Spiders in Alaska
Alaska has 280 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 26,079 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the common west coast woodland spider, Ceratinops inflatus and Sisicottus nesides. No widow or recluse reaches the list. GBIF holds 1 widow or recluse record of any license in Alaska (western black widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous.
Jumping spiders in Alaska
Jumping spiders are a small part of the spider record here: eight species with 0.6% of records between them. The most recorded is Pelegrina montana (42), ahead of the bronze jumper (30).
Related species: Chalcoscirtus diminutus
Most licensed records of Pelegrina montana in Alaska come from Anchorage Municipality, Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. Most licensed records of the bronze jumper in Alaska come from Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Southeast Fairbanks Census Area.
Wolf spiders in Alaska
Wolf spiders: 24 species are listed for Alaska, with 1,994 records (8% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Pardosa lapponica (265), ahead of Pardosa dorsuncata (261).
Related species: Pardosa saxatilisRelated species: Pardosa saxatilis
Related species: Pardosa saxatilis
Plus twelve: Pardosa tesquorum, Pirate otter spider, Trochosa terricola, Forked thin-legged wolf spider, Arctosa insignita, Pardosa fuscula, Pardosa albomaculata, Glacier bay wolf spider, Pardosa concinna, Raptor wolf spider, Alopecosa hirtipes, Holarctic wolf spider.
Most licensed records of Pardosa lapponica in Alaska come from Denali Borough, North Slope Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. Most licensed records of Pardosa dorsuncata in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area. Most licensed records of the shiny wolf spider in Alaska come from Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area.
Orb weavers in Alaska
Orb weavers are a small part of the spider record here: 15 species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the sixspotted orbweaver (85), ahead of the marbled orbweaver (74).
Related species: Hypsosinga rubens
Plus three: Boreal orbweaver, Bridge orbweaver, Garden spider.
Observation records of the sixspotted orbweaver in Alaska run mostly May through August, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Anchorage Municipality. Observation records of the marbled orbweaver in Alaska run mostly July through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Anchorage Municipality, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Most licensed records of the cone-shaped orbweaver in Alaska come from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Alaska
Long-jawed orb weavers are a small part of the spider record here: four species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the long-jawed orb weaver (107), ahead of the versicolor long-jawed orbweaver (66).
Most licensed records of the long-jawed orb weaver in Alaska come from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area and Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area. Most licensed records of the versicolor long-jawed orbweaver in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. Most licensed records of the common stretch spider in Alaska come from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area and Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Alaska
One species of this group is listed for Alaska: the sixspotted fishing spider, with 20 records (0.1% of the state's spider records).
Crab spiders in Alaska
Crab spiders: 22 species are listed for Alaska, with 910 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Xysticus britcheri (110), ahead of the Emerton's crab spider (98).
Related species: Xysticus ferox
Related species: Ozyptila conspurcata
Related species: Xysticus ferox
Related species: Ozyptila conspurcataPlus ten: Psammitis deichmanni, Spiracme triangulosa, Turf running spider, Thanatus formicinus, Montane crab spider, Xysticus canadensis, Xysticus luctuosus, Tan crab spider, Xysticus obscurus, Rhysodromus alascensis.
Most licensed records of Xysticus britcheri in Alaska come from Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and North Slope Borough. Most licensed records of the Emerton's crab spider in Alaska come from Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. Observation records of the goldenrod crab spider in Alaska run mostly May through August, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.
Cobweb spiders in Alaska
Cobweb spiders: 14 species are listed for Alaska, with 1,021 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the common six-spotted cobweaver (464), ahead of Robertus vigerens (170).
Related species: Robertus riparius
Related species: Robertus riparius
Plus two: Robertus riparius, False black widow.
Most licensed records of the common six-spotted cobweaver in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area and Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area. Most licensed records of Robertus vigerens in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Aleutians West Census Area. Most licensed records of Canalidion montanum in Alaska come from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Anchorage Municipality and Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in Alaska
Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.3% of records between them. The most recorded is the Utah funnel-web spider (51), ahead of the barn funnel weaver (33).
Most licensed records of the Utah funnel-web spider in Alaska come from Fairbanks North Star Borough, Kenai Peninsula Borough and Anchorage Municipality. Most licensed records of the barn funnel weaver in Alaska come from Anchorage Municipality, Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area and Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Alaska
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders dominate the spider record of Alaska: 137 species and 37% of all records. The most recorded is Ceratinops inflatus (736), ahead of Sisicottus nesides (528).
