Spiders in Virginia
Virginia has 176 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 11,508 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the orchard orbweaver, the dark fishing spider and the nursery web spider. Medically significant: the northern black widow and the southern black widow.
Widow spiders in Virginia
Widow spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the northern black widow (63), ahead of the southern black widow (60).
Observation records of the northern black widow in Virginia run mostly April through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Loudoun County. Observation records of the southern black widow in Virginia run mostly April through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Prince William County and Accomack County.
Jumping spiders in Virginia
Jumping spiders dominate the spider record of Virginia: 36 species and 28% of all records. The most recorded is the magnolia green jumper (434), ahead of the familiar jumping spider (423).
Plus 24: Canopy jumping spider, Dimorphic jumper, Ribbon jumping spider, Whitman's jumping spider, Slender ant mimicking jumping spider, Common white-cheeked jumping spider, Thin-spined jumping spider, Zebra spider, Common Hentz jumping spider, Habronattus decorus, Habronattus coecatus, Hammerjawed jumper, Little mountain jumping spider, Colonus puerperus, Four-lined slender jumping spider, Eris flava, Short-bellied slender jumping spider, Asian wall jumper, Cardinal jumper, High eye-lashed jumping spider, Eris floridana, Orbus paradise spider, Phidippus insignarius, Twin-flagged jumping spider.
Observation records of the magnolia green jumper in Virginia run mostly April through December, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Prince William County. Observation records of the familiar jumping spider in Virginia run mostly February through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County. Observation records of the bold jumper in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Norfolk.
Wolf spiders in Virginia
Wolf spiders: 18 species are listed for Virginia, with 562 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the rabid wolf spider (132), ahead of the Georgia wolf spider (113).
Plus six: Lance wolf spider, Shoreline wolf spider, Forest wolf spider, Shore spider, Varacosa avara, Field wolf spider.
Observation records of the rabid wolf spider in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Fauquier County. Observation records of the Georgia wolf spider in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Accomack County and Powhatan County. Observation records of the wetland giant wolf spider in Virginia run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Powhatan County.
Orb weavers in Virginia
Orb weavers: 41 species are listed for Virginia, with 2,683 records (23% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the black-and-yellow argiope (383), ahead of the arrowhead orbweaver (343).
Plus 29: Sixspotted orbweaver, Spiny-backed orbweaver, Red-femured spotted orbweaver, Butterfly orbweaver, Greenlegged orbweaver, Lattice orbweaver, Lined orbweaver, Mangora spiculata, Difoliate orbweaver, Cyclosa turbinata, Heptagonal orbweaver, Humpbacked orbweaver, Black-spotted orbweaver, Cone-shaped orbweaver, Red-backed orbweaver, Araneus alboventris, Tuftlegged orbweaver, Toadlike bolas spider, Red-spotted orbweaver, Bridge orbweaver, Openfield orbweaver, Starbellied orbweaver, Rubens orbweaver, Shamrock orbweaver, Nordmann's orbweaver spider, Larinia directa, Giant lichen orbweaver, American golden orb weaver, Cyclosa caroli.
Observation records of the black-and-yellow argiope in Virginia run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Hanover County and Prince William County. Observation records of the arrowhead orbweaver in Virginia run mostly June through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Arlington County. Observation records of the spined micrathena in Virginia run mostly July through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Loudoun County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Virginia
Long-jawed orb weavers: five species are listed for Virginia, with 759 records (7% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the orchard orbweaver (716), ahead of Leucauge argyrobapta (27).
Observation records of the orchard orbweaver in Virginia run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Richmond.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Virginia
Fishing and nursery web spiders: seven species are listed for Virginia, with 1,447 records (13% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the dark fishing spider (480), ahead of the nursery web spider (462).
Observation records of the dark fishing spider in Virginia run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Arlington County. Observation records of the nursery web spider in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Loudoun County. Observation records of the white-banded fishing spider in Virginia run mostly September through May, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Accomack County and Loudoun County.
