Tennessee is home to hundreds of spider species, ranging from tiny jumping spiders to large orb weavers While many people fear spiders, most Tennessee species are harmless to humans. This article will identify the 26 most frequently seen spiders in the Volunteer State and highlight their key identification features.
1. Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are the most common spiders found in Tennessee. With excellent eyesight and speed, wolf spiders actively hunt insects and other small invertebrates. They do not spin webs to catch prey.
There are many different wolf spider species in the state. Most have a mottled brown grey or black body and legs. Look for the distinct separation between the large cephalothorax (head) and abdomen. Wolf spiders have 8 eyes arranged in 3 rows.
Wolf spiders are not dangerous to humans. Their venom can cause mild pain and swelling if bitten.
2. American House Spider
This spider frequents homes and buildings across Tennessee. It has a globe-shaped abdomen and long, skinny legs. American house spiders are variable in color but often grayish-tan. They construct small, messy webs in corners or windowsills to catch prey like flies or mosquitoes.
Bites are harmless but may cause mild irritation. These spiders help control pest insects indoors.
3. Southern Black Widow
The Southern black widow is one of Tennessee’s few spiders with medically significant venom. Adult females have a shiny black body with a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of the abdomen. They build messy webs in sheltered spots like woodpiles or outbuildings.
Black widow bites rarely cause serious issues in healthy adults. Seek medical attention if bitten.
4. Jumping Spiders
Many jumping spider species reside in Tennessee, hunting prey on plants and structures. They have a rectangular body and do not spin webs. Jumping spiders rely on stealth and speed to capture small insects, spiders and other prey.
Look for their large front-facing eyes and colorful patterns. Jumping spiders are harmless to people.
5. Orchard Orbweaver
This colorful spider spins circular webs in trees and shrubs to catch flying insects. The female orchard orbweaver has an elongated greenish-yellow abdomen with red and white markings. The male is much smaller with light green legs.
Orchard orbweavers are timid and rarely bite humans. Their venom is not dangerous.
6. Fishing Spiders
As their name suggests, fishing spiders hunt near water. Several Dolomedes species reside in Tennessee. They have brown and grey mottled bodies with banded legs. Fishing spiders do not build webs. Instead they wait near the water’s edge and chase down prey on the surface.
Bites are uncommon and cause only mild pain.
7. Marbled Orbweaver
From midsummer into fall, keep an eye out for the large marbled orbweaver in Tennessee’s woods and gardens. Females have a striking orange-and-black patterned abdomen. They build vertical orb webs to catch flying insects.
Marbled orbweavers are harmless to people. Their bite causes only minor effects, if any.
8. Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders frequent dark corners of homes and buildings year-round. They have a tiny body with enormously long, thin legs. Most are some shade of brown. As their name suggests, you’ll often find cellar spiders in basements hanging in messy, tangled webs.
Bites are very rare and harmless. Cellar spiders help control household pests.
9. Spined Micrathena
The spined micrathena inhabits hardwood forests in Tennessee. The large female has black and white abdominal spines on a yellow body. She constructs a large, intricate web up to 8 inches across in the vegetation to catch flying insects.
Spined micrathenas will bite only if severely threatened. The venom does not affect humans.
10. Bowl and Doily Spider
In the woods and scrublands, keep an eye out for the signature web of the bowl and doily spider. It consists of a horizontal sheet web (the “doily”) with a bowl-shaped retreat above. The spider itself has a dark brown or black body and legs.
Bites are extremely uncommon from these shy spiders. Their venom poses no medical risk.
11. Brown Recluse
While uncommon, Tennessee does have populations of the venomous brown recluse spider. It has a violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax and six equal-length eyes. Brown recluses inhabit sheds, woodpiles, and undisturbed areas of homes.
This spider’s hemotoxic venom can cause necrosis at the bite site. Seek medical attention promptly if bitten.
12. Grass Spider
Agile hunters, grass spiders roam fields and meadows in pursuit of insect prey. Several species live in Tennessee. They construct a funnel-shaped retreat at the edge of their web. Grass spiders have a brown or grey body with black and white abdominal stripes.
Bites may happen if handled but are not medically significant.
13. Carolina Wolf Spider
One of the largest wolf spiders in North America, the Carolina wolf spider frequents wooded areas in Tennessee. It has a distinct stripe down its brownish-grey body. Females carry egg sacs attached to their spinnerets. They aggressively defend both their egg sacs and young.
Bites are painful but typically cause only mild reactions.
14. Nursery Web Spider
The nursery web spider inhabits shrubs and vegetation statewide. It has a round, patterned abdomen. As their name implies, females guard an egg sac in their web. To avoid being eaten after mating, the male wraps the female’s legs in silk.
Bites are uncommon and not dangerous.
