Spiders With Striking Striped Markings on Their Backs

Here is a chart to compare some basic physical characteristics:

Wolf Spider	Grass Spider	Fishing Spider	Brown Recluse	Nursery Web Spider
Family	Lycosidae	Agelenidae	Pisauridae	Sicariidae	Pisauridae
Most Common Species	Genus Hogna, Carolina Wolf Spider	Genus Agelenopsis, common American Funel-web spider	Dolomedes triton, six-spotted fishing spider	Loxosceles reclusa, brown recluse or violoin spider	Pisaurina mira, Nursery Web Spider
Size	.05 mm-40 mm	.05 mm-19 mm	.05 mm-26 mm	6 mm-20 mm	.05 mm-76 mm
Color	Ranges from buffy tan to blackish grey	brown to dark brown	Coffee Brown to dark brown	dark brown to greyish	6 color variations, but most common buffy brown/tan
Markings on Abdomen	Greyish-brown stripe down abdomen	Note: 2 clearly visible spinneretts on abdomen, Buffy brown, sometimes with triangle shapes down length	Pale whitish stripe down abdomen	Nondescript brownish grey abdomen	dark brown line down center of body, sometimes two creamy stripes down sides
Markings on Cephalothorax (head and thorax fused)	In genus hogna, distinct whitish to creamy white stripe running down middle	Pear shaped cephalothorax, with two heavy dark bands on either side, light stripe down middle	Pale whitish stripe down sides of cephalothorax	Distinct violin shape, with the violin body stating at the mouth and the neck heading towards the abdomen	Cephalothorax is pear shaped, often with two white stripes along sides.
Eyes	3 rows of eyes: 2 medium on top of head, 2 large facing forward, 4 smaller on third row.	8 eyes in 3 rows, bottom row of eyes spaced wider than top rows.	8-all the same size in two rows	6-one middle pair and two side pairs, all the same size	8-all the same size, in two rows of four
Hunting Habits	Nocturnal hunting, solitary, jumps on prey	Builds a funnel web in grass, runs quickly and grabs prey from web	Nocturnal or diurnal,Sits near water, feels vibrations, hooks prey with claws on front feet, injects venom; pond skater on and below water	Sits with all legs extended, nocturnal or diurnal, doesnt prefer to jump on prey, bulids asymetrical webs in dark places, hunts at night leaving web	Rest with legs flattened out to side, often in X shaped posture
Egg Sacs	Attach under rear abdomen	Placed on nursery web	Placed on nursery web	Placed on web.	Carry egg sacs in their mouth parts
Young	Females carry young on back	Young guarded in nursery web until hatching	Young guarded in nursery web until hatching	Young hatch on web.	Female builds nursery tent and guards until young hatch
Venom	Irritating but not life threatening	Not able to penetrate human skin, harmless	Irritating but not life threatening	Potentially deadly hemotoxic venom, may cause necrosis	Nonvenomous
Eats	Crickets, grasshoppers, pill bugs, etc.	Variety of field insects, crickets, flies, etc.	fish, tadpoles, aquatic insects	Crickets, roaches, pill bugs, etc.	Walks on water, tadpoles, water insects, worms, pill bugs

Most people will never want to get close enough to a wolf spider to be able to tell it apart from a grass spider, but for those of you intrepid enough to want to try I encourage you to get out there and look around. There are many more spiders than wolf spiders, and 99% of them are harmless and beneficial helpers around our house and yards. Take time to appreciate the LBJs of the spider world, theyre actually good neighbors.

Knowing What is and is Not A Brown Recluse or Wolf Spider

Im often amazed at the number of times Ive been outdoors with someone and when we see a brown spider immediately someone says, “Look, theres a wolf spider.” I have to admit, I hate identifying “little brown jobs” or LBJs (a term we use commonly for brown sparrows when birding) because its hard to find the fine distinctions between species, especially when the creatures are moving or youre just skeezed out by the hairy eight legged creature crawling across your floor. However, it is important to understand that not all brown spiders are wolf spiders.

There are many different types of brown spiders and this blog post will help you begin to tell the difference between them. Im going to write mostly about the spiders common to Eastern and mid-western North America, because this is my home range, but there is some overlap with western species.

A great starting place to learn spider ID and to become familiar with their body parts, names, and the eye placement of spiders is on the website “Spider Identification Guide.” I am particularly fond of their great graphic on the 25 different eye patterns you can find on spiders (I wonder if they make this in poster form?). Begin with the basics of spider anatomy on their website if you need a refresher. They also have a great guide for finding spiders by region and color. Check out their page on “Brown Spiders” for a quick browse of the diversity out there.

Of course I dont have enough time to cover all the potential brown spiders that exist so Ill start with a few of the more common ones.

First, not all spiders build webs. Many of the brown spiders that we see are wandering and hunting spiders or those that live in grass and shrubs. Its the hunting spiders that most often frighten people because they tend to crawl around in homes and houses, especially at night, where we interact with them more than the ones that build webs and just hang-out. There are some exceptions, like the funnel weaving spiders that live on or near the ground and whose webs are not sticky. They use their webs to lure prey and for hiding places. Brown recluse spiders build shoddy looking asymmetrical webs but they also wander around at night to hunt. Not to fear though, because most often spiders (brown or otherwise) are completely harmless and theyre actually eating harmful insects in your home.

