There are over 600 spider species found in South Carolina. Almost all of them are completely harmless for humans or pets, even though they might look intimidating. This page gives you an overview and identification help for the most common spiders in South Carolina.
We will first take a look at the medically significant spiders found in S.C. and then look at other common brown spiders, orb weavers, jumping spiders and more. You can click on any of the spider s to learn more about the spider.
South Carolina is home to a fascinating diversity of spider species. Spiders play an important role in controlling insect populations and are a key part of local ecosystems. While a small number of species can be dangerous, most South Carolina spiders are harmless to humans.
In this guide. we’ll look at 30 of the most common spiders found in South Carolina. starting with the most widespread species
1. Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are some of the most frequently encountered spiders in South Carolina. There are many different wolf spider species but they can generally be identified by their hairy bodies and long agile legs.
Wolf spiders don’t build webs to catch prey. Instead they actively hunt relying on their excellent eyesight and speed. They live on the ground, hiding under debris or leaf litter.
2. Orbweaver Spiders
Several orbweaver spider species spin circular webs in South Carolina gardens, fields, and woodlands. Some common orbweavers include:
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Garden spiders -large, brightly colored spiders that build huge webs.
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Furrow spiders -make vertical sheet-like webs and have arrow markings on their abdomens.
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Marbled orbweavers -known for their pumpkin-colored abdomens.
Orbweavers use venom to subdue prey but are not harmful to humans.
3. Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are compact, hairy spiders that actively hunt their prey. Some South Carolina species include:
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Bold jumping spiders – one of the most common, identified by their black bodies and white markings.
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Tan jumping spiders – medium-sized spiders with chevron markings, often found on walls.
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Magnolia green jumping spiders – small spiders found in humid forests.
Jumping spiders have excellent vision and can leap up to 40 times their body length. Their bites are essentially harmless.
4. Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders are spindly, delicate-looking spiders that build messy-looking webs in dark corners. They have tiny bodies (less than 1/2 inch) but very long, thin legs around 2 inches long.
Cellar spiders help control household pests like flies or mosquitoes. Despite their fragile appearance, they will bite in self-defense but are not dangerous.
5. Fishing Spiders
Fishing spiders are some of the largest spiders in South Carolina, with leg spans over 3 inches. They live around water and can even run across pond surfaces to hunt small fish and aquatic insects.
Look for fishing spiders near docks or lakeshores. Their bites can penetrate human skin but are similar to mild bee stings.
6. Crab Spiders
Crab spiders get their name from their laterally flattened bodies and ability to scuttle sideways like crabs. They come in a variety of colors like white, yellow, or pink.
Instead of building webs, crab spiders ambush prey by camouflaging themselves among flowers and foliage. Their venom is not medically significant.
7. Sac Spiders
Sac spiders have bodies around 1/4 inch long and get their name from the silken tube-shaped sacs they build for shelter. The northern yellow sac spider is one species found inside South Carolina homes.
Sac spiders sometimes bite humans without provocation but aren’t highly venomous. However, sac spider bites can cause minor itching and pain.
8. Black Widow Spiders
The southern black widow is likely South Carolina’s most venomous spider. The female black widow is shiny black with a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of her spherical abdomen.
Black widow bites can be painful and cause muscle cramps or nausea but are very rarely lethal. The spiders themselves are not aggressive.
9. Brown Recluse Spiders
Despite their name, brown recluse spiders are not found in South Carolina. There are no populations of recluse spiders (genus Loxosceles) anywhere in the southeastern United States.
Any spider reported as a brown recluse in South Carolina is a case of mistaken identity. Spiders like sac spiders or southern house spiders are harmless but sometimes confused with brown recluses.
10. Grass Spiders
Grass spiders belong to the funnel weaver family (Agelenidae). As the name suggests, they are usually found in grassy areas where they build funnel-shaped webs to trap prey.
Look for grass spiders near the ground in lawns or fields. The dark brown spiders have light stripes running the length of their bodies. Grass spider bites generally only cause minor irritation in humans.
11. House Spiders
Several spider species like the common house spider take up residence inside South Carolina homes. They build messy webs in corners or windows to catch pests.
House spiders may startle humans but aren’t dangerous. At worst, a house spider bite leads to mild pain and itching for a day or two.
