Spiders in Louisiana come in various shapes and sizes, each adapted to the unique habitats found throughout the region.
Whether you’re exploring the dense forests or the urban landscape, you’ll encounter a fascinating array of spider species, each contributing to the intricate web of life in Louisiana.
Read on to discover the characteristics of 41 common spider species found in Louisiana and how to identify them.
Different Types of Spiders in Louisiana
Furrow Spider
Furrow Spiders (Larinioides cornutus), also known as Furrow Orb Spiders or Foliate Spiders, are commonly found in Louisiana, especially in moist areas near water sources, grass, or shrubbery. Their colors range from black to gray to shades of red, and they have a large, smooth, oval-shaped abdomen. Light-shaded arrow markings on their abdomen point toward their head, and their legs display a similar arrow pattern.
These spiders are unique in that they create a new web every night, consuming the old one each morning. While they rarely bite, a bite would cause only mild pain and discomfort. Interestingly, like other spiders, Furrow Spiders can’t hear; they use the hairs on their legs to sense sound.
Black and Yellow Garden Spider
Black and Yellow Garden Spiders (Argiope aurantia) are easily recognizable in Louisiana. Females, about 1 inch (25 mm) long, have a black-marked abdomen covered with yellow patches, while males are much smaller, around 0.25 inches (6.3 mm) in length. Their legs are orange or dark yellow at the base and black toward the ends.
These spiders build large, circular webs up to 2 feet (0.6 m) in diameter in sunny fields or gardens. The web features a thick zigzag pattern called stabilimentum, which may deter predators or attract insects. Though not aggressive, they may bite if provoked, but the bite is generally harmless, similar to a bee sting.
Woodlouse Spider
Woodlouse Spiders (Dysdera crocata), also known as Woodlouse Hunters or Sowbug Killers, are easily identified by their six eyes, orange or dark-red heads, and shiny orange legs. Their abdomen is yellow-brown or dark gray, and females are larger than males.
These spiders primarily feed on woodlice (pillbugs) and can pierce their thick exoskeletons with large fangs. They also consume earwigs, millipedes, silverfish, and crickets.
In Louisiana, you can find them under rocks, decaying logs, and leaf litter—places where their prey is also found. While Woodlouse Spiders have been known to bite humans, the bites typically cause only minor itching and are not medically problematic.
Fishing spiders
Fishing spiders (Dolomedes), also known as Raft Spiders or Dock Spiders, vary in color, including brown, black, or cream. Many have a pale stripe or dots down their sides. These are among the largest spiders in Louisiana.
Fishing spiders are nocturnal and commonly found around water, such as docks by lakes. They possess velvet-like hairs that repel water, allowing them to walk or run across it. They detect prey through ripples and can also hunt underwater due to their specialized lungs. However, their lungs cause them to float, so they must cling to rocks or plants to stay submerged.
American Nursery Web Spider
American Nursery Web Spiders (Pisaurina mira) vary in color from shades of brown to black. Brown spiders may have a light-tan body with a wide brown stripe, while black ones often feature thick cream markings along their sides.
These spiders are known for their unique mating behavior, where males often tie up females with silk to prevent being eaten after mating. In Louisiana, they inhabit low shrubbery and high weeds, where they can stay hidden. As ambush predators, they wait for prey to come within reach before attacking with their chelicerae (claw-like pincers).
Common House Spider
Common House Spiders (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) can vary in color from nearly black to various hues, often with different patterns on their bodies. Females are larger than males and have a bulb-like abdomen, while males do not.
In Louisiana, these spiders are frequently found near human dwellings, such as in garages. Despite their small size—usually between 5 and 6 millimeters—they are beneficial as they prey on small insects and pests like flies, ants, and mosquitoes. Although bites can occur due to their close proximity to humans, their venom is harmless.
Bowl and Doily Spider
Bowl and Doily Spiders (Frontinella pyramitela) are small, featuring a large, round, shiny abdomen that is dark brown or black on top with thick white vertical lines on the sides. The underside of the abdomen is white but can vary in color, sometimes dark yellow or uncolored. Their head is reddish-brown, and their legs are thin, long, and lighter brown.
