Most interest in spider identification comes from people who see spiders in their homes and apartments and want to know if the spider is dangerous. For example, there’s nothing like seeing a five inch Huntsman spider (top picture) hanging out in he garage or around the patio to scare the bejeebers out of anyone.
Fortunately they are not dangerous. In fact they consider nuisance insects such as cockroaches as five star dining.
The following small gallery of spiders covers a representative sample of Florida’s common house spiders and lawn and garden spiders. Please press the spiders button for additional spider pictures and information. The entire spider guide covers over one hundred different spider species.
Florida sure does have big house spiders. In addition to the Huntsman spider, add the Southern House spider to the list. Their bodies are over one half inch in length and their legs add more length.
Formally they belong to crevice weavers and build webs in crevices around the house. Again, they are not considered dangerous, just large and scary to individuals who are not spider enthusiasts.
Crab Spiders
Green Crab Spider
While eye patterns matter, the best initial field identification guide for the White-banded Crab Spider is to look below the eyes. Typically the presence of a white band, as shown in the picture, is clearly seen.
Synema parvulum also fits the drab body pattern of the previous species. The distinct darkening of the end of the abdomen makes it an easy to identify.
Female Metallic Crab Spider
Males Metallic Crab Spiders
Lynx Spiders
Their unmistakable look of the Green Lynx spider makes for easy ID.
A few species of the brown form of Lynx spiders are common in lawns and gardens a bit further north. The Western Lynx spider also prefers to spend the day on low growing plants and bushes. Its small size means it could easily be mistaken for a jumping spider.
The Striped Lynx range extends across most of the United States.
Jumping Spiders
Slender Ant Mimic
Translucent Green Jumping Spider
Colonus sylvanus
Colonus peuperus
Hentzia mitrata
Phidippus princeps, sometimes called the grayish jumper, is a common eastern species. Bugguide lists ten different versions of the species as the males and females move to maturity. This is the mature male.
Dimorphic Jumping Spider
Pike Slender Jumper
Thin-spined jumping spider
Cardinal Jumping Spider
Phidippus mystaceus are an interesting Southeast species with a variety of looks.
Phidippus Clarus
Phidippus pius female
Male Phidippus pius
Phidippus princeps, sometimes called the grayish jumper, is a common eastern species. This is the mature male.
Regal jumping spiders grow to over three-quarters of an inch in length, making them one of the largest jumping spiders. They are a Southeast species with a few different looks.
White-cheeked Jumping spider male
White-cheeked Jumping Spider female.
Twenty six different Pelegrina jumping spiders have been identified in the United States. Along the the Common White-cheeked jumping spider, the Peppered Jumping spider is one of the most common jumping spiders in the east.
Males have dark bodies with the picture highlighting the white spots peppered all over it, including the legs.
The Pantriopical jumping spider can be considered a common house spider of the Southeast, from Florida to Texas. They live around residential areas and build their egg sacs on structures, including houses, porches and sheds. There are only a few documented instances of their living in more wild environments. Like the other species presented, the male has a dark body. The white stripe pattern on the body provides additional identification help.
Female Hammer-jawed Jumping Spider
Male Hammer-jawed Jumping Spider
Female Hammer-jawed Jumping Spider
Twin-flagged jumping spider
The Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) is the dominant Eastern species.
Orb Weaving Spiders
The colorful Red-spotted Orb Weaver Araneus has a tendency to build its web at the top of trees and hunt at night.
The red-backed orbweaver. (Araneus guttulatus) also has nice green legs. It can be found in the East from Canada to the Gulf Coast states.
Barn Spider
Lattice Orbweavers
Araneus pegnia, a small and common Southeast and Southwest spider, shows a unique pattern on the abdomen.
The Furrow Orbweaver body looks kind of shiny. The pattern on the body can change but the darker edges are a good Identification clue. It’s mostly an East Coast species.
Humpbacked Orbweaver inhabit areas east of the Rocky Mountains.
Stripes down the abdomen identifies the Difoliate Orbweaver.