12. Orchard Spiders
Orchard spiders belong to the genus Leucauge and are small spiders with slender bodies and long legs. Mabel’s orchard spider and the orchard orbweaver are two common species.
These spiders make horizontal webs in trees and may also be useful in controlling orchard pests that damage crops. Their venom has a negligible effect on humans.
13. Daddy Longlegs
Daddy longlegs, or harvestmen, are arachnids related to spiders. Unlike true spiders, daddy longlegs don’t have venom glands or silk glands.
In South Carolina, look for daddy longlegs under logs or loose bark. Groups of the spiders may cluster together. Despite rumors, daddy longlegs cannot bite or poison humans.
14. Cross Spiders
Cross spiders have unique abdominal markings—a pale cross shape when viewed from above. The species Argiope aurantia is known as the black and yellow garden spider.
Cross spiders spin prominent round webs in gardens and fields. The webs often feature zig-zag stabilimenta through the center. The spider bites are similar to bee stings if they occur.
15. Spinybacked Orbweavers
Spinybacked orbweavers can be identified by the shape of the female’s abdomen—rounded with spikes projecting outwards. The colorful spiders hang in round webs in bushes and trees.
The spines seem to play a protective role, and the spider is not considered dangerous. Its colorful abdomen may help attract insect prey too.
16. Cobweb Spiders
Cobweb spiders come from the Theridiidae family. As the name suggests, they fill corners and crevices with messy webs to catch prey like flies or mosquitoes.
Cobweb spiders are extremely common but rarely bite humans. Bites generally only cause minor pain and irritation.
17. Sheetweb Spiders
Sheetweb spiders, family Linyphiidae, build flat horizontal webs close to the ground or in vegetation like ivy. These delicate webs allow the tiny sheetweb spiders to catch small insects like gnats.
There are many different sheetweb spider species in South Carolina, but they pose no danger to humans. Their tiny jaws cannot penetrate human skin.
18. Sac Spiders
Sac spiders hide in tube-like sacs made from silk. They only emerge at night to hunt prey. The northern yellow sac spider sometimes invades South Carolina homes.
Sac spiders can bite humans but aren’t considered medically significant. At worst, bites lead to minor pain and itching for around a day.
19. Running Crab Spiders
Running crab spiders, Philodromus genus, don’t build webs to catch prey. As their name suggests, they actively hunt insects on foot.
Look for running crab spiders on tree trunks—they can scuttle sideways rapidly like true crabs to evade threats. They are not harmful to humans.
20. Striped Lynx Spiders
Striped lynx spiders are medium-sized arachnids with long spiny legs and patterned abdomens. They hunt prey rather than building webs.
Striped lynx spiders sometimes invade homes and can bite humans when threatened. But their venom only causes mild pain similar to a bee sting.
21. Parson Spiders
Parson spiders are slender-bodied brown spiders about 3/8 inch long. They build small irregular webs close to the ground.
Parson spiders have a prominent dark brown stripe down the middle of their carapace (upper body section). Their bites don’t have clinical significance for humans.
22. Arrowhead Orbweavers
Arrowhead orbweavers are aptly named for their spade-shaped abdomen tip. The yellow and black spiders make small webs in gardens and woodlands to catch flying insects.
Arrowhead orbweavers aren’t considered medically important spiders. At worst, accidental bites cause irritation like mosquito bites.
23. Hacklemesh Weavers
Hacklemesh weaver spiders have elongated bodies and build small hammock-shaped webs in grass, shrubs, and vegetation. They are most active at night when they emerge to hunt for prey.
There are several different hacklemesh weaver species in South Carolina, but none are harmful to humans. Their fangs are too small to break human skin.
24. Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders comprise over 300 species in South Carolina, making them one of the state’s largest spider families. Species range from tiny 3 mm spiders to larger 15 mm ones.
All jumping spiders have a squared-off front section to their carapace with large forward-facing eyes. They actively hunt prey by stalking and pouncing.
25. Leafcurling Spiders
Leafcurling spiders, family Phrurolithidae, construct tiny tubular retreats out of rolled-up leaves secured with silk. The retreat helps hide and protect the small spider.
Look for the curled-leaf shelters of leafcurling spiders low down among shrubs and woody plants. The tiny spiders pose no safety concern for people.
