There are over 400 different types of spiders in Indiana. But less than fifty of these spiders are common in the state. Of these, only two species can inflict bites that need medical treatment.
Most spiders in the state are harmless, and their behaviors vary from species to species. Some are web-building species most people are used to, while others never build webs. And while some have weird looks, many species are pretty stunning.
Spiders are everywhere in Indiana. You’ll find them at home in your ceiling corners, attics, or under your porches. However, some of the most stunning species live outdoors, in forests and gardens.
These arachnids are vital to the environment. Their high-insect diet helps them keep the population of insects under control, maintaining balance in the ecosystem.
This guide will teach you all you need to know about Indiana’s different spiders. You’ll learn fascinating facts about them, how to identify them, and how to tell which species are dangerous.
Keep reading to learn about these fascinating critters.
Table of Contents
Spiders in Indiana
1. Southern Black Widow
- Experience Level: Advanced
- Family: Theridiidae
- Scientific Name: Latrodectus mactans
- Other Names: Black Widow, Widow Spider
- Adult Size: Up to 0.5 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 3 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
The southern black widow is the deadliest spider in Indiana and most of North America.
You can identify it by the red or orange hourglass marking on its belly. The rest of its body is black and glossy.
The venom of a southern black widow can be lethal, but it rarely injects people with enough to cause death. Still, its bite is excruciating and can result in muscle stiffness, nausea, profuse sweating, and breathing difficulties.
Seniors, children, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience adverse symptoms. Without proper medical attention, this spider’s bites can cause death.
You’ll find black widows outdoors and indoors. They live in tangled, sticky cobwebs that double as traps for prey. When an insect gets stuck, these spiders rush toward it and kill it with their venom before eating.
Look for black widows in corners at home and in places you haven’t cleaned in a while, such as your attic, cellar, and window sill. They favor damp environments and avoid contact with people.
Despite their infamous reputation, black widows rarely bite people. They’ll only bite in self-defense when threatened and unable to escape. Most bites result from accidental skin contact, such as wearing clothes harboring these spiders or sleeping on them.
The black widow’s name comes from its cannibalistic habit. After mating, females usually attack and consume their male partners.
2. Brown Recluse
- Experience Level: Advanced
- Family: Sicariidae
- Scientific Name: Loxosceles reclusa
- Other Names: Brown Fiddler, Violin Spider, Fiddleback Spider
- Adult Size: 0.24 to 0.8 inches
- Lifespan: 2 to 4 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Also called a fiddle-back spider, this species is Indiana’s second most dangerous spider.
Unlike the black widow, it isn’t deadly per se. But its bites can result in deep sores that worsen if left untreated.
Brown recluses are not aggressive spiders, so bites are rare. It only bites as a last resort when backed into a corner. Even then, it sometimes inflicts “dry bites” that don’t contain any venom to ward off threats.
You can identify brown recluses by the violin-like marking on their back, just behind their eyes. This violin or fiddle-like marking is where their other names come from. In addition, recluses have only six eyes instead of the eight most spiders have.
Brown recluses are not web-builders. They often stay hidden under debris or litter in vegetation-rich areas.
Since they don’t build webs to snare prey, they usually track down their victims and kill them with venom before eating.
3. Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Linyphiidae
- Scientific Name: Florinda coccinea
- Other Names: Red Grass Spider
- Adult Size: 0.12 to 0.16 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The black-tailed red sheetweaver is a reddish spider with spiny, green legs.
As its name suggests, the tip of its belly is black. This spider lives in intricate sheet-like webs, which it also uses to catch insects and other arthropods.
While the sheet web this spider spins is non-sticky, its two-part structure makes it effective at catching prey. The first part is a tangled web that knocks down insects mid-flight. These insects fall down on the sheet under, where this spider attacks them.
Black-tailed red sheet-weavers are tiny spiders, but their color makes them easy to spot. They favor fields, forests, and prairies with tall grasses.
Sometimes, you’ll find males and females together in the same webs, especially during mating seasons. These spiders often hang upside-down in their webs.
Black-tailed red sheet-weavers are not harmful. They rarely bite people, and their venom is harmless.
4. Long-bodied Cellar Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Pholcidae
- Scientific Name: Pholcus phalangioides
- Other Names: Daddy Longlegs, Daddy Longlegger, Granddaddy Longlegs, Vibrating Spider, Cellar Spider, Carpenter Spider, House Spider, Skull Spider
- Adult Size: Up to 0.4 inches
- Lifespan: 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Cellar spiders favor cellars when they live indoors, but they can inhabit almost any space at home. You’ll often spot their webs in ceiling corners, window sills, and the joints of wooden furniture.
These arachnids are tan brown with tiny black spots. They are called daddy longlegs because their legs are pretty long, often up to six times their body length. Although the name fits these spiders perfectly, they aren’t the first spiders to bear this name.
Harvestmen, another group of spider-like arachnids, are the original daddy longlegs. People often wrongly described cellar spiders as daddy longlegs. But since the name fit, it stayed.
Long-bodied cellar spiders are harmless spiders that rarely, if ever, bite. While it’s unclear if their fangs properly penetrate human skin, the venom they produce is harmless. The most extreme reaction to their bites you’ll experience is a mild itch.
These spiders are functionally blind, so they rely on their webs for food. They listen for vibrations indicating their traps have caught prey. When insects get stuck, these spiders rush to immobilize their victims with venom before eating.
When faced with potential predators, these spiders abandon their webs and run. But, sometimes, they stay and shake their webs vigorously until the strands become too blurry for predators to locate them.
This habit is why they are also called vibrating spiders.
5. Eastern Parson Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Gnaphosidae
- Scientific Name: Herpyllus ecclesiasticus
- Other Names: Stealthy Ground Spider, Ground Spider
- Adult Size: 0.3 to 0.8 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Eastern parson spiders are black, hairy spiders with a white pattern running down the middle of their backs.
They get their name from this pattern because it resembles the neckband Catholic clergy wore in the past. Parson is another name for clergypersons.
Besides this pattern, parson spiders have two pikes at the end of their belly. These super-fast critters also have a zigzag way of running, a behavior that helps them easily escape predators.
Eastern parson spiders aren’t web-builders. They are skilled hunters that hunt on the ground, chasing their victims and stinging them to death. Like most spiders, insects are their staple, but they also eat other arthropods.
