Spiders in Illinois
Illinois has 243 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 19,034 licensed records in all. The most recorded are Pardosa saxatilis, the bold jumper and the brown recluse. Medically significant: the brown recluse, the southern black widow and the northern black widow.
Widow spiders in Illinois
Widow spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.2% of records between them. The most recorded is the southern black widow (19), ahead of the northern black widow (18).
Recluse spiders in Illinois
One species of this group is listed for Illinois: the brown recluse, with 313 records (2% of the state's spider records).
Most licensed records of the brown recluse in Illinois come from Warren County, DeKalb County and Champaign County.
Jumping spiders in Illinois
Jumping spiders: 37 species are listed for Illinois, with 1,658 records (9% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the bold jumper (344), ahead of the zebra spider (173).
Plus 25: Nell's neon spider, Bronze jumper, White-jawed jumping spider, Thin-spined jumping spider, Putnam's jumper, Slender ant mimicking jumping spider, Grayish jumping spider, Habronattus agilis, Hammerjawed jumper, Sylvan jumping spider, Common Hentz jumping spider, Habrocestum pullatum, Whitman's jumping spider, Little mountain jumping spider, Minute jumping spider, Hart's jumping spider, Zygoballus nervosus, Short-bellied slender jumping spider, Hoy's jumper, Habronattus viridipes, Phidippus insignarius, Sassacus papenhoei, Canopy jumping spider, Apache jumping spider, Habronattus coecatus.
Observation records of the bold jumper in Illinois run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Champaign County, Cook County and DuPage County. Observation records of the zebra spider in Illinois run mostly March through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Cook County, Champaign County and Lake County. Observation records of the brilliant jumping spider in Illinois run mostly June through August, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Champaign County, Iroquois County and Cook County.
Wolf spiders in Illinois
Wolf spiders: 33 species are listed for Illinois, with 2,237 records (12% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Pardosa saxatilis (545), ahead of Piratula minuta (208).
Plus 21: Schizocosa retrorsa, Pirata sedentarius, Rabid wolf spider, Allocosa funerea, Pirata montanoides, Woodland giant wolf spider, McCook's split wolf spider, Pale thin-legged wolf spider, Forest wolf spider, Drumming sword wolf spider, Varacosa avara, Trabeops aurantiacus, Dotted wolf spider, Pirata praedo, Little banded wolf spider, Schizocosa rovneri, Georgia wolf spider, Schizocosa saltatrix, Trochosa sepulchralis, Shoreline wolf spider, Stone spider.
Most licensed records of Pardosa saxatilis in Illinois come from Iroquois County, Lee County and Jo Daviess County. Most licensed records of Piratula minuta in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Lee County and McHenry County. Most licensed records of the brush-legged split wolf spider in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Cook County and Union County.
Orb weavers in Illinois
Orb weavers: 32 species are listed for Illinois, with 1,225 records (6% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the spotted orbweaver (155), ahead of the banded garden spider (138).
Plus 20: Garden spider, Cyclosa turbinata, Sixspotted orbweaver, Starbellied orbweaver, Arrowshaped micrathena, Shamrock orbweaver, White micrathena, Heptagonal orbweaver, Araneus niveus, Red-femured spotted orbweaver, Greenlegged orbweaver, Ornamental orbweaver, Butterfly orbweaver, Humpbacked orbweaver, Cone-shaped orbweaver, Lattice orbweaver, Labyrinth orbweaver, Red-spotted orbweaver, Giant lichen orbweaver, Araneus iviei.
Observation records of the spotted orbweaver in Illinois run mostly July through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cook County, Champaign County and DuPage County. Observation records of the banded garden spider in Illinois run mostly August through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Champaign County, Marion County and Cook County. Observation records of the arabesque orbweaver in Illinois run mostly May through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Marion County, Iroquois County and Champaign County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Illinois
Long-jawed orb weavers are a small part of the spider record here: nine species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the orchard orbweaver (109), ahead of the long-jawed orb weaver (31).
