Black-banded crab spider (Synema parvulum)
The black-banded crab spider is a spider in the family Thomisidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 436 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 19 states, most of all Virginia (117), Georgia (40) and Maryland (34). Its observation records peak in May.
Is the black-banded crab spider poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the black-banded crab spider (family Thomisidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.
Which states have the black-banded crab spider?
Records are spread over 19 states; the top three, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland, hold 44% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 117 | 1.0% | 25th of 176 |
| 2 | Georgia | 40 | 0.6% | 36th of 186 |
| 3 | Maryland | 34 | 0.6% | 43rd of 153 |
| 4 | Alabama | 33 | 0.9% | 27th of 143 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 31 | 0.4% | 59th of 184 |
| 6 | Missouri | 29 | 1.2% | 18th of 117 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 28 | 0.7% | 38th of 138 |
| 8 | Ohio | 26 | 0.4% | 55th of 332 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 24 | 0.5% | 42nd of 149 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 15 | 0.8% | 33rd of 103 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 13 | 0.8% | 32nd of 114 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 11 | 0.5% | 45th of 121 |
| 13 | New Jersey | 8 | 0.4% | 59th of 127 |
| 14 | Kansas | 7 | 0.4% | 45th of 94 |
| 15 | Illinois | 6 | 0.0% | 218th of 243 |
| 16 | Mississippi | 5 | 0.4% | 52nd of 117 |
| 17 | Nebraska | 4 | 0.3% | 51st of 71 |
| 18 | Indiana | 2 | 0.0% | 126th of 133 |
| 19 | West Virginia | 0 | — | — |
When is the black-banded crab spider seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the black-banded crab spider run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 36% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 2% of them.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (North Carolina) and latest in April (Alabama, Maryland and Virginia). The most common peak month is April, shared by Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | April through September | May | 117 |
| Georgia | September through May | April | 40 |
| Maryland | April through September | May | 34 |
| Alabama | April through October | April | 33 |
| North Carolina | March through October | April | 31 |
Where the black-banded crab spider is recorded in each state
Virginia
Virginia holds 117 licensed records, the 25th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County. Next come Fauquier County (5) and Powhatan County (5).
Georgia
Georgia holds 40 licensed records, the joint 36th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly September through May, peaking in April; most licensed records come from DeKalb County, Cobb County and Gwinnett County. Next come Paulding County (3) and Clarke County (3).
Maryland
Maryland holds 34 licensed records, the joint 43rd most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Howard County and Baltimore County. Next come Frederick County (3) and Prince George's County (3).
Alabama
Alabama holds 33 licensed records, the joint 27th most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Pickens County, Blount County and Limestone County. Next come Jefferson County (3) and Cullman County (2).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 31 licensed records, the 59th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Orange County, Buncombe County and Davidson County. Next come Durham County (3) and Mecklenburg County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 56 | 12.8% |
| 2 | Orange County | North Carolina | 10 | 2.3% |
| 3 | Montgomery County | Maryland | 9 | 2.1% |
| 4 | Loudoun County | Virginia | 9 | 2.1% |
| 5 | Pickens County | Alabama | 8 | 1.8% |
| 6 | Blount County | Alabama | 8 | 1.8% |
| 7 | DeKalb County | Georgia | 8 | 1.8% |
| 8 | Howard County | Maryland | 8 | 1.8% |
| 9 | Cobb County | Georgia | 7 | 1.6% |
| 10 | Prince William County | Virginia | 7 | 1.6% |
| 11 | Limestone County | Alabama | 5 | 1.1% |
| 12 | Gwinnett County | Georgia | 5 | 1.1% |
| 13 | Fauquier County | Virginia | 5 | 1.1% |
| 14 | Powhatan County | Virginia | 5 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Baltimore County | Maryland | 4 | 0.9% |
How recent are the black-banded crab spider records?
Most of what is known about the black-banded crab spider is recent: 93% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1930; the busiest year was 2025, with 72 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1940s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1970s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1990s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 2000s | 16 | 3.4% |
| 2010s | 51 | 10.9% |
| 2020s | 396 | 84.6% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 61 counties where the black-banded crab spider is most recorded, 44 are also top counties for the arrowhead orbweaver, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Arrowhead orbweaver | 44 |
| Nursery web spider | 43 |
| American green crab spider | 42 |
| Magnolia green jumper | 42 |
| Orchard orbweaver | 41 |
| Sylvan jumping spider | 41 |
| Rabid wolf spider | 40 |
| Black-and-yellow argiope | 39 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Thomisidae with profiles here: Goldenrod crab spider, Whitebanded crab spider, American green crab spider, Flower crab spider, Celer crab spider and Tan crab spider.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.