You’ll usually encounter eastern parson spiders outdoors, but they are also common indoors. Outdoors, these critters are partial to woodlands and forests, often hiding under rocks and logs.
They are nocturnal, so even individuals in your home can be hard to detect.
6. Banded Garden Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Argiope trifasciata
- Other Names: Orb-weaver Spider, Yellow Garden Spider
- Adult Size: 0.59 to 0.98 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
Many banded garden spiders build their large, spiral webs in gardens.
You’ll also find them in forests and tallgrass prairies, hanging upside-down in the center of their webs. Like other orb-weavers, they rely on their intricate webs for food.
The name of this species comes from the colorful bands running across its belly, from side to side. In most banded garden spiders, these bands are yellow, white, and reddish-brown or orange.
Banded garden spiders are valuable ecological controls. They feed on many insects and can help reduce pests in the garden. But sadly, many homeowners remove them from their gardens immediately after discovering them.
These spiders are harmless to humans and scarcely bite people. Even when provoked to bite, the venom they produce doesn’t have any lasting effects.
7. Arrowhead Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Verrucosa arenata
- Other Names: Arrowhead Spider, Triangulate Orb-weaver
- Adult Size: 0.15 to 0.55 inches
- Lifespan: Up to 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The arrowhead orb-weaver has a triangular or arrowhead-shaped abdomen. The top of this abdomen also bears a triangular or arrow-shaped pattern with vein-like markings.
In most individuals, the triangular pattern is white, yellow, or pinkish. The body is brown.
You’ll usually find arrowhead orb-weavers in forests and woodlands. They spin large, wheel-shaped webs that they mainly use to catch insects. However, they’ll also eat other kinds of arthropods their webs catch.
Most orb-weavers sit head-down in the center of their webs. Arrowhead orb-weavers, however, sit upright in their webs. You’re more likely to encounter these arachnids in summer. But, sadly, most arrowhead orb-weavers die in winter.
Arrowhead orb-weavers are harmless critters, so there’s no reason to fear them.
8. Bold Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Phidippus audax
- Other Names: Bold Jumper, Daring Jumper, White-spotted Jumper, Daring Jumping Spider
- Adult Size: 0.25 to 0.75 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The bold jumping spider is a somewhat restless arachnid.
Unlike orb-weavers, this species frequently leaps from place to place. It also doesn’t build webs, relying instead on its fine hunting skills to catch prey.
Bold jumpers, like all jumping spiders, have excellent vision in two of their eight eyes. This pair is enlarged and shaped like a binocular. While their other eyes also help them hunt, these two eyes give them the greatest advantage.
You’ll find bold jumpers in forests, shrublands, parks, prairies, and gardens. They rarely stay in the same place for long periods. Occasionally, these spiders wander indoors in search of food.
Bold jumpers get their name from their ability to leap to incredible heights, sometimes 10 to 50 times their body length. They perform such daring jumps by modifying the pressure in their legs.
These spiders also spin silk draglines, which they use to stabilize themselves while jumping. Their draglines can prevent them from injury in case they encounter problems mid-air.
Bold jumping spiders are black, with hairy white bands on their legs and three orange markings on their backs. Their metallic-green fangs help differentiate them from similar-looking spiders.
These critters are harmless and fun to be around. They rarely, if ever, bite.
9. Dark Fishing Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Pisauridae
- Scientific Name: Dolomedes tenebrosus
- Other Names: Dock Spider, Raft Spider, Wharf Spider
- Adult Size: 0.27 to 1.02 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Dark fishing spiders often inhabit coastal areas.
Although some make their homes on the banks of streams and rivers, many live in damp forests, woodlands, and shrublands. These arachnids aren’t the web-building type.
The body of the dark fishing spider is brown. It is covered in black mottles that form rings around the legs and W-shaped patterns towards the end of the abdomen. Like the tarantulas it’s sometimes mistaken for, its body is thickly-haired.
This species has excellent vision and speed. Since it doesn’t spin traps for prey, it relies on its hunting prowess to catch insects and bugs. It stalks its victims and stings them with its fangs before eating them.
You’ll find dark fishing spiders hunting on land and water. Like most fishing spiders, they can walk on water, picking off aquatic insects that attract them. They can also dive underwater and stay submerged for minutes.
Many fishing spiders don’t limit their diet to arthropods. If the opportunity presents itself, they feed on tiny fish, slugs, and other small non-arthropods. Sometimes they catch these animals themselves after immobilizing them with venom.
While dark fishing spiders can be intimidating, they aren’t dangerous to people. They might bite when threatened, but this rarely happens.
You’ll likely experience pain after one bites you, but the venom has no lasting impact.
10. Furrow Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Larinioides cornutus
- Other Names: Furrow Orb Spider, Furrow Spider, Foliate Spider
- Adult Size: 0.4 to 0.5 inches
- Lifespan: 1 Year
- Average Price Range: N/A
Many furrow orb-weavers build their nests in damp areas, especially in moist coastal forests, shrublands, and bushes. These critters are also common around the home, and you’ll usually find their webs under porches and eaves.
The black furrow-like markings on this species’ brown belly are its most distinguishing feature. This black pattern resembles a leaf with serrated edges. The rest of this hairy spider is reddish-brown, and its legs are spiny.
Like other orb-weavers, this critter relies on the insects that wander into its web for nutrition. It locates them by listening for vibratory signals and then rushes to deliver a fatal sting.
You’ll usually find furrow orb-weavers living in close quarters, with their nests separated only by a few inches. However, each web usually only hosts one furrow orb-weaver at a time.
These critters are harmless to people. Although they bite when threatened and can’t escape, you’ll have to work hard to get one to bite you.
11. Yellow Garden Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Argiope aurantia
- Other Names: Black And Yellow Argiope, Black and Yellow Garden Spider, McKinley Spider, Corn Spider, Golden Garden Spider, Zipper Spider, Zigzag Spider, Steeler Spider
- Adult Size: 0.75 to 1.1 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The yellow garden spider is like the banded garden spider but more stunning.
This species has a black and yellow belly with whitish hairs on its carapace. The center of its abdomen is black with a few pairs of yellow spots.
Like banded garden spiders, yellow garden spiders have long, spiny legs with alternating dark and light bands. They usually live in gardens, where they build large spiral webs and sit in the middle.
Yellow garden spiders are excellent pest controls since they eat large numbers of insects that might harm garden plants. They rely on their webs to catch these insects and use vibratory signals to locate them.