These spiders are known for their distinctive horizontal sheet webs that resemble a bowl, typically found in weedy fields or shrubs. The spider sits on the underside of the web, waiting for prey, and can even bite through the web. Males rarely build webs but often cohabit with females, leading to sperm competition due to multiple males mating with one female.
Harvestmen (Daddy Longlegs)
Harvestmen (Opiliones), also known as Daddy Longlegs, vary in color from dull brown to gray, with some showing yellowish, greenish-brown, or reddish hues. They often have a dark streak down the middle and sides. Unlike spiders, Harvestmen have a single body region, only two eyes, and no venom or fangs.
These arachnids are commonly seen in Louisiana, often hiding under playground equipment, rocks, or logs, and are frequently found in large groups. Harvestmen are not true spiders and can consume solid food, including small insects, fungi, and fecal matter. Their long legs are essential for breathing, walking, smelling, and capturing prey. Males have longer legs than females and often groom them by licking.
Spotted Orbweaver
Spotted Orbweavers (Neoscona crucifera), also known as Hentz Orbweavers or Barn Spiders, are typically golden-orange or rusty-red. Their legs feature alternating dark and light brown bands, and their abdomen is hairy.
In Louisiana, these spiders are commonly seen in late summer and early fall. They build large, orb-shaped webs near lights, often on buildings or other structures. During the day, they retreat to a silken hideout for safety.
While Spotted Orbweavers may bite in self-defense if disturbed, their venom is not harmful to humans.
Tan Jumping Spider
Tan Jumping Spiders (Platycryptus undatus), also known as Familiar Jumping Spiders, have females measuring 10 to 13 mm and males 8.5 to 9.5 mm long. They are recognized by a tan, chevron-like pattern on their abdomens.
These active and bold spiders are commonly seen in Louisiana, often on vertical surfaces like walls, fences, and trees. Unlike web-building spiders, Tan Jumping Spiders hunt smaller invertebrates by stealthily approaching and then pouncing, much like a cat hunting its prey.
Their exceptional eyesight sets them apart from other invertebrates. They have eight eyes, with the two large, forward-facing eyes being highly advanced, featuring unique muscles that support the retina.
Orchard Orbweaver
Orchard Orbweavers (Leucauge venusta) are easily identifiable in Louisiana due to their unique coloration. Their legs can be leaf-green, dark green, or orange, but it’s the top of their elongated abdomen that truly stands out, featuring varying sizes of red, orange, or neon yellow spots.
These spiders are generally timid and only bite if threatened. While their bite is not dangerous to humans, it may cause minor swelling and discomfort.
Banded Garden Spider
Banded Garden Spiders (Argiope trifasciata), also known as Banded Orb Weaving Spiders, are notable for their oval abdomens with bright markings. Their abdomens are pale yellow with silvery hairs and black lateral stripes, while males are typically paler, sometimes white. Adult females measure around 13 to 14.5 mm, while males are much smaller, about a third of the females’ length.
These spiders build large, sticky webs up to 60 cm in diameter, capable of capturing large insects like wasps and grasshoppers. Their webs feature a distinctive vertical zigzag pattern called the “stabilimentum,” which may attract prey.
Females rest in the web’s center, orienting themselves to maximize warmth from the sun, allowing them to remain active later in the year. Although they may bite in self-defense if handled, their bites are rarely more uncomfortable than a bee sting, and they are generally not aggressive.
Marbled Orbweaver
Marbled Orbweavers (Araneus marmoreus), often called “Pumpkin Spiders,” are distinguished by their large orange abdomen with brown or black marbling, though they can also be yellow, white, black, brown, or red. Females grow up to 18 mm, while males are about half that size. Their red legs feature black and white banding on the tibia.
