Nursery web spider (Pisaurina mira)

Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the nursery web spider (family Pisauridae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.

Records are spread over 35 states; the top three, Virginia, Texas and Massachusetts, hold 30% of them. It is the most recorded spider of all in New Hampshire.

Across the U.S., observation records of the nursery web spider run mostly March through October, peaking in September with 21% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 5% of them.

Observation records run through most of the year in Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee) and latest in May (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire and 5 more). The most common peak month is September, shared by Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and 7 more.

Virginia holds 462 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Loudoun County. Next come Arlington County (15) and Accomack County (12).

Texas holds 420 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in February; most licensed records come from Parker County, Travis County and Dallas County. Next come Tarrant County (22) and Williamson County (20).

Massachusetts holds 260 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 189 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Barnstable County and Dukes County. Next come Worcester County (29) and Essex County (22).

Maryland holds 222 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Harford County and Prince George's County. Next come Baltimore County (23) and Anne Arundel County (15).

New York holds 214 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Tompkins County, Westchester County and Onondaga County. Next come Rockland County (16) and Greene County (14).

Ohio holds 199 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly May through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Franklin County, Montgomery County and Summit County. Next come Hamilton County (12) and Portage County (12).

Pennsylvania holds 199 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly May through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Monroe County, Westmoreland County and Allegheny County. Next come Centre County (15) and Lackawanna County (11).

North Carolina holds 188 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Orange County, Durham County and Chatham County. Next come Cumberland County (9) and Buncombe County (7).

Illinois holds 123 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 243 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cook County, Will County and St. Clair County. Next come Champaign County (8) and Union County (7).

Indiana holds 117 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 133 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Monroe County, Lake County and Marion County. Next come Morgan County (11) and Porter County (6).

New Hampshire holds 112 licensed records, the most recorded of 72 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Hampshire run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Hillsborough County, Rockingham County and Grafton County. Next come Cheshire County (14) and Sullivan County (11).

Delaware holds 91 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 71 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Delaware run mostly May through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Sussex County, New Castle County and Kent County.

Georgia holds 91 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly April through November, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Greene County and Columbia County. Next come Gwinnett County (4) and Oconee County (3).

Tennessee holds 89 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Shelby County, Knox County and Blount County. Next come Davidson County (5) and Henry County (5).

Michigan holds 78 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 122 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Michigan run mostly May through November, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Washtenaw County, Allegan County and Berrien County. Next come Ingham County (6) and Oakland County (5).

Alabama holds 73 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly March through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Blount County, Tuscaloosa County and Cullman County. Next come DeKalb County (4) and Mobile County (4).

Minnesota holds 72 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 145 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Minnesota run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Hennepin County, Wright County and Anoka County. Next come Rice County (4) and Carlton County (4).

Missouri holds 72 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 117 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Texas County, Dent County and St. Louis County. Next come Shannon County (6) and Boone County (6).

New Jersey holds 69 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Cape May County and Monmouth County. Next come Somerset County (6) and Morris County (5).

Oklahoma holds 68 licensed records, the 17th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Mayes County, Osage County and Woodward County. Next come Cleveland County (1) and Comanche County (1).

Vermont holds 66 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 74 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Vermont run mostly May through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Windsor County, Chittenden County and Windham County. Next come Washington County (6) and Caledonia County (5).

Connecticut holds 64 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 86 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Connecticut run mostly May through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from New Haven County, Tolland County and Fairfield County. Next come Litchfield County (7) and New London County (7).

Kentucky holds 64 licensed records, the joint 6th most recorded of 103 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Fayette County and Shelby County. Next come Jefferson County (4) and Boone County (4).

Louisiana holds 64 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Lincoln Parish and Saint Tammany Parish. Next come West Feliciana Parish (4) and East Feliciana Parish (3).

Wisconsin holds 61 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Wisconsin run mostly May through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Grant County, Lincoln County and Door County. Next come Dane County (2) and Iowa County (2).

Most of what is known about the nursery web 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 667 records.

Of the 376 counties where the nursery web spider is most recorded, 223 are also top counties for the black-and-yellow argiope, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.

Other members of the family Pisauridae with profiles here: Dark fishing spider, Sixspotted fishing spider, White-banded fishing spider, Dock spider and Banded fishing spider.