Outside gardens, you’ll also encounter this spider in forests and woodlands. They favor areas with green vegetation and moisture.
Yellow garden spiders won’t bite you unless they feel threatened. When threatened, they often try to escape and only bite if they can’t. This bite can be painful, but it has no severe effects.
12. Orchard Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Tatragnathidae
- Scientific Name: Leucauge venusta
- Other Names: Long-jawed Orb-weaver
- Adult Size: 0.14 to 0.3 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The orchard orb-weaver has a large belly that slants downward towards the end.
This belly bears many colors: green, yellow, white, and black. In most individuals, white dominates the upper side of the abdomen.
This arachnid’s legs are usually green in the first half and progressively dark toward the tip. Three dark green to black lines run down the spider’s light brown, almost translucent carapace.
Orchard orb-weavers are partial to orchards, but you’ll find them in many types of gardens and places rich with vegetation. Although they hang around homes, they aren’t very indoorsy.
These spiders build complex wheel-shaped webs to trap insects, their favorite snack. Their speed at tracking down insects stuck in their webs makes them effective predators, despite their poor eyesight.
Orchard orb-weavers are harmless spiders, so there’s no reason to fear them. Like most spiders in Indiana, they rarely bite people. Their venom is also too weak to trigger serious symptoms.
13. Rabid Wolf Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Lycosidae
- Scientific Name: Rabidosa rabida
- Other Names: Wolf Spider
- Adult Size: 0.43 to 0.83 inches
- Lifespan: Up to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
You’d probably think of rabid wolf spiders as slightly crazed if you spent a few minutes observing them. These fascinating spiders are named after their erratic nature.
Rabid wolf spiders are fast, ruthless predators. These hunters don’t build webs to catch their victims. Instead, they ambush or chase their victims and subdue them with venom before feasting on them.
These critters are typically light brown. However, their carapace has two solid, dark brown stripes on the sides, while one broad brown line runs down the middle of their abdomen.
Despite this spider’s “rabid” nature, it is not aggressive towards people. It will generally run when you threaten it, except when faced with a situation it can’t escape. Its bite can be painful, but its venom is weak.
Rabid wolf spiders show great maternal instincts. Females usually spin protective sacs around their eggs. But instead of leaving it untended, they carry their egg sacs with them everywhere.
Female rabid wolf spiders can get pretty aggressive when carrying their eggs. If threatened and forced to drop these eggs, the spiders usually come back to gather the eggs once the dust has settled.
After their eggs hatch, they carry their tiny spiderlings on their backs everywhere. These spiderlings nourish themselves with the yolk on their mother’s abdomen for a while.
The spiderlings disperse when the yolk finishes and they start eyeing each other as prey.
14. Woodlouse Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Dysderidae
- Scientific Name: Dysdera crocata
- Other Names: Woodlouse Hunter, Sowbug Hunter, Sowbug Killer, Slater Spider, Roly-Poly Hunter, Long-Fanged Ground Spider, Pillbug Hunter, Cell Spider, Orange Spider
- Adult Size: 0.35 to 0.59 inches
- Lifespan: 3 to 4 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
The woodlouse spider is a shiny, red arachnid with six eyes and a light brown or grayish-brown abdomen. Its fangs are pretty long and sharp, earning it the nickname “long-jawed spider.”
Woodlouse spiders look nothing like woodlice. But they are named after woodlice because woodlice are the spiders’ favorite prey.
As hunters, woodlouse spiders don’t rely on webs to catch prey. They creep up on their victims, pounce on them, and skillfully deliver lethal bites with their long fangs. Although they are partial to woodlice, they also eat various kinds of arthropods.
You’ll usually find woodlouse spiders in forests and woodlands, hiding under rocks and debris. They favor damp areas with rotting logs because such sites often host plenty of woodlice.
Woodlouse spiders appear menacing, thanks to their color and prominent fangs. But they aren’t dangerous.
These critters rarely bite people, and their venom only causes mild symptoms that fade without treatment.
15. Spined Micrathena
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Micrathena gracilis
- Other Names: Castleback Orb-weaver
- Adult Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The spined micrathena is an unusual orb-weaver native to Indiana.
Its belly, unlike most orb-weavers in the state, is not round. Instead, the sides of its abdomen have several raised, conical protrusions that resemble large spines.
While the functions of these spines are unclear, they may dissuade predators from attacking them. Females often bear up to 10 spines, but males are generally flat with only one or two spines.
Spined micrathenas are black or dark brown. However, the abdomen of most individuals is white with dark brown or black markings. The abdominal spines in nearly all variations are dark-colored.
You’ll generally find this species sitting upside-down in the center of large, spiral webs. It builds its nest among vegetation in forests, meadows, and shrublands. This spider is also common in residential areas.
This spined micrathena is not an aggressive spider. The venom it produces is mild, and the spider rarely, if ever, bites people. So you can safely handle it.
16. Tan Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Platycryptus undatus
- Other Names: Jumping Spider
- Adult Size: 0.33 to 0.51 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The tan jumping spider is a furry arachnid with flecks of tan, brown, gray, white, and black hair on its body.
The dominant color varies with individuals, some being more gray than tan. Many individuals also have reddish-brown patches.
You’ll usually find tan jumpers on vertical surfaces, such as tree barks in forests or fences in residential areas. These lively arachnids rarely stay in the same spot for long periods.
Tan jumping spiders are hunters that don’t build webs to catch prey. They prefer ambushing and pouncing on their victims before stinging them to death. Fortunately, their color often provides them with excellent camouflage.
These arachnids have excellent vision, another feature that makes them effective predators. In addition, they can leap to heights several times their body length by simply altering the pressure in their legs.
Even though tan jumpers don’t spin conventional silk webs, they use silk to fashion shelters and protective sacs for their eggs. Females guard their eggs fiercely until spiderlings emerge. Sadly, most die females shortly after their young disperse.
Tan jumping spiders are harmless to people.
17. Northern Yellow Sac Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Eutichuridae
- Scientific Name: Cheiracanthium mildei
- Other Names: Long-legged Sac Spider
- Adult Size: Up to 0.4 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The northern yellow sac spider is a pale greenish-yellow or yellow-ish green spider.
But many individuals deviate from this color, appearing brownish or almost white. As a result, people often mistake this species for other spiders.