These spiders are commonly found in Louisiana from mid-summer until cold weather. They prefer moist, wooded areas near streams. Marbled Orbweavers build vertical webs and use a signal thread to detect prey. Instead of sitting in the web’s center, they hide in a silken retreat, often under leaves or debris, waiting for prey to become trapped.
Giant Lichen Orb Weaver Spider
Giant Lichen Orb Weaver Spiders (Araneus bicentenarius) are notable for their orange legs with black rings and grayish-green bodies marked with white. Their colors can range from yellow to grayish-green. These spiders are commonly found in Louisiana woods on trees covered with lichens, which partly inspired their name.
They are known for their enormous webs, which can reach up to 8 feet in diameter. This size is reflected in their name, “giant.” Being nocturnal, Giant Lichen Orb Weavers hide during the day to avoid predators like birds.
Spined Micrathena
Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis), also known as the Spiny-Bellied Orbweaver, is a distinctive spider in Louisiana. Females reach 8–10 mm in size, while males are about 4.5 mm long. They are typically white or yellowish with dark mottles and have prominent black spines on their abdomens.
These spiders are often found in hardwood forests near ponds or lagoons. Active during late summer and early fall, they build large, tightly coiled webs up to 8 inches across. Spined Micrathenas catch small insects like mosquitoes in their sticky webs. Despite their spiny appearance, their venom is harmless to humans.
Northern Yellow Sac Spider
Northern Yellow Sac Spiders (Cheiracanthium mildei) are tan or pale green with darker brown mouthparts and typically measure 7–10 mm in size. Though originally from Europe and North Africa, they were introduced to Louisiana by English colonists and are now common, especially indoors.
These spiders are known to bite humans with little provocation. While their bites are relatively painless and not medically significant, they can be unsettling. However, their close relative, the Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum), has more dangerous bites.
Wolf spiders
Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are common in Louisiana and are easily recognized by their robust, hairy bodies and long legs. Unlike other spiders, they do not spin webs to catch prey but actively hunt it down. Their excellent eyesight, enhanced by retroreflective tissue in their eyes, helps them spot and chase insects.
Typically brown or gray with distinctive dark markings, wolf spiders are often found under rocks, logs, or in grassy areas. Although their bite is not dangerous to humans, it can cause mild irritation, including itching and swelling.
Cellar Spider
Cellar spiders (Pholcidae) are easily identified by their small, peanut-shaped bodies and long, thin legs. Their cephalothorax and abdomen are different shades of brown. These spiders typically have a body less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) long, with legs extending up to 2 inches (51 mm). Some species have 8 eyes, while others have only 6.
Commonly found in Louisiana homes, especially in basements, these delicate arachnids are known for vibrating rapidly when their web is disturbed, earning them the nickname “vibrating spiders.” They are beneficial as they hunt and kill venomous spiders.
Brown Widow
The Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) is characterized by its mottled tan and brown coloring with black accent markings. Unlike the Black Widow, its hourglass marking is orange rather than deep red. The spider’s striped legs are typically dark brown or black with light yellow bands.
Although the Brown Widow’s bite can cause pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating due to its neurotoxic venom, it is less harmful than the Black Widow’s bite and is not considered dangerous to humans. Females often build webs in secluded areas like empty containers, buckets, and planters. A key identification feature is their egg sacs, which are pointy and sometimes described as “fluffy” or “spiky.”
Mabel Orchard Orbweaver
The Mabel Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyrobapta) varies in size, with adult females measuring 5.5 to 7.5 mm (0.21-0.30 in) and males 3.5 to 4.0 mm (0.13-0.16 in). They are characterized by their silvery white abdomen, tan head, and greenish-black legs, often adorned with bright green, yellow, and orange patches.
Commonly found in orchards, shrubby meadows, wooded suburban areas, and even houses, these spiders are social and may connect their webs if prey is abundant. Despite their social nature, Mabel Orchard Orbweavers are mild and timid, rarely biting unless provoked. Their bites are typically milder than a bee sting and not harmful to humans.
