White spiders stand out against the more common black, brown and gray spiders. Their pale coloration makes them easy to spot scurrying across the floor or hiding on a white flower. But are white spiders dangerous?
While unusual, most white spiders are harmless to humans. They rarely bite unless they feel threatened. However, some species like the Northern Yellow Sac Spider can inflict painful bites, so it’s best not to handle them.
This guide covers 17 common types of white spiders you may encounter, including facts about their appearance, behaviors, habitats, and whether they pose any danger
Are White Spiders Venomous or Poisonous?
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Most white spiders are not medically significant to humans Their venom is mild and they rarely bite people
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A small number of white spiders have more toxic venom, such as the Northern Yellow Sac Spider. This spider can cause painful necrosis at the bite site.
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White spiders still contain venom to subdue prey like all spider species. But the venom dose they can inject into humans via a bite is low.
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White spiders tend to only bite in self-defense if mishandled or disturbed. They do not attack people.
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While white spider bites are generally no worse than a bee sting, it’s best not to handle them to avoid getting bitten.
17 Common White Spider Species
1. Spinybacked Orbweaver
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Scientific Name: Gasteracantha cancriformis
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The Spinybacked Orbweaver spider spins circular webs and waits for prey.
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Females have a white body with black dots. Males are tiny in comparison at just 2mm body length.
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Common in wooded areas and gardens where they help control mosquito populations.
2. Goldenrod Crab Spider
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Scientific Name: Misumena vatia
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Lie in ambush on flowers waiting to catch pollinators like bees.
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Capable of changing color from white to yellow to match their flowery hiding spots.
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Females have large bulbous white abdomens while males are half their size.
3. Spined Micrathena
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Scientific Name: Micrathena gracilis
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Tiny white spiders just 3-6mm long identified by black spines on the abdomen.
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Build small circular webs in gardens and woodlands to trap flying insects.
4. Northern Yellow Sac Spider
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Scientific Name: Cheiracanthium mildei
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Yellow-white body color with very long legs and black tips.
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Venom can cause painful skin lesions in humans from its bites.
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Nocturnal hunter that builds tube-shaped sac retreats.
5. American Green Crab Spider
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Scientific Name: Misumessus oblongus
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Can change between green and white to camouflage on plants.
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Lie in ambush on flowers to catch pollinators; diet consists mainly of bees.
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Front two pairs of legs are noticeably longer than back legs.
6. White-banded Crab Spider
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Scientific Name: Misumenoides formosipes
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Abdomen can be yellowish or pure white with translucent legs.
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Males guard females until maturity when mating occurs.
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Lie in wait on flowers without building webs to catch prey.
7. Gray Wall Jumping Spider
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Scientific Name: Menemerus bivittatus
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Dark gray body with distinct white V-shaped markings on abdomen.
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Their jumping and hunting rely on excellent vision to pounce on prey.
8. White-jawed Jumping Spider
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Scientific Name: Hentzia mitrata
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Tiny fuzzy white body and legs; golden brown on the abdomen.
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Jumping spiders that actively hunt instead of building webs.
9. Striped Lynx Spider
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Scientific Name: Oxyopes salticus
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Light brown body with thick white stripes and long black hairy legs.
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Helpful predators in agriculture that feast on detrimental crop pests.
10. Garden Ghost Spider
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Scientific Name: Hibana gracilis
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White spiders around half an inch long with black marks on head.
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Nocturnal hunters that hide in silken retreats during daylight.
11. White Micrathena
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Scientific Name: Micrathena mitrata
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Completely white aside from black markings on legs.
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Trap flying insects in their orb webs situated in gardens.
12. Humpbacked Orbweaver
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Scientific Name: Eustala anastera
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White abdomen with small black spots; legs have dark bands.
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Named for likeness to a jumping spider despite spinning orb webs.
13. Common Candy-striped Spider
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Scientific Name: Enoplognatha ovata
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Oval white abdomen with reddish or greenish-gray stripes.
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Introduced to North America from Europe; often mistaken for cobwebs.
14. Oblong Running Spider
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Scientific Name: Tibellus oblongus
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Varying shades from green to white with dark stripe on abdomen.
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Found in orchards, grasslands, parks, and other dry habitats.
15. Green-legged Orbweaver
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Scientific Name: Mangora maculata
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White abdomen with green patches and distinctly green striped legs.
