Spiders are fascinating creatures that play an essential role in our ecosystem. One of the best ways to identify spiders is by examining their webs. Different spiders create distinctive web shapes in various locations, which can help you determine the species. Let’s explore the different web locations, shapes, and common spider webs you can find in Utah.
Spiders build their webs in specific locations to maximize their chances of catching prey. Here are some common web locations:
The shape of a spider’s web is another key indicator of its species. Here are the most common web shapes:
Utah is home to a fascinating diversity of spider species. While the majority are harmless to humans, spiders play an important role in controlling pest insects. This article will provide an overview of some of the most common spiders found in the Beehive State.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are easily recognizable by their ability to leap several times their body length. With their large front eyes jumping spiders have excellent vision that helps them actively hunt prey.
The bold jumping spider is one of the most common. Growing up to half an inch long, these fuzzy black spiders have white spots and stripes on their legs and abdomen. The zebra jumping spider has a distinct black and white pattern on its body.
Jumping spiders are generally harmless to humans, though they can inflict a painful bite if handled roughly. These agile hunters prefer open habitats like fields, gardens, and the exterior walls of buildings.
Orb Weavers
Orb weavers spin beautiful circular webs to capture prey. Some common orb weavers in Utah include:
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The banded garden spider has yellow and brown banding on its legs and abdomen. From August through October, the large female builds its web among plants.
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The marbled orb weaver, also called the Halloween spider, has bright orange, yellow, and brown coloring.
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The arrowhead orb weaver has a pointy abdomen and builds vertical webs.
Though orb weavers can give a painful bite if disturbed, they are not dangerous to humans. Their webs help control insect populations.
Crab Spiders
Crab spiders have a flat, crab-like appearance and legs that span out to the sides. The goldenrod crab spider camouflages itself by changing color to match the flowers it hunts on. The Utah crab spider is small, about a centimeter long, and lacks the painful bite of other crab spiders. These ambush predators lie in wait for prey on plants.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders actively hunt prey by chasing it down. They have excellent eyesight for nocturnal hunting. Some have camouflage patterns in shades of brown, grey, and black to help them blend into leaf litter. The Carolina wolf spider is the largest in Utah, growing up to 1.5 inches long. Females carry their egg sacs with them. Though wolf spiders have a painful venom, they rarely bite humans.
Cobweb Spiders
Cobweb spiders get their name from the tangled webs they weave. The western black widow is the most venomous spider in Utah. The female black widow has a distinctive red hourglass marking on her underside. Luckily, bites are rare as the spider is shy and non-aggressive. More common around homes is the western spotted orbweaver, recognizable by its zig-zag pattern. The long-bodied cellar spider has very long, thin legs and makes webs in dark corners.
Huntsman Spiders
The giant desert huntsman spider camouflages itself against tree bark with its mottled brown coloring. Growing over 3 inches long with a legspan over 5 inches, huntsman spiders appear intimidating but are hesitant to bite humans. They prefer to run away and hide when disturbed. Ambushing prey and scavenging dead insects, huntsman spiders help control pest populations outdoors.
Grass Spiders
Funnel web grass spiders spin sheet webs with a funnel retreat. The common grass spider spins webs in vegetation, while the Hobo spider likes woodpiles and sheds. Neither presents a danger to humans, though hobo spiders were mistakenly thought to have necrotic bites. Grass spiders help control mosquitoes, flies and other nuisance insects.
Sac Spiders
Sac spiders get their name from the small silk tubes or sacs that they hide in during the day. The western yellow sac spider is common around homes in Utah. Growing up to 5/8 inch long, yellow sac spiders have a painful, though not medically significant, bite. The nocturnal hunter rests in corners and wall crevices.
Cellar Spiders
Named for their tendency to dwell in cellars, cellar spiders are also frequently found in houses. Their long legs and small body make them one of the most easily recognizable spiders. Growing up to 3/4 inch long, cellar spiders make irregular cobwebs in dark places inside and out. Despite their long fangs, they cannot bite through human skin.
Protecting People and Spiders
While a few spiders in Utah do pose a danger, like the western black widow, most are harmless and help control insect pests. Learning to identify the spiders around your home can prevent needless fear. Simple precautions like wearing gloves, not sticking bare hands in dark crevices, and shaking out items left outside can protect from bites. A dose of live-and-let-live tolerance for spiders helps maintain nature’s balance in our living spaces.
Common Spider Webs in Utah
Here are some common spiders in Utah and the types of webs they create:
- Orb-weaver Spiders: These spiders, such as the Araneus diadematids, create large, circular orb webs in gardens and across open spaces. Their webs are strong and can capture various insects.
- Grass spiders: Grass spiders weave funnel-shaped webs in grassy areas. The web’s funnel leads to a hiding place where the spider waits for prey.
- Cellar spiders: Also known as Phocidae, cellar spiders create loose, irregular cobwebs in dark corners of basements, garages, and attics. These webs are often seen hanging from ceilings.
- Black widow spider: These infamous spiders build tangled, erratic cobwebs in secluded spots such as under rock, in woodpiles, and around building foundations.
- Wolf spiders: While wolf spiders do not build traditional webs, they do create silk-lined burrows in the ground. They are commonly found in gardens and grassy areas.
4 spiders you should avoid in Utah
FAQ
Are there poisonous spiders in Utah?
Cobweb/Widow Spiders (Theridiidae)
Black widow spiders (Lactrodectus hesperus) are the most dangerous spiders to humans in Utah. Bites may be fatal to young children or older adults. Fortunately, widow spiders are fairly sedentary and spend majority of the time in their webs.
What is the most common house spider in Utah?
Jumping Spiders (Salticidae)
This jumping spider, Phidippus audax, is one of the most common household spiders in Utah. Easily identified by its small size (. 25″ – .
What are the biggest spiders in Utah?
Wolf Spiders
They are the largest species, Hogna carolinesis has been sighted occasionally in Utah. According to USU, Wolf Spiders are unique due to the fact they do not form webs. Instead, they stalk and run down their prey. These spiders are usually larger, reaching up to 1.38 inches in length.
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.