Gray Wall Jumping Spider
The Gray Wall Jumping Spider (Menemerus bivittatus) features a flattened torso covered in short, thick grayish-white hair, with tufts of dark brown hair near the eyes. Males have brownish-white stripes on their abdomen and a black dorsal stripe, while females have a larger, lighter brown abdomen with broad black stripes converging at the end.
Originally native to Africa, this spider has spread globally and is commonly seen on building exteriors or tree trunks. Unlike web-weaving spiders, the Gray Wall Jumping Spider actively stalks and pounces on prey, using its keen eyesight and exceptional jumping ability. Males also produce courtship sounds by rubbing hairs on their legs and chelicerae, which are inaudible to humans but attract females.
Crab spiders
Crab spiders (Thomisidae) are typically found near flowers in Louisiana. Female crab spiders measure 7–11 mm, while males are smaller, ranging from 2–4 mm. Their colors vary widely, with common shades including pink, yellow, white, green, and brown.
These spiders don’t use webs to catch prey but instead wait inside flowers or low vegetation. They ambush insects with their long forelegs. Interestingly, crab spiders can also eat pollen and nectar when prey is scarce, and they have a mutualistic relationship with some plants.
Daring Jumping Spider
Daring Jumping Spiders (Phidippus audax), also known as Bold Jumping Spiders, are small, measuring 4–14 millimeters. They are black with white markings on the abdomen and legs, and they have eight eyes, with two being much larger. Their green metallic fangs are a distinctive feature. Younger spiders may have orange marks on their abdomens that turn white as they age.
These spiders can jump up to 50 times their body length. They prefer open areas for hunting and use web strands as lifelines during jumps. Commonly found in fields and on flat surfaces like fences and walls, Daring Jumpers are skilled hunters.
American grass spiders
American grass spiders (Agelenopsis) are fast, funnel-weaving spiders commonly found in Louisiana. Both males and females are shades of brownish-black with distinctive stripes running from front to back. Their oblong abdomen features two white stripes broken into sections, while a lighter stripe runs down the middle of their head, dividing two dark stripes.
These spiders weave a funnel on one edge of their non-sticky webs. When the silk is triggered, they use their speed to catch prey. Fortunately, grass spiders are harmless to humans and usually remain in their webs unless disturbed. The Agelenopsis genus includes 14 species native to North America.
Black Widow
Black Widows are among the most venomous spiders in Louisiana and are easily recognized by their shiny black bodies and distinctive red hourglass-shaped mark on the underside of females. Females measure 6.35 mm to 9.5 mm long, while males are half their size but have longer legs.
Despite their highly toxic venom, which is 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s, Black Widows are not aggressive and typically bite only in defense if their web is disturbed. Although bites are rare, their venom affects the nervous system and requires medical attention, especially for small children, as it can be fatal if untreated.
Brown Recluse
Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), also known as the Violin Spider or Fiddle Back, typically measures around 7 mm long. They range in color from yellowish to grayish brown and are often recognized by the darker, violin-shaped mark on their head.
These venomous spiders are commonly found in Louisiana, both outdoors and indoors. They prefer dark, cluttered areas such as basements, closets, and even within shoes or beds. Although bites are rare and usually occur when the spider is accidentally disturbed, they can be quite serious. The bite is initially painless, but it can develop into painful lesions, nausea, fever, and necrotic wounds that are slow to heal.
Spinybacked Orb Weaver
Spinybacked Orb Weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis), also known as the Spiny Orb-weaver, Thorn Spider, or Spiny Spider, is easily recognized by its bright colors and distinctive hard, shell-like abdomen with six prominent spines. Males are smaller and less vividly colored, with less noticeable spines.
These unique spiders are often overlooked due to their hard, spiked appearance. They have a short life span, hatching in late winter or early spring and dying shortly after laying eggs. Each day, they construct a new web and consume the old one, often adding small silk balls to protect their web from damage.
Magnolia Green Jumping Spider
Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis) is native to Louisiana and is easily identified by its pale or translucent green body with a red, yellow, orange, or white top of the head. Males are notable for their brightly colored chelicerae, which they use in combat with other males.