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Spin circular webs to catch flying insect prey.
16. Kidney Garden Spider
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Scientific Name: Bijoaraneus mitificus
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Small white orbweavers with green head and legs and large bulbous abdomen.
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Females build large webs; males make smaller webs nearby.
17. Australian Golden Orbweaver
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Scientific Name: Trichonephila edulis
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Huge white spider species measuring up to 5 inches long found in Australia.
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Spin incredibly strong webs to catch their prey which includes small birds.
Bites and Dangers
Most white spiders have venom that is harmless to humans. Their small size means the venom dosage delivered in any bite is low.
While bites feel similar to bee stings in localized pain and burning, avoid handling white spiders to prevent getting bitten. Rarely, white spider bites may warrant medical attention.
The white widows found in the Middle East and parts of Asia pack more potent venom with possible serious reactions. But elsewhere, white spiders should not cause alarm or require control measures. Simply leaving them alone allows enjoyment
What do White Porch Spiders look like?
The White Porch Spider is in the family Theridiidae (also known as comb-footed spiders), and is related to the Redback and Cupboard spiders. The general body shape of the White Porch Spider is somewhat similar to these species, but all parts are generally pale coloured with a variable amount of darker markings. Males are also generally more strongly coloured than females.
The most obvious character is the extremely long front legs. In males, each long section between the joints of the first leg is longer than the total body length, while in females each of the leg sections approximately equals the body length.
Male White Porch Spider, Cryptachaea gigantipes, guards an immature female in her retreat on a window frame.
How do White Porch Spiders mate and who are their prey?
Adult males travel along silk lines in search of females and are often found in or near female webs. Egg sacs may hold up to 250 eggs contained in brownish silk and are suspended in the female’s web near her usual resting position.
Spiderling emergence time depends on temperature, usually between 4 – 5 weeks in the spring and less in warmer weather. The young remain in their mother’s web for some time and are protected by her while they remain together but they disperse rapidly as younger siblings begin to emerge from later egg sacs. Adult spiders may be found all year but are most common in the warmer months.
Various kinds of insects and spiders have been recorded as prey. Insects include beetles, flies, bugs, moths and caterpillars. Spider prey includes both those that move along silk lines, such as Net-casting and Black House spiders, and ground dwellers such as Wolf Spiders.
White-tailed Spiders feature as both prey and as a predator, as do spiders of their own species. Other known predators include Pirate Spiders and wasps.
Female White Porch Spider, Cryptachaea gigantipes, with spider prey
First ever sighting of a White Lady Spider – Animal Camera – BBC
FAQ
Are white spiders harmful?
White spider or crab spider? Like many spiders, native white spiders are mostly harmless. White spiders otherwise known as crab spiders or Misumena vatia, are poisonous but their venom is not harmful to humans at all.
What does seeing white spiders mean?
Many traditions view white spiders as harbingers of good fortune. Their appearance may signal upcoming positive changes in your life.
Why do I keep finding white spiders in my house?
Some common factors that attract spiders include the presence of insects or other prey, warm and dark spaces, and moisture. Spiders may be drawn to damp areas like basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms, as well as cluttered areas where spider infestations are more likely to occur.
What is a spider white?
The flower crab spider has a globular abdomen, sometimes with spots or lines. They can change their colour to match their surroundings but often appear white.
Are white spiders considered good luck or bad luck?
The white spider gives emotional and mental strength to everyone that needs them. With the spider, you will learn how to be strong – even in the face of adverse situations. You will learn how to be dogged and resilient. The energy around the white spider is full of good luck.
What does a white spider symbolize?
The white spider is symbolic of the spirit world. Whenever you see a white spider, it is a sign that the realm of the spirit is closer to you. This is just like seeing the feather of a bird or seeing an actual bird. Therefore, this is the best time to make your request to the universe. Your intentions and desires will be manifested.
What are the identifying features of white spiders?
White spider identification is by their eight legs, white colored-abdomen and cephalothorax (head), six or eight eyes, and mouthparts (chelicerae). In addition, common white spiders have identifiable bulbous creamy white bodies.
Are white spiders dangerous?
A very small number of white spiders are poisonous. These aren’t deadly to humans, but their mildly-venomous nature inflicts pain and skin necrosis in the area of the bite. The Northern Yellow Sac spider is one of the mildly-poisonous species known to bite without warning.