15. White-banded Fishing Spider
Near creeks and ponds lives the large white-banded fishing spider. It has brownish-grey legs with distinct white bands. Fishing spiders run across the water’s surface to hunt tadpoles, minnows and aquatic insects. They do not build webs.
Bites may happen if handled but are similar to a bee sting in severity.
16. Spitting Spider
These small spiders earned their name by spraying venom and silk from their fangs onto predators. In Tennessee, keep an eye out for the boldly patterned yellow spitting spider inhabiting gardens and grassy areas.
Spitting spider venom is not toxic to humans. Bites cause only a stinging sensation.
17. Jumping Spiders
Many colorful jumping spider species live in the state. The daring jumper has a black body with white spots. The bold jumper is fuzzy black with orange-red marks. And the tan jumper has a brown and tan striped abdomen. All have large front eyes and jump to ambush insect prey.
Jumping spiders will bite if handled but the effects are extremely mild.
18. Orchard Orbweaver
From spring into fall, watch for circular webs spun in trees and shrubs bearing the vivid orchard orbweaver. The elongated abdomen has eye-catching red, yellow and white markings. The male is less than half the female’s size.
These spiders rarely bite humans, and the venom causes only minor irritation if they do.
19. Bowl and Doily Spider
The bowl and doily spider constructs a signature web low in shrubs and brush. Two parts make up the web – a horizontal sheet web with a bowl-shaped retreat above it. The spider has a dark globe-shaped abdomen.
Bites virtually never occur from these harmless spiders. Their venom has no effect on humans.
20. Six-Spotted Fishing Spider
Large fishing spiders frequent Tennessee’s ponds, streams and lakes. The six-spotted fishing spider has a brown body with distinct white spots down the abdomen. It does not spin webs, instead ambushing aquatic insects, tadpoles and small fish at the water’s edge.
Bites are uncommon and mild.
21. Cross Orbweaver
From summer into fall, keep an eye out for the striking yellow and black markings of the cross orbweaver. It spins a large, intricate web decorated with zigzagged stabilimenta. The venom of cross orbweavers does not affect humans.
22. Furrow Orbweaver
Living near water, furrow orbweavers have a large, ovular grey-and-black patterned abdomen. They construct a new web each night to capture flying insects. The web has a funnel retreat on one edge.
Furrow orbweavers rarely bite, but if they do, their venom only causes minor irritation.
23. Striped Lynx Spider
Agile hunters, striped lynx spiders pounce on prey rather than building webs. They have tan bodies with dark brown stripes on the legs and cephalothorax. Striped lynx spiders frequently enter homes and garages in search of insect prey.
They rarely bite people, and the venom is not medically significant.
24. Spinybacked Orbweaver
In forests and woods, watch for the spinybacked orbweaver’s large wheel-shaped web decorated with a linear stabilimentum. The spider has pointy black and yellow abdominal spikes. The small male has orange-and-black striped legs.
Bites are highly unlikely and harmless if they occur.
25. Magnolia Green Jumping Spider
Among the foliage of shrubs and trees lives the brilliant green magnolia jumping spider. It has a bright red face and yellow-and-black striped mouthparts. This agile hunter springs onto flies, ants and other small prey rather than building a web.
Magnolia jumping spiders do not pose any threat to people. Their venom has no effect on humans.
26. Golden Silk Spider
The large golden silk spider spins impressive circular webs across streams, swamps and ponds in Tennessee. It has a patterned brown body with yellowish lines. The long legs spread out to about 2 inches tip-to-tip.
Bites are rare as these spiders tend to stay near their webs. The venom does not cause medically significant effects.
So if you spot a spider lurking in a Tennessee backyard or hiking trail, chances are it’s one of these 26 common species. While a few do pose a potential (though unlikely) bite risk, the vast majority are harmless helpers around our homes and environment. Getting to know your local spider species can help you appreciate their vital roles in controlling pests and creating beautiful webs.
Spider Talk, 8 Spiders that live in Tennessee
FAQ
What is the most common spider in Tennessee?
1. Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) The common house spider is perhaps the most recognized species in homes across Tennessee. These small, tan spiders often weave webs in corners, basements, and attics.
Are there any poisonous spiders in Tennessee?
It’s understandable why spiders are so feared, but most types are completely harmless and are actually considered beneficial to our environment. However, there are two types of dangerous spiders in Tennessee to be wary of: the black widow and brown recluse.
What is the biggest spider in Tennessee?
Huntsman spiders can range from 1/2 inch to around 2 inches in length, with females typically being larger than males. Long, slender legs. These spiders can grow up to 6 inches in leg span, making them one of the largest spider species in the state.
Does TN have tarantulas?
Today, the tiny tarantula’s entire known global distribution consists of less than 25 mountain tops spread across Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.