Observation records of the orchard orbweaver in Illinois run mostly April through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Champaign County, Cook County and Union County. Most licensed records of the long-jawed orb weaver in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Cook County and Lake County. Most licensed records of the big-eyed thick long-jawed spider in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Champaign County and Cook County.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Illinois
Fishing and nursery web spiders are a small part of the spider record here: nine species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the nursery web spider (123), ahead of the dark fishing spider (93).
Observation records of the nursery web spider in Illinois run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cook County, Will County and St. Clair County. Observation records of the dark fishing spider in Illinois run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Cook County, Will County and Peoria County. Most licensed records of the sixspotted fishing spider in Illinois come from Cook County, Will County and Lake County.
Crab spiders in Illinois
Crab spiders: 23 species are listed for Illinois, with 877 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the tan crab spider (187), ahead of Ozyptila georgiana (120).
Related species: Ozyptila conspurcata
Related species: Xysticus ferox
Plus eleven: Threebanded crab spider, Tuberculated crab spider, Elegant crab spider, Multicolored bark crab spider, Thanatus formicinus, Grooved running crab spider, Nearctic white-striped running crab spider, Xysticus gulosus, Black-banded crab spider, Turf running spider, Xysticus texanus.
Most licensed records of the tan crab spider in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Mason County and Cook County. Most licensed records of Ozyptila georgiana in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Cook County and McHenry County. Observation records of the whitebanded crab spider in Illinois run mostly June through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Iroquois County, Champaign County and Cook County.
Cobweb spiders in Illinois
Cobweb spiders are a small part of the spider record here: twelve species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the triangulate bud spider (72), ahead of the common house spider (26).
Related species: Euryopis funebris
Related species: Robertus riparius
Observation records of the triangulate bud spider in Illinois run through most of the year, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Champaign County, Cook County and DuPage County.
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in Illinois
Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.5% of records between them. The most recorded is the Pennsylvania grass spider (63), ahead of the barn funnel weaver (35).
Most licensed records of the Pennsylvania grass spider in Illinois come from Champaign County, Cook County and Jo Daviess County. Most licensed records of the barn funnel weaver in Illinois come from Cook County, Champaign County and McHenry County.
Lynx spiders in Illinois
Lynx spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.5% of records between them. The most recorded is the striped lynx spider (79), ahead of the western lynx spider (11).
Most licensed records of the striped lynx spider in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Effingham County and Champaign County.
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Illinois
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders: 31 species are listed for Illinois, with 1,315 records (7% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the pale sheetweb weaver (196), ahead of Eridantes erigonoides (129).
Same family (Linyphiidae): Frontinella pyramitela
Related species: Agyneta micaria
Same family (Linyphiidae): Frontinella pyramitela
Related species: Agyneta micaria
Plus 19: Notch-tipped shield sheetweaver, Latticed sheet-web weaver, Ant sheet-web weaver, Ceraticelus similis, Bowl and doily spider, Grammonota gentilis, Filmy dome spider, Thrifty short-legged sheetweaver, Collinsia plumosa, Ceraticelus fissiceps, Scylaceus pallidus, Blacktailed red sheetweaver, Mermessus maculatus, Centromerus sylvaticus, Common threaded sheetweaver, Small sheet-web weaver, Ceraticelus emertoni, Zebra thin sheetweaver, Post dwarf weaver.
Most licensed records of the pale sheetweb weaver in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Cook County and Will County. Most licensed records of Eridantes erigonoides in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Will County and Cook County. Most licensed records of the autumn money spider in Illinois come from Cook County, Jo Daviess County and McHenry County.
Ground and sac spiders in Illinois
Ground and sac spiders: 29 species are listed for Illinois, with 1,237 records (6% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the greater ant-mimic corinne spider (152), ahead of Phrurotimpus alarius (139).
