Snakes and spiders in Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County, home of Chesterfield Court House, has 20 snake and 31 spider species on record, from 597 licensed snake and 163 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the eastern copperhead and the southern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Chesterfield County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 126 licensed records, 36% of all Virginia records of it. The eastern copperhead: 24 licensed records, 4% of all Virginia records of it. The southern black widow: 2 licensed records, 3% of all Virginia records of it.
What snakes are in Chesterfield County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the Chesterfield County list. The most recorded are the brown water snake (246), the northern cottonmouth (126) and the northern water snake (49). Chesterfield County holds more than half of all Virginia records of the brown water snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 246 | 51% |
| 2 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 126 | 36% |
| 3 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 49 | 3% |
| 4 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 28 | 4% |
| 5 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 24 | 4% |
| 6 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 14 | 1% |
| 7 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 14 | 15% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 12 | 2% |
| 9 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 12 | 1% |
| 10 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 10 | 6% |
| 11 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 10 | 2% |
| 12 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 9 | 2% |
| 13 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 6 | 3% |
| 14 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 6 | 1% |
| 15 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 6 | 3% |
| 16 | Mole kingsnake Lampropeltis rhombomaculata | 5 | 3% |
| 17 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 5 | 3% |
| 18 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 5 | 3% |
| 19 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 2 | 2% |
| 20 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 1 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Chesterfield County?
Observation records of snakes in Chesterfield County run mostly March through October, peaking in June with 17% of them; across Virginia the peak is May.
What spiders are in Chesterfield County?
In all, 31 spider species are on the Chesterfield County list. The most recorded are the arrowhead orbweaver (13), the whitebanded crab spider (12) and the orchard orbweaver (11).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 13 | 4% |
| 2 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 12 | 7% |
| 3 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 11 | 2% |
| 4 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 10 | 3% |
| 5 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 9 | 2% |
| 6 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 8 | 32% |
| 7 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 8 | 4% |
| 8 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 6 | 4% |
| 9 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 5 | 1% |
| 10 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 4 | 2% |
| 11 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 4 | 3% |
| 12 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 4 | 3% |
| 13 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 3 | 3% |
| 14 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 1% |
| 15 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 3 | 1% |
| 16 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 3 | 1% |
| 17 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 3 | 2% |
| 18 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 3 | 5% |
| 19 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 2 | 1% |
| 20 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 1% |
| 21 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 2 | 3% |
| 22 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 1% |
| 23 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 2 | 1% |
| 24 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | 1 | 1% |
| 25 | Canopy jumping spider Phidippus otiosus | 1 | 2% |
| 26 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 1 | 1% |
| 27 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | — | — |
| 28 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | — | — |
| 29 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | — | — |
| 30 | Tigrosa annexa | — | — |
| 31 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | — | — |
When are spiders out in Chesterfield County?
Observation records of spiders in Chesterfield County run mostly May through October, peaking in September with 25% of them, the same peak as Virginia as a whole.
What stands out in Chesterfield County
Species for which Chesterfield County holds a large share of all Virginia records: the brown water snake, 51% (246 of 479); the northern cottonmouth, 36% (126 of 349); the corn snake, 15% (14 of 91).
Common in Virginia, not on the Chesterfield County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Virginia, these do not reach the county list: the timber rattlesnake (242 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 Virginia, these do not reach the county list: the bronze jumper (276 statewide), the spined micrathena (263 statewide) and the white-banded fishing spider (243 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Chesterfield County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the corn snake, the eastern rat snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the brown water snake and the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the timber rattlesnake is on the Virginia list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake.
Chesterfield County among Virginia counties
By licensed snake records Chesterfield County ranks 2nd of 129 Virginia counties with any.
Other Virginia counties with their own page: Fairfax County, Henrico County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Loudoun County, Arlington County and Hanover County.
The whole state: venomous species in Virginia, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.