The nine hundred or so Virginia spiders and their seasonal appearance depend on a few factors such as the climate and terrain. A southern climate means that many spider species are present as soon as the first flowers bloom and the first insects, their prey of choice, arrives. Those facts often translate into a spider season that lasts from early spring through late fall.
Climate and terrain along Virginia’s western border, the Appalachian Mountains, generally translates into a shorter spider season.
An Arrowhead spider, pictured at the top of the page.
Two members of the Golden Orbweavers (Genus Trichonephila) could be bound to make news. Virginia is situated on the northern boundary of the Golden Silk Orbweaver. They are a heat sensitive species. A changing climate suggests an increase in temps could move their range north, including Virginia.
The Joro spider, are projected to migrate up the east coast, including Virginia.
Both species build large webs and are larger than average spiders.
Orchard Orbweavers belong to a different family, the Long-jawed Orbweavers. Look for the webs at forest and orchard edges around the state.
Sheetweb spiders, the often small and inconspicuous spiders, lead the list of Virginia spiders with the most species in the family. Small in size, it’s often easier to see their webs against the early morning lawn dew, rather than seeing the spider. The picture shows the Black-tailed Red Sheetweb spider. It grows to about one-eighth an inch in length. A good macro lens is necessary for a picture.
The Bowl and Dolly spider, another very small sheetweb spider in the Eastern United States, builds an easily recognized bowl shaped web as shown in the picture.
Twenty years of research has also documented the presence of larger than expected populations of spiders called Mygalomorphs. The group consists of a handful of spider families with tarantulas the best known. Because they are spiders that burrow in the ground, they need loose soil and their underground existence puts them among the least seen spider species.
Virginia does not host tarantula species. However, they do host the related purseweb and trapdoor spiders, named for the way they dig holes in the ground and cover them with silk. Males emerge from underground during the spring and/or summer months in search of females. The picture shows a trapdoor spider in the genus Ummidia.
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
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.
Barn Spider
Lattice Orbweavers
Araneus pegnia
The Furrow Orbweaver body looks kind of shiny. The pattern on the body can change but the darker edges are a good Identification clue.
Humpbacked Orbweaver
Stripes down the abdomen identifies the Difoliate Orbweaver.
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
Tan jumping spider