The four main spiders to start with are:

1. Wolf spiders (specifically Carolina wolf spider)

2. Grass spiders (specifically the common American funnel-web spider)

3. Fishing spiders (like the six spotted fishing spider)

4. Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

5. Nursery web spiders (specifically Pisaurina mira, no common name other than nursery web spider).

There are many, many, many different types of wolf spiders, grass spiders, nursery web spiders etc..and there are many color variations. This makes generalizations difficult, but with the chart below Im going to provide you with some photos and descriptions so that you can begin to narrow down your ID of those LBJs.

Lets start with some pictures of common species to help you begin to compare them all visually:

Notice, in the picture above, of the wolf spider the distinct tan strip coming down the cephalothorax (fused head and middle section) and the dark stripe on the abdomen. If you look closely you can also see that it has 3 rows of eyes (8 total eyes).

In the picture of the grass spider notice the three stripes on its cephalothorax (head-thorax); the two distinct spinneretts on the abdomen; small narrow abdomen, and tapering legs.

With the six spotted fishing spider you can see the clear white stripes on the cephalothorax, the white mottling on the legs, two rows of eyes, and the large white streaks on the abdomen along with six dots (thus the name). Being by water also gives this guy away.

Notice the small size of the brown recluse, its thin narrow legs, and the characteristic violin shape, starting at the eyes (with the body of the violin) and the neck of the violin going down the center of the cephalothorax. The abdomen is pretty nondescript.

For the nursery web spider notice its legs are held in almost the figure eight and the cephalothorax is somewhat pear shaped with a dark brown stripe down the middle continuing down the abdomen. There is also a border of white or cream color on the abdomen. Their eyes are in two rows, the top row is U shaped and the bottom straight.

Adorable Little Jumping Spider Has Got Big! #shorts

FAQ

What kind of spider has stripes on its back?

Grass spiders are often brown with dark stripes on their backs. Their spinnerets are easily seen trailing from the tips of their long abdomens.

Are zebra back spiders poisonous?

Are They Dangerous? These spiders are not aggressive biters and will not bite unless handled or otherwise threatened. They do produce venom, which is used to subdue their prey, but this spider’s venom is likely only to cause minimal injury to humans since the spiders are so small.

Is a striped spider poisonous?

A: While some black and white striped spiders may possess venom, they are generally not considered dangerous to humans. Most species, such as the zebra spider and common house spider, are harmless and play beneficial roles in controlling insect populations.

What should I do if I see a wolf spider?

• Observe from a distance:

  Wolf spiders are not aggressive and are unlikely to bite unless they feel threatened. 

• They are not venomous:

  While a wolf spider bite can be painful, it’s not considered medically significant, and the venom is not dangerous to humans. 

• If you are concerned, you can try to trap it:

  You can use a container and a piece of paper or cardboard to gently guide the spider into the container and then release it outside. 

• If you are uncomfortable, consider professional help:

  If you are very concerned about wolf spiders in your home, you can contact a pest control company for assistance. 

• Prevent future encounters:

  You can take steps to discourage wolf spiders from entering your home, such as sealing cracks and crevices, removing clutter, and keeping your home clean. 

What Spider has white stripes on its back?

American Nursery Web Spider The American Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira) is one of the typical species with stripes on the back. 2 rows of white stripes are mostly visible on this spider. Rows of white stripes are seen both on its cephalothorax and on its abdomen. Other white stripes are seen across its bright body.

What does a spider bite look like?

The appearance of a spider bite can vary depending on the species of spider and individual reactions. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, pain, and itching around the bite site. Some bites may have a central blister or a small ulcer. In severe cases, the bite may cause a more extensive wound, with tissue damage or necrosis. If you suspect a spider bite or experience concerning symptoms, seek medical attention promptly for proper evaluation and treatment.

What colors are the stripes on these spiders?

The stripes on these spiders are black and white. A pattern of black and white stripes is specific to these spiders. The number of stripes these spiders have ranged from 1 to 5 black and white stripes.

What is a striped spider?

Striped spiders are found all around the world from temperate to tropical climates. Known for their striking or contrasting appearance, these types of spiders often rely on their camouflaging appearance to lure in more potential insects and bugs. Much of their appearance is subject to climate.

What is a brown spider with striped bodies?

The brown spiders with striped bodies in the Agelenidae family are commonly found in gardens. They’re a little brown spider with striped stripes down its length that lives in gardens. The spider’s legs have distinct bands when you’re trying to identify it. Lawns, parks, and other grassy areas are home to grass spiders.

What does a striped spider look like?

Striped spiders have a striped body with striped legs, and they live on or next to water. They typically have a dull gray body with brown stripes, gray lateral bands on the abdomen, and dark brown legs with gray stripes. Some individuals may have a light-tone body with tan, white, and gray coloring.