Indiana is home to an impressive diversity of spider species. From tiny jumping spiders to large orbweavers, these eight-legged creatures can be found in backyards, parks, forests, and fields across the state. For anyone curious about what kinds of spiders they might encounter in Indiana, here is an in-depth look at some of the most common species.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are aptly named for their ability to leap impressive distances to ambush their prey. With their large front eyes, jumping spiders have excellent vision and can detect prey from several feet away. Some of the jumping spiders found in Indiana include:
Bold Jumping Spider
With its fuzzy black body and bright yellow markings, the bold jumping spider is one of the most recognizable jumping spiders in the state. Growing up to 3/4 inch long, these spiders will pounce up to 10 times their body length to attack prey. Though their bite is harmless to humans, their jumping skills make them fascinating to watch.
Tan Jumping Spider
The tan jumping spider has a black, white, and grey patterned body with chevron markings on its back It uses silk draglines when jumping to help stabilize long leaps Though small, around 1/5 inch long, the tan jumper still manages to take down prey larger than itself.
Zebra Jumping Spider
As its name suggests, the tiny zebra jumping spider has a black and white striped appearance resembling a miniature zebra. Using its fourth pair of legs for power, it can leap up to 2.6 feet to ambush small insects and spiders.
Orbweavers
Orbweavers are spiders that construct circular webs for catching prey Some of the most common orbweaving spiders in Indiana include
Yellow Garden Spider
Growing over 1 inch long the yellow garden spider is one of the largest orbweaving spiders in the state. It builds a large zigzag patterned web in gardens and woodlands to trap insect prey.
Marbled Orbweaver
The marbled orbweaver has a round abdomen with red and black or yellow and black stripes, resembling a marble pattern. It waits head down in its web to catch flying insects.
Banded Garden Spider
With yellow and black striped legs and a similarly patterned abdomen, the banded garden spider builds its web among shrubs and tall plants. It vibrates its web to mimic trapped insects, luring additional prey.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders hunt prey by chasing it down, rather than building webs. Some wolf spiders found in the state include:
Rabid Wolf Spider
A sizeable spider reaching over an inch long, the rabid wolf spider has grey and brown camouflage patterned legs and body. It hunts at night and may pounce up to a foot to attack passing prey.
Wetland Giant Wolf Spider
As the name suggests, this spider with a yellow stripe down its body is most often found in swampy wetland areas of the state. It hunts a variety of insects, worms, and small amphibians.
Fishing Spiders
Fishing spiders don’t actually fish, but are named for their habit of hunting along the water’s edge. Some fishing spider species in Indiana are:
Six-spotted Fishing Spider
Reaching up to 1 inch in size, the six-spotted fishing spider can walk on water to hunt insects and small fish. The female spider may eat prey up to twice her body size.
Dark Fishing Spider
The dark fishing spider has a brown and black pattern that provides camouflage as it hunts along pond and stream banks. An adept swimmer, it dives underwater to hide from predators or capture prey.
Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders are long-legged spiders that build messy-looking webs in secluded corners. Common species include:
Common Cellar Spider
Also known as daddy longlegs, the common cellar spider has an oval abdomen and extremely long, spindly legs. They build webs in dark corners of cellars and sheds.
Long-bodied Cellar Spider
Closely related to daddy longlegs spiders, the long-bodied cellar spider has a narrow, elongated body and equally lengthy legs. It spins lacy webs in indoor spaces.
Sac Spiders
Sac spiders have names referring to the silk sacs or tubes where they build their retreats. Some sac spider examples include:
Whitebanded Fishing Spider
Wandering hunters, these spiders do not build webs to catch prey. The whitebanded fishing spider has darker brown bands on its light brown legs.
Northern Yellow Sac Spider
Their pale yellow color makes northern yellow sac spiders easy to identify. They construct tubular retreats in corners and crevices.
Crab Spiders
Though not true crabs, crab spiders have a laterigrade leg posture like crabs. They do not build webs to catch prey. Some crab spiders in Indiana are:
Goldenrod Crab Spider
These sit-and-wait predators have the ability to change color from white to yellow to match the flowers they hunt upon.
American Green Crab Spider
With its green body, this crab spider hunts on plants and in vegetation. Females may take down prey larger than themselves.
This overview covers just a small sample of the hundreds of spider species that call Indiana home. Whether out in nature or in your own backyard, keep your eyes peeled for these fascinating eight-legged creatures. Learning to identify and appreciate the diverse spiders around us is a wonderful way to connect with the wildlife right outside our doors.