While this arachnid is devoid of patterns, its face is noticeably darker than the rest of the body. The upper side of its abdomen also often features a short, bold-colored stripe just after the waist.
Northern yellow sac spiders have a reputation for being dangerous. But in reality, these spiders are usually harmless. Their bites can be painful and result in tiny sores, but most people don’t experience severe symptoms.
However, if you’re allergic to spider venom, you should be careful around northern yellow sac spiders. You might experience more severe symptoms than the average person. These symptoms include nausea, dizziness, and fever.
You can find these spiders in various places. However, most live indoors. They favor undisturbed areas, corners, crevices, and the undersides of unmoved items. They don’t build webs, and this behavior helps them avoid detection at home for long periods.
These spiders are skilled predators, so they typically chase and subdue their victims with venom before eating.
While yellow sac spiders don’t spin typical webs, they often spin sac-like nests to rest in while inactive. The sac-like shape of this shelter is where their name comes from.
Females also spin protective silk cocoons for their eggs.
18. American Green Crab Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Thomisidae
- Scientific Name: Misumessus oblongus
- Other Names: Foliage Flower Crab Spider, Ridge-Faced Flower Spider
- Adult Size: 0.12 to 0.5 inches
- Lifespan: 1 Year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The American green crab spider is a bristly arachnid with crab-like forelimbs that usually extend outward. You’ll usually find it perched on flowers and plants in prairies and woodlands.
This spider’s body is usually green, which helps it blend perfectly with its background. But it’s also common to find whitish or extremely pale variants. In addition, some individuals have a line of reddish markings on either side of their belly.
American green crab spiders are ferocious hunters, although most do their hunting in the same place. They often lie in flowerheads waiting for pollinators to come around before ambushing them.
These critters don’t spin webs to catch their victims. Instead, they rely on their speed and strong front limbs to seize prey. Their cryptic coloration conceals them from their victims until it’s too late.
American green crab spiders are harmless to people. Their venom doesn’t trigger serious symptoms, and bites are uncommon.
19. Common House Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theridiidae
- Scientific Name: Parasteatoda tepidariorum
- Other Names: American House Spider
- Adult Size: 0.15 to 0.24 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The common house spider is a distant relative of black widows inhabiting most North American homes. It spins messy cobwebs that serve as shelter for the spider and snare for prey.
When insects wander into its silky wander into its sticky web, it rushes toward them to deliver a fatal bite. Afterward, the spider usually wraps them for later consumption and removes them from its nest.
This arachnid is brown, and it has a large, bulbous abdomen stippled with black spots. You’re most likely to find it in wall corners, window sills, attics—any part of the house you haven’t cleaned in a minute.
Common house spiders have a similar venom to black widows, but theirs is significantly weaker. They won’t bite you unless you disturb them.
While their bites can be painful, they don’t trigger any serious symptoms.
20. Dimorphic Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Maevia inclemens
- Other Names: Jumping Spider
- Adult Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
Male dimorphic jumping spiders occur in two physically distinct forms.
This dimorphism is where their name comes originates. Interestingly, no other spider species in Indiana exhibit this feature.
One male form has a black body with spiny, white legs, and its head has three hairy tufts. This morph is called the black or tufted morph.
The other morph is gray with subtle orange markings. Its legs have white and black stripes, and the pedipalps are yellow. This morph is known as the gray or striped morph.
It’s not clear why males exhibit such dimorphism, but dimorphic jumping spider populations usually have a roughly equal number of both species. Sadly, it’s currently impossible to predict which morph a juvenile male will assume.
Female dimorphic jumping spiders aren’t dimorphic. Most are brown and hairy, with two dark lines running down their abdomen. Their faces are usually white.
Dimorphic jumping spiders can leap great distances. They spin silk safety lines to help them with their jumps. If a jump goes wrong, these safety lines prevent them from serious injury.
Females also spin silk sacs around their eggs. They guard their eggs faithfully until their eggs hatch into spiderlings, which they then nurture. Sadly, females die shortly after their young disperse.
Dimorphic jumping spiders don’t build conventional silk nests to catch prey. Instead, these critters prefer hunting their victims on the ground and paralyzing them with venom.
Fortunately, dimorphic jumping spiders are harmless to human beings. The venom they produce is too weak to cause severe symptoms, and they virtually never bite people.
You’ll usually find these arachnids on vertical surfaces, such as tree barks and fenceposts. However, they occasionally wander indoors in search of food.
21. Broad-faced Sac Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Trachelidae
- Scientific Name: Trachelas tranquillus
- Other Names: Bullheaded Sac Spider, Sac Spider
- Adult Size: 0.19 to 0.39 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The broad-faced sac spider is a reddish-brown spider with a dark carapace and yellowish to grayish-brown belly. The first pair of legs is dark red, but the legs continuously get lighter until the last couple.
It’s easy to mistake this species for the woodlouse spider. But woodlouse spiders are more reddish, and they have six eyes instead of the eight broad-faced sac spiders have. Finally, broad-faced sac spiders’ eyes are in two widely-spaced rows, while woodlouse hunters have a circular arrangement.
You’ll usually find broad-faced sac spiders outdoors in forests, but they are sometimes present indoors. They don’t build webs, preferring to hide under debris, leaf litter, decaying logs, floorboards, or crevices.
Instead of intricate nests for catching prey, these spiders live in sac-like shelters made out of silk. They hide in these sacs during the day and are active at night. When not resting, you’ll usually find them hunting for food on the ground.
Broad-faced sac spiders have a reputation for scavenging dead insects in addition to preying on live arthropods. This habit gives the spiders an advantage during periods of food scarcity.
Biting is usually the last resort for these spiders when threatened and unable to escape. Their bites can be painful and leave tiny sores, but their venom is not medically significant. Although symptoms are usually mild, allergic people might experience more severe reactions.
Sadly, you could also develop secondary infections from a broad-faced sac spider bite. This high risk is likely because of germs the spider picked up from the dead arthropods it consumes.
Ensure you disinfect your wound immediately if this spider bites you.
22. Golden Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Paraphidippus aurantius
- Other Names: Emerald Green Jumper, Emerald Jumping Spider
- Adult Size: 0.28 to 0.47 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The golden jumping spider is a stunning jumper covered in golden, orange, and brown hairs. You can easily distinguish it from other species because the middle of its carapace and upper side of its abdomen is shiny emerald green.
You’ll usually find golden jumpers in woodlands and forests, but they also live in residential areas. They often stay on vertical surfaces, such as tree barks, walls, and fence posts.
