms where they thrive.
Buttonhook Leaf-Beetle Jumping Spider
The Buttonhook Leaf-Beetle Jumping Spider (Sassacus vitis) is a common sight across the US, known for its diminutive size among jumping spiders. Females typically exceed 5mm, while males approach 4mm. Their multi-colored bodies feature predominant black and white tones, often complemented by brown or bronze hues. Characterized by a black cephalothorax with interconnected white bands along the sides, they also display white markings on their legs.
Preferring smaller prey due to their size, they frequently target gnats, leveraging their agility and hunting prowess to capture these diminutive insects.
Pantropical Jumping Spider
The Pantropical Jumping Spider (Plexippus paykulli) hails from Asia but has been introduced to various regions. Males and females exhibit distinct coloration, with females sporting pronounced brown hues while males feature a black cephalothorax with a white central line (tan in females).
Renowned for their exceptional hunting skills and keen vision, they eschew traditional webs in favor of small silk cocoons used as shelters. Found primarily in citrus groves in Southern territories, they prey on mosquitoes, other spiders, and larger insects, utilizing potent venom to quickly immobilize their quarry.
With their adept vision, they can approach different prey types effectively, whether swiftly pouncing on flies or stealthily stalking fly larvae.
Bowl-And-Doily Spider
The Bowl-and-Doily Spider (Frontinella pyramitela) has been introduced to North America, specializing in weaving webs to catch small flies and gnats. Despite their small size, reaching only 5mm, identifying them around the house can be challenging due to their varied coloration. Males may exhibit black and white bodies with red-brown legs.
Solitary by nature, they only meet for mating, with males typically leaving the female’s nest shortly afterward, although departure times vary. Known for their exceptional prey memory, they can accurately identify recent prey parts even when mixed with older ones.
Sylvan Jumping Spider
The Sylvan Jumping Spider (Colonus sylvanus) showcases striking sexual dimorphism, with females sporting a tan hue accented by white marks on the cephalothorax, while males exhibit a black and white body with a brown abdomen and red eye markings. With all-black legs, they commonly inhabit trees and flowers, likely native to their habitats.
Measuring around 5mm, their diet primarily consists of small insects, including gnats. Featuring eight eyes, the two central ones are the largest and most prominent, providing essential visual information for hunting and navigation.
White Micrathena
The White Micrathena (Micrathena mitrata) ranks among the most common Micrathena species in the US, recognizable by its distinctive bulbous white and black body adorned with spiny protrusions on the lower abdomen. Growing up to 0.5 inches, it preys on various small insects, utilizing its large spider webs to ensnare gnats and mosquitoes.
Known for their effectiveness, these webs’ centerpoints are particularly adept at capturing larger flies. Found in gardens, they play a beneficial role in controlling mosquito populations and managing plant pests, making them valuable allies in outdoor environments.
Common White-Cheeked Jumping Spider
The Common White-Cheeked Jumping Spider (Pelegrina proterva) is prevalent in the Eastern US, particularly around Boston and Eastern Canada, with an expanding habitat extending to Montana.
Sexual dimorphism is evident, with males displaying dark brown or black and white coloring, while females exhibit light brown and white or tan hues. With thick, hairy bodies typical of many jumping spiders, they reach sizes comparable to others in their genus, with males averaging 4.2mm and females 5.6mm.
Feeding on a variety of insects, including common houseflies, they contribute to natural pest control in their habitats.
Long-Palped Ant-Mimic Sac Spider
The Long-Palped Ant-Mimic Sac Spider (Castianeira longipalpa) earns its name by mimicking ants, a strategy believed to deter predatory spiders. While not harmful to humans, they’re adept hunters, with females sporting brown and black coloring, while males have mostly black bodies with white or tan markings.
Unlike typical sac spiders, they don’t spin webs, instead, hunting small insects among grass, vegetation, and flowers. Their elongated bodies aid in ant mimicry, helping them blend in with their surroundings and evade potential predators.
Two-Lined Stealthy Ground Spider
The Two-Lined Stealthy Ground Spider (Cesonia bilineata) features distinctive black and white markings across its body, with two black stripes flanking a longitudinal white stripe. Thriving in moist environments, they inhabit basements, abandoned buildings, and attics, where they prey on insects attracted to dampness.
While venomous, their venom poses no threat to humans, primarily targeting small prey for immobilization. Typically found in Eastern states, their range is expanding westward, including California. They’re non-aggressive toward humans, preferring to flee when encountered.
Nordmann’s Orbweaver
The Nordmann’s Orbweaver (Araneus nordmanni) is a rare and impressive sight, growing up to 13mm, making it one of the largest orbweavers in North America and Europe. Recognizable by its black body and legs adorned with marbled white markings, it displays agile climbing abilities and constructs vertical orbital webs high on trees or tall grass.
These webs ensnare a variety of insects, from gnats to flies and wasps. In the rare sightings of this species, the dominant female often occupies the central position within the web, occasionally seeking shelter under branches during heavy rainfall.
Bold Jumping Spider
The Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax), also known as the bold jumper, is characterized by its striking black and white coloration. Typically dominated by black hues, some individuals display white lines extending along their dorsal. Found in grasslands and prairies, these venomous spiders are not harmful to humans but will bite if handled roughly.
Diurnal hunters, they rely on their excellent vision to locate prey, often pouncing on insects and smaller spiders. With females laying around 200 eggs per season, usually in spring or summer, these spiders play a vital role in regulating insect populations.
Spinybacked Orbweaver
The Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) is easily identified by its striking black and white coloration, with white dominating its dorsal surface, which is adorned with small black marks. What truly sets this species apart are its abdominal projections, six of which create an atypical and asymmetrical appearance.
Often found in colonies numbering in the thousands, these spiders thrive in woodlands and dense vegetation, particularly in warm climates like Florida. While commonly spotted in citrus plantations, their habitat spans from the southern US territories to South America, showcasing their wide distribution.
Spined Micrathena
The Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis), also known as the castleback orbweaver, is recognized by the distinctive ridges adorning the female’s body, believed to serve a defensive function against predators. These spines are exclusive to females, potentially inflicting harm on would-be attackers. In contrast, males exhibit more pronounced black and white coloration. While typically black and white, this species can vary in color, including shades of orange and brown, depending on its habitat.
Growing up to 10mm, these spiders are non-aggressive and known for their orb-shaped webs, reconstructed daily. Active until October, they pose no venomous threat and thrive in diverse habitats suitable for web attachment.
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