Snakes and spiders in Monroe County, Indiana
Monroe County, home of Bloomington, has 12 snake and 28 spider species on record, from 139 licensed snake and 307 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the timber rattlesnake and the northern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Monroe County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 8 licensed records, 13% of all Indiana records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 3 licensed records, 21% of all Indiana records of it. The northern black widow: 4 licensed records, 29% of all Indiana records of it.
What snakes are in Monroe County?
In all, 12 snake species are on the Monroe County list. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake (32), the northern water snake (21) and the common garter snake (19).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Indiana records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 32 | 26% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 21 | 5% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 19 | 7% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 17 | 18% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 11 | 6% |
| 6 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 9 | 8% |
| 7 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 8 | 13% |
| 8 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 5 | 6% |
| 9 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 3 | 2% |
| 10 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 3 | 6% |
| 11 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 3 | 21% |
| 12 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 2 | 2% |
When are snakes out in Monroe County?
Observation records of snakes in Monroe County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 27% of them, the same peak as Indiana as a whole.
What spiders are in Monroe County?
In all, 28 spider species are on the Monroe County list. The most recorded are the orchard orbweaver (23), the nursery web spider (22) and the dark fishing spider (18). Monroe County holds more than half of all Indiana records of the woodland giant wolf spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Indiana records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 23 | 13% |
| 2 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 22 | 19% |
| 3 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 18 | 18% |
| 4 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 15 | 6% |
| 5 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 12 | 10% |
| 6 | Woodland giant wolf spider Tigrosa aspersa | 12 | 55% |
| 7 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 11 | 6% |
| 8 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 9 | 16% |
| 9 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 9 | 17% |
| 10 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | 8 | 32% |
| 11 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 8 | 9% |
| 12 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 7 | 39% |
| 13 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | 6 | 19% |
| 14 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 6 | 15% |
| 15 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 4 | 8% |
| 16 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 4 | 29% |
| 17 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 4 | 8% |
| 18 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 4 | 11% |
| 19 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 4 | 14% |
| 20 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 3 | 10% |
| 21 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 3 | 14% |
| 22 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 3 | 11% |
| 23 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 5% |
| 24 | Barn funnel weaver Tegenaria domestica | 2 | 18% |
| 25 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 2 | 4% |
| 26 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 2 | 6% |
| 27 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 3% |
| 28 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Monroe County?
Observation records of spiders in Monroe County run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 20% of them; across Indiana the peak is June.
What stands out in Monroe County
Species for which Monroe County holds a large share of all Indiana records: the woodland giant wolf spider, 55% (12 of 22); the eastern rat snake, 26% (32 of 125); the nursery web spider, 19% (22 of 117); the ring-necked snake, 18% (17 of 94); the dark fishing spider, 18% (18 of 102).
Common in Indiana, not on the Monroe County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Indiana, these do not reach the county list: the queen snake (95 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 Indiana, these do not reach the county list: the zebra spider (142 statewide), the brown recluse (138 statewide), the flea jumping spider (95 statewide) and the Asian wall jumper (71 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Monroe County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern rat snake, the northern water snake, the eastern milksnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Indiana under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Indiana under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider.
Monroe County among Indiana counties
By licensed snake records Monroe County ranks 2nd of 91 Indiana counties with any.
Other Indiana counties with their own page: Lake County.
The whole state: venomous species in Indiana, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.