These restless spiders rarely remain in the same spot for long. You’ll usually find them hopping from surface to surface, even when not actively searching for food. Unlike many spiders in Indiana, they don’t build silk webs.
Golden jumpers are hunters with excellent vision. They rely on their speed and keen eyesight to seek out or effectively ambush prey walking along their path. When attacking, they pounce on their victims and quickly immobilize them with venom.
Like all jumping spiders in Indiana, this species can perform incredible jumps. It uses silk safety lines to steady itself mid-air while making these leaps.
Female golden jumping spiders also use silk to fashion cocoons for their eggs. They protect these until spiderlings emerge.
Unfortunately, females die a while after these spiderlings disperse. Golden jumping spiders are harmless to people.
23. Marbled Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Araneus marmoreus
- Other Names: Pumpkin Spider
- Adult Size: 0.2 to 0.7 inches
- Lifespan: Less than 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The marbled orb-weaver, or pumpkin spider, is a beautiful, orange arachnid with a massive, round belly. Its abdomen has marble-like patterns with black, orange, yellow, and white markings.
You’ll typically find marbled orb-weavers outdoors in coastal forests, woodlands, and gardens. They build intricate wheel-shaped webs that function as shelters for them but snares for prey.
This spider often hides in a retreat near the web when trying to capture prey. It creates this shelter out of leaves and silk strands. However, it maintains a connection to its web’s center through a silk “signal” thread that vibrates when prey wanders into its trap.
When threatened, the marbled orb-weaver drops from its webs and seeks shelter elsewhere. It will only fight back if it’s unable to escape.
The venom it produces is only effective against small critters, but it is harmless to humans.
24. European Garden Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Araneus diadematus
- Other Names: Crowned Orb-weaver, Orangie, Cross Spider, Diadem Spider, Cross Orbweaver
- Adult Size: 0.22 to 0.79 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The European garden spider or cross orb-weaver is a yellow to brown or gray arachnid.
The back of its hairy abdomen has several white and dark brown markings. However, the most prominent is a broad dark stripe in the middle with wavy edges.
Whitish markings populate the middle of this broad dark stripe, forming a cross-like pattern. This arachnid gets its second name from this cross-like pattern. Like many similar spiders in Indiana, the vibrance of this species’ color varies with age.
You’ll usually find these spiders hanging upside-down in the center of their wheel-like webs. They use these wheel-shaped constructions to catch insects and other arthropods.
When threatened, they vigorously shake their webs to startle whatever they fear is after them. They drop from their webs and run if this action fails to dissuade their potential predators.
It’s rare for European garden spiders to bite people. They’ll usually only get aggressive when threatened, such as if you mishandle them without letting them escape.
Thankfully, their venom is harmless to humans.
25. Flea Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Naphrys pulex
- Other Names: Jumping Spider
- Adult Size: 0.125 to 0.75 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
Flea jumping spiders live in humid forests, woodlands, and tallgrass prairies.
However, you may also find them in residential areas. These arachnids love hanging out on vertical surfaces like tree trunks, grass blades, walls, poles, and fenceposts.
These spiders have black, brown, cream, and orange hairs on their body. Their legs are spiny and bear the same multicolored pattern as the rest of their body.
Like all jumping spiders in Indiana, flea jumpers can make impressive leaps by altering the pressure in their legs. They also spin silk safety lines to keep them steady while making these leaps.
Flea Jumping spiders are skilled hunters with excellent vision, so they don’t spin traps to catch prey. Instead, they rely on their wit, eyesight, and speed to ambush and kill their victims.
Female Flea Jumping spiders bundle their eggs in silk cocoons, which they guard until the eggs hatch. Unfortunately, they die shortly after their spiderlings mature enough to live independently.
26. Trapdoor Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Halonoproctidae
- Scientific Name: Ummidia spp., Mygalomorphae
- Other Names: Mygalomorphae
- Adult Size: 1 to 1.6 inches
- Lifespan: 5 to 20 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Trapdoor spiders don’t build webs. Unlike most spiders in Indiana, these arachnids live underground in vertical tunnels and burrows.
They seal the entrance of their holes with a hinged trapdoor made out of silk and debris. This is where they get their name.
These arachnids spend most of their lives underground, and females never stray far from their tunnels. Still, it’s possible to find trapdoor spiders wandering in residential areas, and they sometimes stray indoors.
Trapdoor spiders are carnivorous. Although arthropods form a large part of their diet, these critters also eat non-arthropod prey like fish and tiny frogs. They sometimes build their burrows near streams and rivers so they can hunt fish.
These spiders are nocturnal ambush hunters. They usually hold their trapdoors half-open but remain inside while monitoring prey. When prey gets too close, the spiders rush out to attack.
You can identify trapdoor spiders by their chocolate brown bodies. The carapace is usually hard, smooth, and shiny. However, the abdomen is hairy and less lustrous. The legs are thick and lustrous.
There’s no reason to fear these spiders. They scarcely bite people, and their venom doesn’t trigger serious symptoms.
Still, it pays to be careful around them if you’re allergic to spider venom.
27. Wetland Giant Wolf Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Lycosidae
- Scientific Name: Trigosa helluo
- Other Names: Wolf Spider
- Adult Size: 0.39 to 1.22 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Despite its name, the wetland giant wolf spider is an average-sized wolf spider.
Its body is usually brown, but the carapace and abdomen are noticeably darker. It also has a thin, yellow stripe running from between its eyes to the end of its carapace.
In addition to its dorsal stripe, you can distinguish this species from similar spiders by the black spots on the underside of its abdomen.
You’ll find the wetland giant wolf spider in moist places with ample vegetation. It favors woodlands, coastal forests, and marshes. However, you might find them in wet fields around residential areas.
This species is a skilled hunter that doesn’t use webs to catch prey. When hunting, it ambushes or pursues its victims and injects them with its poisonous fangs. Hunting usually takes place at night, when this spider is the most active.
Unlike wolves, wetland giant wolf spiders are solitary animals. You’ll usually only find males and females together during mating seasons. Females spin cocoons around their eggs and protect them until they hatch.
These spiders won’t attack you unprovoked. In addition, their venom doesn’t cause any serious symptoms in humans.
You might develop pain and redness, but these symptoms fade without treatment.