Crab spiders in Virginia
Crab spiders: 13 species are listed for Virginia, with 641 records (6% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the American green crab spider (195), ahead of the whitebanded crab spider (182).
Plus one: Deadly ground crab spider.
Observation records of the American green crab spider in Virginia run mostly May through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County. Observation records of the whitebanded crab spider in Virginia run mostly June through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Prince William County, Fairfax County and Chesterfield County. Observation records of the black-banded crab spider in Virginia run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County.
Cobweb spiders in Virginia
Cobweb spiders are a small part of the spider record here: ten species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is the boreal combfoot (74), ahead of the triangulate bud spider (49).
Observation records of the boreal combfoot in Virginia run mostly July through March, peaking in February; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Powhatan County. Observation records of the triangulate bud spider in Virginia run mostly March through November, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Arlington County, Fairfax County and Montgomery County. Most licensed records of the lyric cobweaver in Virginia come from Arlington County, Fairfax County and Warren County.
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in Virginia
Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: three species with 0.3% of records between them. The most recorded is Barronopsis jeffersi (21), ahead of the dark-legged grass spider (6).
Lynx spiders in Virginia
Lynx spiders are a small part of the spider record here: three species with 0.4% of records between them. The most recorded is the green lynx spider (25), ahead of the striped lynx spider (17).
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Virginia
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: three species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the bowl and doily spider (65), ahead of the filmy dome spider (56).
Observation records of the bowl and doily spider in Virginia run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Hanover County. Observation records of the filmy dome spider in Virginia run mostly March through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Goochland County, Louisa County and Prince William County. Observation records of the blacktailed red sheetweaver in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Rappahannock County.
Ground and sac spiders in Virginia
Ground and sac spiders: twelve species are listed for Virginia, with 389 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the parson spider (173), ahead of Wulfila albens (73).
Observation records of the parson spider in Virginia run through most of the year, peaking in December; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Arlington County. Observation records of Wulfila albens in Virginia run mostly May through November, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County. Observation records of the garden ghost spider in Virginia run mostly October through May, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Powhatan County and Arlington County.
Other spiders in Virginia
Other spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 23 species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is Dysdera crocata (42), ahead of Hypochilus gertschi (30).
Plus eleven: Southern house spider, Atlantic purse-web spider, Red-legged purseweb spider, Spitting spider, Audouin's trapdoor spider, Pholcus manueli, Antrodiaetus unicolor, Pholcus crypticolens, Box spider, Spermophora senoculata, Zora pumila.
Observation records of Dysdera crocata in Virginia run mostly August through April, peaking in December; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Richmond and Accomack County. Most licensed records of Hypochilus gertschi in Virginia come from Giles County, Buchanan County and Washington County.
Where in Virginia are spiders recorded most?
Fairfax County dominates: 37% of the state's licensed spider records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 58%. 123 of Virginia's 133 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | 4,239 | 36.8% |
| 2 | Arlington County | 896 | 7.8% |
| 3 | Prince William County | 703 | 6.1% |
| 4 | Loudoun County | 478 | 4.2% |
| 5 | Powhatan County | 393 | 3.4% |
| 6 | Hanover County | 348 | 3.0% |
| 7 | Montgomery County | 281 | 2.4% |
| 8 | Goochland County | 250 | 2.2% |
| 9 | Accomack County | 201 | 1.7% |
| 10 | Chesterfield County | 163 | 1.4% |
| 11 | Henrico County | 163 | 1.4% |
| 12 | Fairfax City County | 162 | 1.4% |
When do spiders come out in Virginia?
Observation records of spiders in Virginia run mostly April through November, peaking in September with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 5% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from March to April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 1% | 4% | 9% | 14% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 16% | 11% | 4% | 2% |
Spiders: Virginia compared with its neighbors
Virginia ranks 13th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
Of the five states bordering Virginia, North Carolina lists more spider species (Virginia: 176 species; North Carolina 184, Maryland 153, Tennessee 138, Kentucky 103, West Virginia 90).