Though considered small among jumping spiders, females measure 7-8 mm and males 5–6 mm. They are commonly found on Magnolia trees and various other vegetation in humid forests. This species is among the earliest of jumping spiders, linking primitive spider behaviors with the modern Salticidae family.
Green Lynx Spider
The Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) is a fascinating species found in Louisiana. Females grow to about 22 mm long, while males are smaller at around 12 mm. These spiders are typically green but can turn yellow with the seasons.
They are easily identifiable by their legs, which are covered in black dots and spikes, which help them blend in with their surroundings. Instead of spinning webs, Green Lynx Spiders use their silk to create egg sacs containing up to 600 vivid orange eggs. Spiderlings emerge after about a month.
Although they are aggressive hunters, Green Lynx Spiders rarely bite humans, and their bites, while painful, are not dangerous.
Tropical Orbweaver
The Tropical Orbweaver (Eriophora ravilla) is a distinctive spider found in Louisiana’s forests. Females range from 12 to 24 mm long, while males are smaller at 9 to 13 mm. Their brown or gray bodies are marked with dark banding on their legs, and some have a lime-colored patch or white stripe on their abdomens.
Often seen using dried, curly leaves for refuge, these spiders build large webs between trees and occasionally hide in shrubs. They construct their webs at night and react quickly to prey by detecting vibrations. While their bites cause only mild effects, Tropical Orbweavers play a beneficial role in controlling pest insects in fruit orchards.
Texas Brown Tarantula
The Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi), also known as the Oklahoma or Missouri Brown Tarantula, is a large spider native to Louisiana. With a body length of 2 inches and a 4-inch leg span, its coloration varies from lighter brown on the head to dark brown on the abdomen, covered in fine hairs.
Found in dry, arid habitats, they often inhabit burrows under stones or logs. Despite its size, this tarantula is non-aggressive, fleeing from humans and using its burrow’s silk to detect prey. Females can live up to 40 years, while males rarely exceed a year post-maturity.
Banana Spider
The Banana Spider (Trichonephila clavipes) is notable for its orange or tan body with yellow spots and a yellow, oblong abdomen resembling a banana. Its long, straight legs are banded in yellow and black, with tufted hair on the female and a less pronounced dark brown coloration on the male. The small, grayish-white head features black dots that resemble a skull.
In Louisiana forests, these spiders spin asymmetrical webs of golden silk up to 6 feet in diameter, making them a common sight for hikers. Females are much larger than males but do not consume them after mating. The spider’s silk is exceptionally strong and holds potential for use in medical surgeries to assist the nervous system.
Arrowhead Orbweaver
The Arrowhead Orbweaver (Verrucosa arenata), also known as the Arrowhead Spider, Triangle Orb Weaver, or Triangulate Orb Weaver, is distinguished by its pointed abdomen resembling an arrowhead. Females grow to 7–14 mm (0.28–0.55 in) and have a yellow or white triangle marking on their abdomen, while males are smaller, reaching 4-6 mm (0.16-0.24 in), with colors ranging from dark brown to rusty red.
These spiders are versatile in their habitats, commonly found in parks, gardens, and forests across Louisiana. Most active in late summer and early fall, their abdomen’s white coloration reflects ultraviolet light and heat, helping them adapt to warmer climates, while the yellow and white markings attract prey.
Southern House Spider
The Southern House Spider (Kukulcania hibernalis) is notable for its large, bulbous female body, measuring around 2 inches across, covered in fine, velvety light gray hair. Both sexes have elongated bodies and compact legs.
In Louisiana, female Southern House Spiders are often hidden in their webs, while males are more frequently seen as they wander in search of food and mates. Their seemingly aggressive behavior is due to their near-blindness, which causes them to crawl over obstacles without awareness.
Fortunately, these spiders rarely bite and cannot penetrate human skin with their fangs. When threatened, they often play dead, a tactic effective against predators.