28. Golden Silk Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Trichonephila clavipes
- Other Names: Banana Spider, Golden Silk Spider, Calico Spider, Banana Orb-weaver, Golden Orb-weaver, Giant Golden Orb-weaver
- Adult Size: 1 to 1.5 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The golden silk orb-weaver is a slender spider with long, spindly arms.
Whitish hairs cover its carapace, and its yellow abdomen is stippled with rows of white dots and lines. If you zoom in, you’ll notice black skull-like patterns on its carapace.
Without including its legs, this species is one of the largest spiders in Indiana. This spider’s body is long and slightly bent like a banana, which is where its nickname comes from.
This arachnid’s legs have alternating golden-yellow and reddish-brown bands. The reddish-brown bands form rings around the joints and bear black feathery tufts. You’ll typically find it hanging upside-down in the middle of its large web, waiting for prey or resting.
Golden silk orb-weavers spin yellowish silk webs. That’s why they’re called golden silk orb-weavers. Their webs can be up to three feet in diameter.
Although these spiders aren’t aggressive, some people wrongly think they are. That’s because it bears the same name as the deadly Brazilian banana spider. Fortunately, both species look nothing alike.
29. Giant Lichen Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Araneus bicentenarius
- Other Names: Orb-weaver
- Adult Size: 0.39 to 1.2 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The giant lichen orb-weaver is a brown spider with a massive abdomen.
This abdomen has green, brown, and whitish patterns that resemble lichens growing on a rock. Like most orb-weaving spiders in Indiana, its legs are spiny and have alternating bands.
This spider is often mistaken for the European garden spider because both species have similar patterns on their backs. But unlike the European garden spider, giant lichen orb-weavers don’t have a cross-shaped mark on their abdomen.
Giant lichen orb-weavers build large webs that are sometimes up to 8 feet wide. However, you’ll often spot orb-weavers hanging out in a corner of their nest instead of the center. This behavior helps them avoid attacks from predators.
These arachnids live in various habitats. Although they are common in man-made structures, they favor places with vegetation like gardens, forests, and shrublands.
These places also provide good anchors for their webs. Giant lichen orb-weavers are harmless to humans.
30. Running Crab Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Philodromidae
- Scientific Name: Philodromus spp.
- Other Names: Crab Spiders
- Adult Size: Up to 0.75 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The running crab spider is brown with a mottled body and outstretched crab-like arms.
Like other crab spiders in Indiana, it doesn’t build conventional webs. You’ll often find it running on the ground or resting.
This arachnid’s mottled body makes it hard to spot on the ground or among dry leaves. The spider usually lives in forests and shrublands, where it hides under debris and leaf litter when inactive.
You’re also likely to find these spiders indoors. Indoor running crab spiders often stay in crevices and corners.
Unlike most crab spiders in Indiana, its second pair of arms is the longest. The first pair is often the same length as the remaining pairs.
Running crab spiders are excellent predators. These hunters rely on their incredible speed and excellent vision to track down prey. Once within reach, they deliver powerful stings before carting them away with their victims.
These arachnids are harmless to humans. They rarely bite, but they’ll run if you threaten them.
In the rare event that one bites you, the most adverse reaction is usually pain and mild swelling. These symptoms fade quickly.
31. Spitting Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Scytodidae
- Scientific Name: Scytodes thoracica
- Other Names: Spitting Spider
- Adult Size: 0.15 to 0.25 inches
- Lifespan: 1.5 to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
Spitting spiders are light brown to yellow spiders with several solid brown patches.
They have a dome-like belly and cephalothorax of roughly the same size. Unlike other spiders in Indiana, they don’t inject their victims with venom to immobilize them.
These fascinating arachnids have extra silk glands on their heads that allow them to shoot or “spit” toxic silk strands. When hunting, they shoot these strands at prey from a distance. The toxic silk immobilizes their victims.
Unlike many hunters, spitting spiders have poor eyesight. They use their two long front legs to tap around prey before shooting silk nets at them. This action allows the spiders to assume a perfect striking position.
Fortunately, the venom these spiders produce is harmless to humans. They don’t bite, so you can handle them without any issues.
It’s hard to mistake spitting spiders for any other spider species in Indiana. In addition to their unique coloration, shape, and spitting habit, these spiders have only six eyes. Only a few spiders in Indiana have less than eight eyes.
Since spitting spiders aren’t web-builders, you’ll usually find these nocturnal hunters resting under rocks and floorboards or in closets and crevices during the day.
32. Red-spotted Ant Mimic Sac Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Corinnidae
- Scientific Name: Castianeira descripta
- Other Names: Ant Mimic Spider
- Adult Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The red-spotted ant mimic spider is a black spider with reddish markings on its belly. Although it has eight legs like other spiders, it often walks around with its first pair raised up to mimic an ant’s antennae.
Thanks to this behavior and its naturally ant-shaped body, it’s easy to mistake this species for an ant if you don’t look closely. Its ability to pass as an ant works in its favor, allowing it to get close to ants undetected before attacking them.
Ants are this hunter’s favorite prey, but it also consumes other arthropods. It doesn’t build typical webs, so you’ll usually find it walking on the ground in search of its next meal. Adults spin sac-like shelters near anthills to rest in when inactive.
Female red-spotted ant-mimic spiders spin silk sacs to hold their eggs. Afterward, they attach the sacs to a rock or other structure to keep them safe.
Red-spotted ant-mimic spiders aren’t aggressive to people and their venom is harmless. If one bites you, you might experience pain and redness, but these symptoms fade quickly.
33. American Grass Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Agelenidae
- Scientific Name: Agelenopsis spp.
- Other Names: Funnel Weavers, Funnel-web Spiders, Sheet-web Spiders, Ground Spiders
- Adult Size: 0.4 to 0.8 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
American grass spiders are yellowish-brown spiders with a broad, dark stripe on either side of their carapace. The abdomen has several dark stripes and ends in two pikes, while the legs are mottled.
People often mistake American grass spiders for some wolf spider species because of their similar body patterns. However, wolf spiders lack the pikes at the end of grass spiders’ abdomens. Wolf spiders also have two prominent eyes, while grass spiders have eyes of roughly equal size.
You’ll find American grass spiders in bushes and grass fields, where they spin funnel-shaped webs to catch prey. These webs are close to the ground and non-sticky, but they are effective.
When an insect wanders into a grass spider’s web, the spider quickly corners it and injects it with venom. It’ll either consume its victim immediately or stash it away for later.