Related species: Drassyllus insularis
Related species: Scotinella redempta
Related species: Scotinella redemptaRelated species: Phrurotimpus borealis
Plus 17: Gnaphosa parvula, Broad-faced sac spider, Castianeira trilineata, Glossy ant-spider, Callilepis pluto, Micaria longipes, Zelotes hentzi, Scotinella pugnata, Eastern spurred ghost spider, Clubiona saltitans, Northern yellow sac spider, Red-spotted ant mimic sac spider, Gnaphosa sericata, Johnson's sac spider, Variegated ant-mimic sac spider, Variegated ground spider, Garden ghost spider.
Most licensed records of the greater ant-mimic corinne spider in Illinois come from Cook County, Jo Daviess County and Lake County. Most licensed records of Phrurotimpus alarius in Illinois come from Cook County, Jo Daviess County and Union County. Most licensed records of Drassyllus depressus in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, McHenry County and Will County.
Other spiders in Illinois
Other spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 21 species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is Neoantistea agilis (104), ahead of Cicurina arcuata (87).
Plus nine: Common pirate spider, Emblyna phylax, Featherlegged orbweaver, Pholcus manueli, Black purse-web spider, Black laceweaver, Red-legged purseweb spider, Spitting spider, Box spider.
Most licensed records of Neoantistea agilis in Illinois come from Jo Daviess County, Lee County and McHenry County. Most licensed records of Cicurina arcuata in Illinois come from Cook County, Jo Daviess County and Union County. Most licensed records of Dysdera crocata in Illinois come from Cook County, Champaign County and DuPage County.
Where in Illinois are spiders recorded most?
Champaign County leads with 4,501 records (24%), followed by Jo Daviess County and Cook County; the top five counties hold 65% of the total. 100 of Illinois's 102 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champaign County | 4,501 | 23.6% |
| 2 | Jo Daviess County | 3,361 | 17.7% |
| 3 | Cook County | 2,242 | 11.8% |
| 4 | Lee County | 1,267 | 6.7% |
| 5 | Marion County | 1,055 | 5.5% |
| 6 | Iroquois County | 873 | 4.6% |
| 7 | Effingham County | 698 | 3.7% |
| 8 | Will County | 552 | 2.9% |
| 9 | Mason County | 543 | 2.9% |
| 10 | Fayette County | 384 | 2.0% |
| 11 | Union County | 310 | 1.6% |
| 12 | Lake County | 293 | 1.5% |
When do spiders come out in Illinois?
Observation records of spiders in Illinois run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 20% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Illinois are rarely recorded in winter. The sharpest rise comes from April to May.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 3% | 8% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 20% | 7% | 2% | 1% |
Spiders: Illinois compared with its neighbors
Illinois ranks 8th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
Illinois lists more spider species than any state it borders (Illinois: 243 species; Wisconsin 149, Indiana 133, Missouri 117, Kentucky 103, Iowa 57).