26. Lynx Spiders
Lynx spiders encompass various genera like Oxyopes and Peucetia that actively hunt prey rather than building webs. Green lynx spiders are common in South Carolina gardens.
Lynx spiders have excellent eyesight to help spot prey. They rarely bite if handled gently. Bites may cause mild pain but are not medically significant.
27. Owlet Moths
Owlet moths are harmless night-flying insects sometimes mistaken for spiders. They have round, furry bodies with long legs that fold up at rest. The mostly nocturnal insects are often attracted to lights.
Owlet moths don’t bite and have no venom. People sometimes mistake them for spiders due to their size and long legs when crawling.
28. Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders frequently invade South Carolina homes. The spiders build large, messy-looking webs in dark corners of basements or crawl spaces.
Despite their spindly appearance, cellar spiders help limit household pests. They are essentially harmless to humans but can bite if provoked—their fangs are too small to break skin.
29. Woodlouse Hunters
Woodlouse hunter spiders feed primarily on woodlice, or pillbugs. The spiders have dark reddish-orange heads and mandibles and rest among leaf litter and wood debris waiting to ambush prey.
Woodlouse hunters use their large jaws to pierce the hard shells of woodlice. They rarely bite humans but may if repeatedly provoked.
30. Spitting Spiders
Spitting spiders comprise the family Scytodidae. They immobilize prey by spitting globs of sticky venom rather than trapping insects in webs.
There are several different spitting spider species in South Carolina. They take shelter in folded leaves or under loose bark. The venom is not dangerous unless sprayed directly into eyes.
Large Brown Spiders in South Carolina
Our readers often see a large brown spider in S.C. and fear that they are dealing with a brown recluse. We’ve talked about the appearance and size of brown recluse spiders above. But what other large brown spiders are there in S.C.?
Poisonous Spiders in South Carolina
While almost all the almost 50,000 spider species in the world are venomous, only very few are considered medically significant. In the United States, only widow spiders (Latrodectus) and recluse spiders (Loxosceles) are considered medically significant. Both of these spider species are found in South Carolina. We will have a look at them and where you are most likely to find them in the state.
Don’t be afraid: Why you shouldn’t kill most South Carolina spiders
FAQ
What is the most common spider in South Carolina?
Present around the world, these spiders are often found in areas with dense vegetation and a humid climate. The most common species in South Carolina is the golden silk spider (also called the golden silk orbweaver or banana spider), which was first documented in Charleston, South Carolina in 1863.
Are southern house spiders aggressive?
Like most common spiders, the pests will defend themselves when threatened. Their bite is mildly painful, but rarely has serious side effects for those not allergic to spider venom. This spider is not aggressive and will attempt to escape when disturbed, but may bite if left with no other options for protection.
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 is the big green and black spider in South Carolina?
Peucetia viridans, the green lynx spider, is a bright-green lynx spider usually found on green plants. It is the largest North American species in the family Oxyopidae.
What is the largest spider species in South Carolina?
The Giant Carolina Wolf spider is the largest species and also South Carolina’s state spider as declared officially in 2000. The Golden Silk Orb-weaver is one among the exotic species presently dwelling in South Carolina’s national park. In the summer of 2018, there was news of a new deadly spider thriving in South Carolina.
How many spiders are there in South Carolina?
There are over 600 spider species found in South Carolina. Almost all of them are completely harmless for humans or pets, even though they might look intimidating. This page gives you an overview and identification help for the most common spiders in South Carolina.
What are some large brown spiders in SC?
Some large brown spiders found in South Carolina include grass spiders, southern house spiders, fishing spiders, hacklemesh weavers, nursery web spiders, and trap-door spiders. You can see pictures of these spiders below.
Are the spiders in South Carolina harmful?
Almost all of the over 600 spider species found in South Carolina are completely harmless for humans or pets, even though they might look intimidating. This page gives you an overview and identification help for the most common spiders in South Carolina.
Are wolf spiders found in South Carolina?
Yes, wolf spiders are one of the most recognizable spiders in South Carolina. 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 does a female spider look like in South Carolina?
Female spiders in South Carolina can occasionally be white. This nocturnal species is usually spotted in late summer and early fall when females may leave their webs in the daytime to hunt. Their orb-shaped webs can be up to 2 feet in diameter.