What spiders are in Virginia? All 176 species
Ranked by licensed records in Virginia. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 176 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | Tetragnathidae | 716 | 6.2% |
| 2 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | Pisauridae | 480 | 4.2% |
| 3 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | Pisauridae | 462 | 4.0% |
| 4 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | Salticidae | 434 | 3.8% |
| 5 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | Salticidae | 423 | 3.7% |
| 6 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 383 | 3.3% |
| 7 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 370 | 3.2% |
| 8 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | Araneidae | 343 | 3.0% |
| 9 | Paraphidippus aurantius | Salticidae | 299 | 2.6% |
| 10 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | Salticidae | 276 | 2.4% |
| 11 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | Araneidae | 263 | 2.3% |
| 12 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | Pisauridae | 243 | 2.1% |
| 13 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | Araneidae | 213 | 1.9% |
| 14 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | Thomisidae | 195 | 1.7% |
| 15 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | Araneidae | 195 | 1.7% |
| 16 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | Thomisidae | 182 | 1.6% |
| 17 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | Gnaphosidae | 173 | 1.5% |
| 18 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | Salticidae | 171 | 1.5% |
| 19 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | Salticidae | 171 | 1.5% |
| 20 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | Salticidae | 169 | 1.5% |
| 21 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | Araneidae | 158 | 1.4% |
| 22 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | Pisauridae | 145 | 1.3% |
| 23 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | Lycosidae | 132 | 1.1% |
| 24 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | Araneidae | 121 | 1.1% |
| 25 | Black-banded crab spider Synema parvulum | Thomisidae | 117 | 1.0% |
| 26 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | Lycosidae | 113 | 1.0% |
| 27 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | Salticidae | 109 | 0.9% |
| 28 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | Araneidae | 108 | 0.9% |
| 29 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | Salticidae | 106 | 0.9% |
| 30 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | Salticidae | 104 | 0.9% |
| 31 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | Araneidae | 96 | 0.8% |
| 32 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 87 | 0.8% |
| 33 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | Salticidae | 87 | 0.8% |
| 34 | Labyrinth orbweaver Metepeira labyrinthea | Araneidae | 84 | 0.7% |
| 35 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | Araneidae | 81 | 0.7% |
| 36 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | Araneidae | 79 | 0.7% |
| 37 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | Pisauridae | 78 | 0.7% |
| 38 | Boreal combfoot Steatoda borealis | Theridiidae | 74 | 0.6% |
| 39 | Wulfila albens | Anyphaenidae | 73 | 0.6% |
| 40 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | Thomisidae | 68 | 0.6% |
| 41 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | Linyphiidae | 65 | 0.6% |
| 42 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | Araneidae | 64 | 0.6% |
| 43 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | Lycosidae | 64 | 0.6% |
| 44 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | Theridiidae | 63 | 0.5% |
| 45 | Canopy jumping spider Phidippus otiosus | Salticidae | 61 | 0.5% |
| 46 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | Araneidae | 60 | 0.5% |
| 47 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | Theridiidae | 60 | 0.5% |
| 48 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | Salticidae | 59 | 0.5% |
| 49 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | Linyphiidae | 56 | 0.5% |
| 50 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | Salticidae | 52 | 0.5% |
| 51 | Tigrosa annexa | Lycosidae | 51 | 0.4% |
| 52 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | Theridiidae | 49 | 0.4% |
| 53 | Whitman's jumping spider Phidippus whitmani | Salticidae | 48 | 0.4% |
| 54 | Butterfly orbweaver Araneus pegnia | Araneidae | 46 | 0.4% |
| 55 | Slender ant mimicking jumping spider Synemosyna formica | Salticidae | 46 | 0.4% |
| 56 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | Lycosidae | 44 | 0.4% |
| 57 | Dysdera crocata | Dysderidae | 42 | 0.4% |
| 58 | Garden ghost spider Hibana gracilis | Anyphaenidae | 41 | 0.4% |
| 59 | Lyric cobweaver Yunohamella lyrica | Theridiidae | 41 | 0.4% |
| 60 | Phylloneta pictipes | Theridiidae | 41 | 0.4% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.