American grass spiders are harmless arachnids that rarely bite people. Even if one bites you, its venom will not cause any serious reaction.
34. Bowl and Doily Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Linyphiidae
- Scientific Name: Frontinella pyramitela
- Other Names: Sheet-weavers
- Adult Size: Up to 0.15 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
Bowl and doily spiders build flat, sheet-like webs (doily) with an inverted dome-like nest (bowl) on top.
These webs, which are often anchored to tree branches, are non-sticky. But they are excellent at catching prey.
At the top of the bowl-shaped web, these arachnids spin a tangled silk mass that knocks down flying insects. Bowl and doily spiders usually sit at the bottom of the bowl or on the sheet, ready to kill whatever insects fall down.
Most spider webs in Indiana house only one spider at a time outside mating seasons, usually a female. But unlike these spiders, male and female bowl and doily spiders often share a web outside mating periods.
Bowl and doily spiders are tiny brown spiders with vertical, comma-like markings on their sides. These comma-like markings are usually white, but some turn yellowish as they curve under the spiders’ belly.
Bowl and doily spiders are harmless to people. You’ll usually find them in forests, shrublands, and woodlands, but you might also find them in residential areas.
35. American Nursery Web Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Pisaurina
- Scientific Name: Pisaurina mira
- Other Names: Nursery Web Spider
- Adult Size: 0.35 to 0.7 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
The American nursery web spider is a close relative of fishing spiders.
It favors damp coastal forests and woodlands, but you’ll often find it outside these ranges. Like fishing spiders, this species can walk on water.
The American nursery web spider is light brown with a broad, solid brown line running down its back. This brown stripe runs from its head to its rear and has a thin whitish line on each border.
Like fishing spiders, this species is a hunter that doesn’t catch prey with webs. It stalks its victims before pouncing and injecting them with venom. Arthropods make up the bulk of this critter’s diet, but it also eats non-arthropods.
Female American nursery web spiders wrap their eggs in protective silk cocoons. They then deposit these egg sacs in silk nests hidden away among grasses or shrubs. They guard these eggs until spiderlings emerge.
Nursery web spiders rarely bite people, and when they do, their bite is not medically significant.
36. Star-bellied Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Acanthepeira stellata
- Other Names: Star-bellied Spider
- Adult Size: 0.19 to 0.59 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The star-bellied orb-weaver is an orange to brown spider with white streaks and spiny legs. This spider has a massive abdomen with pointy tubercles around the top edges, which is where it gets its name.
You’ll typically find it in fields, shrub lands, meadows, tall grass prairies, and man-made structures. It anchors its orb-shaped nests to leaves or artificial structures and sits upside-down in the middle, waiting for prey to come by.
When threatened, this critter abandons its web and drops to the ground. It might lie still, pretending to be dead or scurry under leaves to escape danger. It often waits until the threat disappears before returning to its nest.
Star-bellied orb-weavers are easy to spot because of their distinct shape. They rarely bite people and are fun to observe. Even if one were to bite you, its venom is too weak to cause any harm.
37. Zebra Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Salticus scenicus
- Other Names: Zebra Jumping Spider
- Adult Size: Up to 0.25 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The zebra jumping spider is a black to gray arachnid with white patches crossing its body. This color mix resembles the skin of zebras, the animals this spider’s name comes from.
Zebra jumpers have excellent vision, which they use to their advantage when hunting. These arachnids often track down prey and sink their poisonous fangs into their victims.
Zebra jumping spiders do not build web traps. However, they use silk for other purposes, such as spinning draglines to steady themselves while jumping. Females also create silk sacs to wrap their eggs until they hatch.
You’ll find zebra jumpers all over Indiana. They are usually outdoors on tree trunks, walls, window panes, and fenceposts. However, they sometimes stray indoors while hunting or by accident.
As is typical of jumping spiders, zebra jumping spiders are lively arachnids. These restless spiders spend much of their time hopping from surface to surface.
They are fun to observe and harmless to humans.
38. Bridge Orbweaver
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Araneidae
- Scientific Name: Larinioides sericatus
- Other Names: Gray Cross Spider, Bridge Spider
- Adult Size: 0.31 to 0.55 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
It’s common to find bridge orb-weavers around bridges and other well-lit steel structures. Their affinity to bridges and well-lit structures is likely because insects and other prey are abundant in these areas.
You’ll usually find multiple bridge orb-weavers in the same area. Although they often spin webs close to each other, they aren’t necessarily social. The spiders are territorial and often fiercely compete for food and good web sites.
Bridge orb-weavers are siblings of furrow orb-weavers. They range from brown to gray and usually have dark bands on their legs. They have a similar pattern to furrow spiders, but you can differentiate them by the gray, cross-like marking on their backs.
These arachnids are not aggressive to people, and bites are uncommon. The venom they produce is harmless, so you’ll be fine even if one bites you.
39. Six-spotted Fishing Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Pisauridae
- Scientific Name: Dolomedes triton
- Other Names: Fishing Spider
- Adult Size: 0.5 to 0.75 inches
- Lifespan: 1 year
- Average Price Range: N/A
The six-spotted fishing spider is a hunter capable of walking on water and submerging itself for long periods. This arachnid doesn’t use webs to trap prey, preferring to stalk and attack them instead.
Six-spotted fishing spiders often consume aquatic insects hanging on to the surface film of streams and rivers. But they also eat several kinds of arthropods and non-arthropods, including fish.
These spiders usually live around streams, rivers, and other aquatic bodies. You’ll also find them in coastal forests, marshes, and man-made structures like boat docks. Sometimes, these spiders also stray into homes.
You can identify these spiders by their grayish-brown bodies and the broad white lines running down their sides. These white lines run from their carapace to the abdomen, but the lines on the carapace are sometimes yellowish.
These critters get their name from the six pairs of white spots on the upper side of their abdomen.
Six-spotted fishing spiders rarely bite unprovoked. But there’s no reason to worry if one bites you. While this species’ bites can be painful, the venom it produces is harmless to humans.
40. Asiatic Wall Jumping Spider
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Salticidae
- Scientific Name: Attulus fasciger
- Other Names: Asian Wall Jumping Spider, Mottled Jumping Spider, Asiatic Wall Jumper, Asian Wall Jumper, Mottled Patterned Jumping Spider, Asiatic Spider
- Adult Size: 0.125 to 0.25 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
This spider’s name gives away its origins. Although it was introduced to North America from Asia in the 1950s, this species has become widespread in North America.
