Snakes and spiders in Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County, home of Marietta, has 14 snake and 40 spider species on record, from 125 licensed snake and 444 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Cobb County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 2 licensed records, 2% of all Georgia records of it. The brown widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Cobb County?
In all, 14 snake species are on the Cobb County list. The most recorded are the northern water snake (19), the ring-necked snake (16) and the DeKay's brown snake (14).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Georgia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 19 | 9% |
| 2 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 16 | 5% |
| 3 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 14 | 6% |
| 4 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 13 | 6% |
| 5 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 12 | 9% |
| 6 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 11 | 6% |
| 7 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 7 | 9% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 6 | 3% |
| 9 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 5 | 18% |
| 10 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 4 | 4% |
| 11 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 4 | 3% |
| 12 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 3 | 4% |
| 13 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 2 | 2% |
| 14 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 1 | 4% |
When are snakes out in Cobb County?
Observation records of snakes in Cobb County run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 21% of them; across Georgia the peak is May.
What spiders are in Cobb County?
In all, 40 spider species are on the Cobb County list. The most recorded are the magnolia green jumper (67), the Joro spider (53) and the white-jawed jumping spider (25).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Georgia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 67 | 17% |
| 2 | Joro spider Trichonephila clavata | 53 | 9% |
| 3 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 25 | 20% |
| 4 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 19 | 19% |
| 5 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 18 | 6% |
| 6 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 17 | 7% |
| 7 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 15 | 10% |
| 8 | Slender ant mimicking jumping spider Synemosyna formica | 15 | 22% |
| 9 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 11 | 18% |
| 10 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 11 | 8% |
| 11 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 9 | 8% |
| 12 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | 9 | 33% |
| 13 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 9 | 7% |
| 14 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 9 | 7% |
| 15 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 9 | 7% |
| 16 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 8 | 6% |
| 17 | Black-banded crab spider Synema parvulum | 7 | 18% |
| 18 | Labyrinth orbweaver Metepeira labyrinthea | 7 | 26% |
| 19 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 7 | 5% |
| 20 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 6 | 6% |
| 21 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 5 | 9% |
| 22 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 5 | 4% |
| 23 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 4 | 11% |
| 24 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 4 | 16% |
| 25 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 4 | 5% |
| 26 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 4 | 6% |
| 27 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | 4 | 13% |
| 28 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 1% |
| 29 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 3 | 3% |
| 30 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 3 | 10% |
| 31 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 2 | 3% |
| 32 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 2 | 17% |
| 33 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 2 | 10% |
| 34 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 2 | 3% |
| 35 | Tigrosa annexa | 2 | 6% |
| 36 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 1 | 2% |
| 37 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 6% |
| 38 | Barronopsis texana | — | — |
| 39 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | — | — |
| 40 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | — | — |
When are spiders out in Cobb County?
Observation records of spiders in Cobb County run mostly April through November, peaking in September with 17% of them; across Georgia the peak is August.
What stands out in Cobb County
Species for which Cobb County holds a large share of all Georgia records: the slender ant mimicking jumping spider, 22% (15 of 67); the white-jawed jumping spider, 20% (25 of 124); the American green crab spider, 19% (19 of 100); the bronze jumper, 18% (11 of 62); the magnolia green jumper, 17% (67 of 383).
Common in Georgia, not on the Cobb County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Georgia, these do not reach the county list: the brown water snake (2,808 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (166 statewide) and the southern watersnake (155 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Georgia, these do not reach the county list: the American golden orb weaver (194 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Cobb County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth and the Florida cottonmouth are on the Georgia list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow and the triangulate bud spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the brown recluse is on the Georgia list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Cobb County among Georgia counties
By licensed snake records Cobb County ranks 6th of 153 Georgia counties with any.
Other Georgia counties with their own page: Charlton County, Clarke County, DeKalb County and Gwinnett County.
The whole state: venomous species in Georgia, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.