Brown recluse spiders in Indiana
As their common name suggests, brown recluse spiders tend to spend most of their lifetime well hidden, out of sight. Even though actual brown recluse sightings are quite rare and their natural range is limited to southern Indiana, south of Indianapolis, these spiders are generally over-reported. Numerous brown spiders that may or may not look similar to the brown recluse are simply considered to be brown recluse sightings.
The “violin” pattern on the back of the spider is the most popular way to identify brown recluses – often leading to misidentifications with other brown spiders that have a violin pattern. Brown recluse spiders have six eyes that are placed in three pairs or dyads, their body is never longer than 3/4 inches, their legs are not hairy and their abdomen does not have any patterns.
Black widows in Indiana
Of the two black widow species you may find in Indiana, only the adult female is considered medically significant – that means that it is able to deliver bites that frequently require medical attention. While the bites of juvenile or male spiders can be uncomfortable, the symptoms usually wear off after a few hours without any medical intervention.
Adult black widows have a large, bulbous and shiny black abdomen (sometimes with red spots on it) and a clearly visible red or orange hourglass shape on its underside. Since the spider spends most of its lifetime hanging upside down in its tangle web, waiting for prey, the hourglass pattern is usually clearly visible.
The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is quite rare in Indiana and only found south of Indianapolis. The northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) is found throughout Indiana. These two species can look almost identical at first sight. The best way to differentiate them is by examining their hourglass pattern: Southern black widows have two separate triangles that don’t touch each other, while the hourglass of the northern black widow is fused into one shape.
To learn more about the black widows, click on the links below:
More black widow spiders in southern Indiana
FAQ
What is the most common spider in Indiana?
- Common House Spider. The common house spider is among the most frequently encountered in Indianapolis homes. …
- Orb Weavers. …
- Jumping Spiders. …
- Wolf Spiders. …
- Sac Spiders. …
- Black Widow.
Are there any poisonous spiders in Indiana?
There are around 400 species of spiders known to occur in Indiana. Only two species found in Indiana are capable of inflicting serious injury to humans. While both the brown recluse and black widow spiders are known as venomous, neither is aggressive. Bites from them are quite rare.
How do I identify a spider I found?
Look at the size of the legs in proportion to the body. Some spiders have long, thin legs (like the yellow sac), while others have stocky, thick legs (like the wolf spider). Some spiders (such as the lynx spider) have tiny hairs on their legs, while others have spikes (such as the funnel spider) or fur.
What are aggressive house spiders?
Hobo spiders move extremely fast, running upwards of 2.2 miles per hour. Despite its nickname, “the aggressive house spider,” a hobo spider will only move toward a human when it has been threatened.
Are spiders venomous in Indiana?
There are around 400 species of spiders known to occur in Indiana. Only two species found in Indiana are capable of inflicting serious injury to humans. While both the brown recluse and black widow spiders are known as venomous, neither is aggressive. Bites from them are quite rare.
Are there common house spiders in Indiana?
True to its name, the common house spider is present in many Indiana homes. Some spiders will wander into homes accidentally, but this spider has a strong preference for man-made structures. Since it mostly feeds on insects and other spiders, it can actually be helpful to have one of these spiders in your home.
Where can I find a spider in Indiana?
The Spined Micrathena is an impressive spider to see in Indiana. If you’re eager to find one, you’ll have the best luck searching in hardwood forests along ponds or lagoons. These day-dwelling creatures are most active during late summer and early fall. The webs of this species are large, tightly coiled, and can reach 200 mm (8 in) across.
Are there wolf spiders in Indiana?
Wolf spiders are one of the most recognizable spiders in Indiana! They are found everywhere and in almost any habitat. I know that I see them often when flipping over rocks or logs. Unfortunately, there are so many individual species of wolf spiders that it would be impossible to list them here, especially since most look very similar.
What do spiders look like in Indiana?
Most often, these spiders are golden-orange or rusty-red. The legs have alternating dark brown and light brown bands. The abdomen is hairy. These spiders are most often seen in Indiana in late summer and early fall. Look for their large, orb-shaped web near lights, often constructed on buildings or other man-made objects.
Where to find crab spiders in Indiana?
Colors range widely based on the specific species. However, the most common colors are pink, yellow, white, green, or brown. The best places to find crab spiders in Indiana are near flowers. Crab spiders don’t use webs to catch their prey. Instead, they sit and wait inside flowers or other vegetation low to the ground for something to eat.