The Asiatic wall jumping spider is a furry arachnid with thick white, orange, brown, and black hairs. It also has short, stout legs. And though it is small-bodied, its color makes it easy to spot on surfaces.
Like most jumping spiders, this species is restless, often jumping from place to place. You’ll usually find it outdoors on walls and fences, but it occasionally wanders indoors in search of food.
Asiatic wall jumpers are skilled hunters with excellent vision. As a result, they don’t rely on webs to catch prey. They prefer to ambush their victims and kill them with their poisonous fangs.
Despite their aggressiveness towards prey, these arachnids are unaggressive toward people. They are easy to handle and virtually never bite. Even if they did, their venom is harmless to humans.
41. False Black Widow
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theridiidae
- Scientific Name: Steatoda grossa
- Other Names: False Widow, Dark Comb-footed Spider, Brown House Spider, Cupboard Spider
- Adult Size: 0.25 to 0.4 inches
- Lifespan: 1 to 6 years
- Average Price Range: N/A
False black widows are relatives of true black widows, but they are harmless compared to true widows. Like black widows, these arachnids have a bulbous abdomen and small cephalothorax.
People often mistake false black widows for true widows, but there are many ways to differentiate them. False black widows are typically brown, not black. While there are dark variants, their color tends towards dark brown or purple.
In addition, the reddish hourglass marking characteristic of true widows is absent on false black widows. Instead, the abdomen of these spiders has whitish markings on the upper side.
False black widows are common indoors. You’ll often find their cobwebs in wall corners and window sills. Like many spiders in Indiana, they avoid human contact and prefer living in undisturbed locations.
These arachnids are beneficial, not just in controlling regular insects, but in keeping true black widows out of the house. They often prey on widows and other spiders that wander into their sticky cobwebs.
Frequently Asked Questions
You probably still have questions about spiders in Indiana. Read on to find the answers to your most pressing questions.
What do spiders in Indiana eat?
Spiders are generally carnivores, and they eat various kinds of food. Insects and arthropods are staples in their diets. However, many species also consume spiders of their own or other species.
In addition to arthropods, many spiders consume plant material like pollen at some point during their development. This mixed diet is more common among juveniles.
Some spiders also take on more daunting prey. Many spiders in Indiana, such as fishing spiders and trapdoor spiders, hunt and eat tiny vertebrates like fish and tadpoles. Trapdoor spiders have been reported to prey on baby snakes.
Do spiders in Indiana have good eyesight?
Some spiders have excellent vision, while others don’t. As a general rule, web-builders have weaker eyesight than hunters that don’t need webs to catch prey.
Spiders with good eyesight often rely on only two of their eight or six eyes to see clearly when hunting. The rest function as motion sensors to help them move easily.
Species with poor eyesight are reliant on their ability to detect vibratory signals and motion in their environment. They use webs to catch prey because vibratory signals are easier to detect on the strands.
Where can I find spiders in Indiana?
You’ll find spiders almost anywhere in Indiana. Many species live indoors in crevices, corners, window sills, basements, attics, furniture joints, etc.
Outdoors, you’ll find spiders in porches, gardens, grasslands, riverbanks, and forests. If you’d like to see more diverse spiders than you’re used to, you’re likely to come across them in forests and bushes.
Are there any poisonous spiders in Indiana?
All spiders in Indiana are venomous. While most won’t trigger any serious symptoms, you might develop mild allergic reactions to their venom. These symptoms often fade quickly without treatment.
Black widows and brown recluses are the only species capable of inflicting medically significant bites. Bites often require treatment to control symptoms and prevent complications.
Can a spider bite kill you?
Yes. But it’s extremely rare for people to die from spider bites.
In Indiana, only black widows can inflict fatal bites. But even deaths from black widow bites are rare. That’s because, though their venom is toxic enough to kill people, the dosage they inject is too little to kill most people.
What is the deadliest spider in Indiana?
The southern black widow is Indiana’s deadliest spider. Its bite can trigger serious reactions like fever, vomiting, lightheadedness, and profuse sweating. In extreme cases, its bite can lead to death.
Are there brown recluses in Indiana?
Yes. Indiana is home to brown recluses, but these spiders aren’t common. They also have shy personalities and love to stay out of sight.
Are there jumping spiders in Indiana?
Yes. There are several jumping spiders in Indiana. The state is home to diverse species, all with fun, lively personalities.
Are there black widows in Indiana?
Yes. There are black widows in Indiana. The southern black widow is Indiana’s native black widow species.
Are there tarantulas in Indiana?
There are currently no records of tarantulas in Indiana. The state doesn’t have any known established populations, so most you’ll find are species from other states.
Are Indiana tarantulas poisonous?
Tarantulas are venomous, as all spiders are. But while their bites can be pretty painful, most don’t inflict medically significant bites. Indiana isn’t home to any known tarantula species.
Is it legal to own a pet spider in Indiana?
Yes. You’re free to own pet spiders in Indiana without fear of run-ins with the law. If you’re keeping the more dangerous types like black widows, take precautions to avoid being bitten.
There are several spiders fit for handling in the state. Jumping spiders are among such spiders. These lively spiders don’t bite people and are fun to observe.
How many species of spiders are there in Indiana?
According to Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources, there are over 400 spiders in Indiana. Sadly, only a few of these species have been properly identified and cataloged. Only about 30 to 40 of Indiana’s spiders are confirmed.
What are the most common spiders in Indiana?
False black widows, orb-weavers, and jumping spiders are among the most common spiders in Indiana. False black widows are more common indoors, while the others spend most of their time outdoors.
Wrapping up
Indiana has dozens, maybe even hundreds, of spiders. But only the southern black widow and brown recluse are venomous enough to significantly harm humans. Bites from other species only trigger mild or no symptoms.
Despite their creepy reputation, spiders are fascinating creatures that can be beneficial to have around. They rarely ever bite. But they consume copious amounts of insects and can help you control pests in your home and garden.
These arachnids build various types of webs, from large orb-shaped ones and intricate funnel and sheet webs to the tangled cobwebs common indoors. Many species don’t build such webs at all.
Bottomline, spiders are highly diverse and beneficial creatures, and Indiana is home to several fascinating types. If you keep an open mind, you can learn to appreciate these critters a little more.
Table of Contents