Snakes and spiders in Powhatan County, Virginia
Powhatan County, home of Powhatan, has 13 snake and 26 spider species on record, from 114 licensed snake and 393 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the southern black widow and the northern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Powhatan County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 2 licensed records, 0% of all Virginia records of it. The southern black widow: 4 licensed records, 7% of all Virginia records of it. The northern black widow: 3 licensed records, 5% of all Virginia records of it.
What snakes are in Powhatan County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Powhatan County list. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake (23), the DeKay's brown snake (16) and the eastern wormsnake (15).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 23 | 2% |
| 2 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 16 | 3% |
| 3 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 15 | 2% |
| 4 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 10 | 6% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 9 | 2% |
| 6 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 6 | 1% |
| 7 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 6 | 3% |
| 8 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 5 | 0% |
| 9 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 4 | 0% |
| 10 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 2 | 0% |
| 11 | Mole kingsnake Lampropeltis rhombomaculata | 2 | 1% |
| 12 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | — | — |
When are snakes out in Powhatan County?
Observation records of snakes in Powhatan County run mostly May through October, peaking in May with 34% of them, the same peak as Virginia as a whole.
What spiders are in Powhatan County?
In all, 26 spider species are on the Powhatan County list. The most recorded are the familiar jumping spider (9), the rabid wolf spider (9) and the arrowhead orbweaver (8).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 9 | 2% |
| 2 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 9 | 7% |
| 3 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 8 | 2% |
| 4 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 8 | 7% |
| 5 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 8 | 4% |
| 6 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 7 | 1% |
| 7 | Garden ghost spider Hibana gracilis | 6 | 15% |
| 8 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 6 | 1% |
| 9 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 6 | 3% |
| 10 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 5 | 2% |
| 11 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 4 | 4% |
| 12 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 4 | 1% |
| 13 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 4 | 6% |
| 14 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 4 | 9% |
| 15 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 4 | 4% |
| 16 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 4 | 2% |
| 17 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 4 | 7% |
| 18 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 3 | 2% |
| 19 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 3 | 5% |
| 20 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 3 | 1% |
| 21 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 3 | 0% |
| 22 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 1% |
| 23 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 2 | 1% |
| 24 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 1 | 2% |
| 25 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | — | — |
| 26 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Powhatan County?
Observation records of spiders in Powhatan County run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 22% of them; across Virginia the peak is September.
Common in Virginia, not on the Powhatan County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Virginia, these do not reach the county list: the brown water snake (479 statewide), the northern cottonmouth (349 statewide) and 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 Powhatan County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern rat snake and the northern water snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Virginia list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake.
Powhatan County among Virginia counties
By licensed snake records Powhatan County ranks 29th of 129 Virginia counties with any.
Other Virginia counties with their own page: Fairfax County, Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Loudoun County and Arlington 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.