White micrathena (Micrathena mitrata)
The white micrathena is a spider in the family Araneidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 620 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 26 states, most of all Virginia (121), Ohio (60) and North Carolina (49). Its observation records peak in September.
Micrathena mitrata, the white micrathena, is a species of orb weaver in the spider family Araneidae. It is found in a range from the United States to Brazil. The spider has a distinctive appearance with a shiny, black abdomen and spiky, yellowish-brown legs.
From Wikipedia: Micrathena mitrata, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the white micrathena poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the white micrathena (family Araneidae) 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 white micrathena?
Records are spread over 26 states; the top three, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina, hold 37% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 121 | 1.1% | 24th of 176 |
| 2 | Ohio | 60 | 0.9% | 27th of 332 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 49 | 0.6% | 41st of 184 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 43 | 1.2% | 21st of 138 |
| 5 | Maryland | 40 | 0.7% | 39th of 153 |
| 6 | Georgia | 35 | 0.5% | 43rd of 186 |
| 7 | Indiana | 32 | 0.7% | 28th of 133 |
| 8 | Alabama | 27 | 0.8% | 32nd of 143 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 26 | 0.4% | 49th of 164 |
| 10 | Missouri | 23 | 1.0% | 22nd of 117 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 21 | 0.9% | 29th of 127 |
| 12 | Kentucky | 20 | 1.1% | 26th of 103 |
| 13 | Illinois | 17 | 0.1% | 142nd of 243 |
| 14 | Kansas | 14 | 0.9% | 22nd of 94 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 12 | 0.4% | 52nd of 145 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 12 | 0.4% | 61st of 149 |
| 17 | Arkansas | 11 | 0.7% | 37th of 114 |
| 18 | Delaware | 11 | 0.5% | 46th of 71 |
| 19 | South Carolina | 8 | 0.3% | 56th of 121 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | 7 | 0.2% | 86th of 189 |
| 21 | New York | 7 | 0.1% | 91st of 149 |
| 22 | Iowa | 5 | 0.7% | 22nd of 57 |
| 23 | Nebraska | 4 | 0.3% | 51st of 71 |
| 24 | Mississippi | 3 | 0.2% | 72nd of 117 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 3 | 0.4% | 40th of 90 |
| 26 | Connecticut | 2 | 0.2% | 60th of 86 |
When is the white micrathena seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the white micrathena run mostly July through October, peaking in September with 43% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in July (Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee) and latest in August (Indiana, Maryland and Virginia). The most common peak month is September, shared by Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | August through October | September | 120 |
| Ohio | July through September | September | 60 |
| North Carolina | July through October | September | 46 |
| Tennessee | July through October | September | 43 |
| Maryland | August through November | September | 40 |
| Georgia | July through October | September | 35 |
| Indiana | August through October | August | 30 |
Where the white micrathena is recorded in each state
Virginia
Virginia holds 121 licensed records, the 24th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly August through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Albemarle County and Goochland County. Next come Hanover County (8) and Prince William County (5).
Ohio
Ohio holds 60 licensed records, the joint 27th most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly July through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Franklin County, Delaware County and Hamilton County. Next come Butler County (6) and Adams County (4).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 49 licensed records, the 41st most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Durham County, Orange County and Catawba County. Next come Mecklenburg County (3) and Polk County (3).
Tennessee
Tennessee holds 43 licensed records, the 21st most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Sevier County, Davidson County and Knox County. Next come Blount County (4) and Cheatham County (3).
Maryland
Maryland holds 40 licensed records, the 39th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly August through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Prince George's County, Frederick County and Anne Arundel County. Next come Montgomery County (4) and Howard County (3).
Georgia
Georgia holds 35 licensed records, the 43rd most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Oconee County and Towns County. Next come Columbia County (3) and Pickens County (2).
Indiana
Indiana holds 32 licensed records, the 28th most recorded of 133 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly August through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Monroe County, Brown County and Johnson County. Next come Morgan County (3) and Orange County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 31 | 5.0% |
| 2 | Prince George's County | Maryland | 12 | 1.9% |
| 3 | Albemarle County | Virginia | 12 | 1.9% |
| 4 | Clarke County | Georgia | 10 | 1.6% |
| 5 | Franklin County | Ohio | 10 | 1.6% |
| 6 | Durham County | North Carolina | 9 | 1.5% |
| 7 | Orange County | North Carolina | 9 | 1.5% |
| 8 | Delaware County | Ohio | 8 | 1.3% |
| 9 | Sevier County | Tennessee | 8 | 1.3% |
| 10 | Goochland County | Virginia | 8 | 1.3% |
| 11 | Hanover County | Virginia | 8 | 1.3% |
| 12 | Hamilton County | Ohio | 7 | 1.1% |
| 13 | Monroe County | Indiana | 6 | 1.0% |
| 14 | Brown County | Indiana | 6 | 1.0% |
| 15 | Butler County | Ohio | 6 | 1.0% |
How recent are the white micrathena records?
Most of what is known about the white micrathena is recent: 94% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1934; the busiest year was 2024, with 103 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1950s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1960s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1970s | 6 | 0.9% |
| 1980s | 4 | 0.6% |
| 1990s | 3 | 0.5% |
| 2010s | 97 | 15.3% |
| 2020s | 519 | 82.1% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 103 counties where the white micrathena is most recorded, 63 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 | 63 |
| Nursery web spider | 56 |
| Spined micrathena | 54 |
| Orchard orbweaver | 53 |
| Spotted orbweaver | 52 |
| Paraphidippus aurantius | 51 |
| Familiar jumping spider | 49 |
| White-banded fishing spider | 49 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Micrathena with profiles here: Spined micrathena.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.