Ohio Spiders: Pictures and Identification Tips

From the more specialized research covering tallgrass prairie spiders in the state to the more conventional documentation of home and garden spiders, Ohio takes Ohio spiders seriously. A northern climate means that Ohio’s outdoor spider season generally runs from early spring through late fall. Common indoor spiders such as cellar spiders and cobweb spiders can be found year round.

The current checklist of Ohio spiders lists about six hundred and fifty species. What does the checklist tell us about the types of spiders in Ohio?

First, consider how the experts discuss spider species. An article in the Journal Cladistics 25 (2009) called, Higher-level phylogenetics of linyphiid spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae) based on morphological and molecular evidence introduces the topic as follows.

Arachnologists currently recognize 109 extant families of spiders and about 40 000 described species… Only jumping spiders (Salticidae) include more described species than Linyphiidae (5188 species in 560 genera versus 4345 species in 576 general,

Those trends also apply to both the United States in General and Ohio in particular.

The top five types of spiders in Ohio according to the number of species are as follows:

• Erigoninae Sheetweb and Dwarf Weavers (134)
• Jumping Spiders (79)
• Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae) (58)
• Orb Weavers (Araneidae) (57)
• Cobweb Spiders Theridiidae (56)

Together these five families account for 3884 spider species or roughly 60% of all Ohio spiders.

Phidippus pius female

Male Phidippus pius

Male White-cheeked Jumping spider ( Pelegrina proterva)

Female White-cheeked jumping spider. Note the lighter shade of the body.

Phidippus Clarus

Colonus peuperus

Colonus sylvanus

Identifying Ohio Jumping spiders begins with a few words of caution. On the one hand, some species, especially the larger and more prominent members of the Phidippus genera can be easily identified to the genera level due to the presence of red coloration on one or both body parts. On the other hand, many Phidippus species go through physical body changes as they mature, making all but the mature species a bit difficult to identify.

Bold Jumping spiders are probably the most widespread Phidippus species in the United States. In many residential areas they are year round residents that move indoors during the colder weather. The mostly black body bucks the color trend for Phidippus.

Cardinal jumping spiders show red on both body parts.

As mentioned in previously, sheetweb spiders inhabit most Ohio grass lawns. The share space with a variety of spider species, including the larger and more conspicuous funnel weavers, especially the grass spiders (Agelenopsis genera). A cursory examination of the web provides the best clue for identifying them. Funnel webs have a definitive hole built into them. Ohio follows that same general pattern. Five grass spider species are documented in the states. The Pennsylvania Grass Spider (Agelenopsis pennsylvanica) is the most common.

Putting aside the widow spiders, the vast majority of Ohio’s cobweb spiders live outdoors and don’t come anywhere near the house.

Still, a handful of less dangerous cobweb spiders also fit into the common house spider category. The Triangulate House Spider and the Common House spider