What spiders are in Illinois? All 243 species
Ranked by licensed records in Illinois. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 243 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pardosa saxatilis | Lycosidae | 545 | 2.9% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 344 | 1.8% |
| 3 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | Sicariidae | 313 | 1.6% |
| 4 | Piratula minuta | Lycosidae | 208 | 1.1% |
| 5 | Pale sheetweb weaver Bathyphantes pallidus | Linyphiidae | 196 | 1.0% |
| 6 | Brush-legged split wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata | Lycosidae | 192 | 1.0% |
| 7 | Tan crab spider Xysticus ferox | Thomisidae | 187 | 1.0% |
| 8 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | Salticidae | 173 | 0.9% |
| 9 | Shiny wolf spider Pardosa moesta | Lycosidae | 170 | 0.9% |
| 10 | Trochosa ruricola | Lycosidae | 157 | 0.8% |
| 11 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | Araneidae | 155 | 0.8% |
| 12 | Greater ant-mimic corinne spider Phrurotimpus borealis | Phrurolithidae | 152 | 0.8% |
| 13 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | Lycosidae | 141 | 0.7% |
| 14 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | Salticidae | 139 | 0.7% |
| 15 | Phrurotimpus alarius | Phrurolithidae | 139 | 0.7% |
| 16 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 138 | 0.7% |
| 17 | Schizocosa bilineata | Lycosidae | 138 | 0.7% |
| 18 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | Araneidae | 133 | 0.7% |
| 19 | Eridantes erigonoides | Linyphiidae | 129 | 0.7% |
| 20 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 124 | 0.7% |
| 21 | Drassyllus depressus | Gnaphosidae | 124 | 0.7% |
| 22 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | Pisauridae | 123 | 0.6% |
| 23 | Ozyptila georgiana | Thomisidae | 120 | 0.6% |
| 24 | Lance wolf spider Schizocosa avida | Lycosidae | 119 | 0.6% |
| 25 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | Salticidae | 117 | 0.6% |
| 26 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | Thomisidae | 111 | 0.6% |
| 27 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | Tetragnathidae | 109 | 0.6% |
| 28 | Neoantistea agilis | Hahniidae | 104 | 0.5% |
| 29 | Autumn money spider Erigone autumnalis | Linyphiidae | 101 | 0.5% |
| 30 | Brotherly ground crab spider Xysticus fraternus | Thomisidae | 101 | 0.5% |
| 31 | Shore spider Pardosa milvina | Lycosidae | 101 | 0.5% |
| 32 | Agyneta unimaculata | Linyphiidae | 99 | 0.5% |
| 33 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | Araneidae | 98 | 0.5% |
| 34 | Openfield orbweaver Araneus pratensis | Araneidae | 94 | 0.5% |
| 35 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | Pisauridae | 93 | 0.5% |
| 36 | Cicurina arcuata | Hahniidae | 87 | 0.5% |
| 37 | Asian wall jumper Attulus fasciger | Salticidae | 80 | 0.4% |
| 38 | Diplostyla concolor | Linyphiidae | 79 | 0.4% |
| 39 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | Oxyopidae | 79 | 0.4% |
| 40 | Unequal whiskered money spider Islandiana flaveola | Linyphiidae | 74 | 0.4% |
| 41 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | Theridiidae | 72 | 0.4% |
| 42 | Scotinella madisonia | Phrurolithidae | 71 | 0.4% |
| 43 | Trochosa terricola | Lycosidae | 71 | 0.4% |
| 44 | Zelotes fratris | Gnaphosidae | 71 | 0.4% |
| 45 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | Araneidae | 70 | 0.4% |
| 46 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | Gnaphosidae | 65 | 0.3% |
| 47 | Pennsylvania grass spider Agelenopsis pennsylvanica | Agelenidae | 63 | 0.3% |
| 48 | Clubiona abboti | Clubionidae | 61 | 0.3% |
| 49 | Common white-cheeked jumping spider Pelegrina proterva | Salticidae | 61 | 0.3% |
| 50 | Long-palped ant-mimic sac spider Castianeira longipalpa | Corinnidae | 59 | 0.3% |
| 51 | Paraphidippus aurantius | Salticidae | 56 | 0.3% |
| 52 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | Salticidae | 56 | 0.3% |
| 53 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | Salticidae | 55 | 0.3% |
| 54 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | Salticidae | 54 | 0.3% |
| 55 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | Thomisidae | 51 | 0.3% |
| 56 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | Pisauridae | 51 | 0.3% |
| 57 | Dysdera crocata | Dysderidae | 50 | 0.3% |
| 58 | Grammonota inornata | Linyphiidae | 50 | 0.3% |
| 59 | Scotinella fratrella | Phrurolithidae | 49 | 0.3% |
| 60 | Phrurotimpus dulcineus | Phrurolithidae | 48 | 0.3% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.