Same family (Linyphiidae): Frontinella pyramitela
Same family (Linyphiidae): Frontinella pyramitela
Related species: Walckenaeria directa
Related species: Bathyphantes pallidusRelated species: Walckenaeria directaRelated species: Bathyphantes pallidus
Related species: Centromerus sylvaticus
Related species: Agyneta micariaPlus 125: Lepthyphantes alpinus, Sisicottus panopeus, Diplocentria bidentata, Miller dwarf weaver, Estrandia grandaeva, Ceratinella alaskae, Grey sheetweb weaver, Tenuiphantes zibus, Agyneta olivacea, Complicated sheet-web weaver, Armed sheet-web weaver, Gnathonarium taczanowskii, Metopobactrus prominulus, Dana sheet-web micro-weaver, Walckenaeria directa, Summer sheet-web weaver, Fern sheetweaver, Gonatium crassipalpum, Satilatlas gertschi, Ceraticelus fissiceps, Sisicottus montanus, Scotinotylus sacer, Fury sheet-web weaver, Cnephalocotes obscurus, Walckenaeria occidentalis, Trifling sheetweaver, Pale sheetweb weaver, Undergrowth sheet-web weaver, Collinsia ksenia, Linyphantes pualla, Horcotes strandi, Small sheet-web weaver, Walckenaeria atrotibialis, Filmy dome spider, Walckenaeria karpinskii, Halorates alascensis, Helophora reducta, Ivielum sibiricum, Threefront dwarf weaver, Peatland sheetweb weaver, Ceraticelus atriceps, Thick-headed dwarf weaver, Eulaira arctoa, Holmgren's dwarf weaver, Island sheet-web weaver, Centromerus sylvaticus, Scotinotylus patellatus, Diplocentria rectangulata, Neriene digna, Pocadicnemis occidentalis, Walckenaeria fraudatrix, Agyneta protrudens, Agyneta pseudosaxatilis, Bristled whiskered money spider, Hilaira vexatrix, Linyphantes orcinus, Styloctetor compar, Walckenaeria clavicornis, Tachygyna ursina, Fjaeldmark dwarf weaver, Pityohyphantes tacoma, Post dwarf weaver, Agnyphantes arboreus, Three-spined shield sheetweaver, Tuffed dwarf weaver, Helophora insignis, Semljicola obtusus, Tiny dwarf weaver, Walckenaeria communis, Double sheet-web weaver, Grammonota subarctica, Mythoplastoides erectus, Tapinocyba bicarinata, Agyneta simplex, Mecynargus paetulus, Slender sheet-web weaver, Jackson's sheet-web weaver, Micrargus longitarsus, Pityohyphantes alticeps, Oreoneta arctica, Wubana pacifica, Agyneta conigera, Microlinyphia pusilla, Tapinocyba dietrichi, Walckenaeria castanea, Dismodicus bifrons, Taiga sheetweb weaver, Alaska sheet-web weaver, Ceraticelus silus, Diplocentria perplexa, Washington sheet-web weaver, Agyneta decora, Bog sheet-web weaver, Hybauchenidium aquilonare, Sisicus apertus, Allomengea scopigera, Eastern whiskered money spider, Erigone arctica, Lace sheet-web weaver, Pelecopsis mengei, Sciastes truncatus, Tibioplus diversus, Acanthoneta aggressa, Hilaira gibbosa, Rotund dwarf weaver, Wubana atypica, Maritime sheet-web weaver, Maso sundevalli, Oreoneta leviceps, Tunagyna debilis, Ceratinella brunnea, Park dwarf weaver, Spiraling sheet-web weaver, Ceraticelus innominabilis, Dismodicus modicus, Hypselistes jacksoni, Scotinotylus alpinus, Mermessus lindrothi, Scotinotylus majesticus, Walckenaeria pellax, Porrhomma convexum, Teethed dwarf weaver, Diplocephalus barbiger, Northern long-toothed sheetweaver, Pelecopsis sculpta.
Most licensed records of Ceratinops inflatus in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Sitka City and Borough. Most licensed records of Sisicottus nesides in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Aleutians West Census Area. Most licensed records of Tenuiphantes zelatus in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area.
Ground and sac spiders in Alaska
Ground and sac spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 21 species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is Gnaphosa microps (120), ahead of Haplodrassus hiemalis (81).
Related species: Haplodrassus signifer
Related species: Clubiona abboti
Related species: Micaria pulicariaRelated species: Micaria pulicaria
Related species: Gnaphosa muscorum
Related species: Zelotes fratrisRelated species: Clubiona abbotiPlus nine: Zelotes fratris, Glossy ant-spider, Micaria rossica, Canada sac spider, Clubiona furcata, Clubiona moesta, Gnaphosa brumalis, Marvelous ground hunter, Sergiolus montanus.
Most licensed records of Gnaphosa microps in Alaska come from Denali Borough, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area and North Slope Borough. Most licensed records of Haplodrassus hiemalis in Alaska come from Denali Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough and Fairbanks North Star Borough. Most licensed records of Clubiona pacifica in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Juneau City and Borough and Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area.
Other spiders in Alaska
Other spiders: 32 species are listed for Alaska, with 2,674 records (10% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the common west coast woodland spider (1,213), ahead of Usofila pacifica (204).
Related species: Emblyna sublata
Plus 20: Dictyna major, Hackmania prominula, Titanoeca nivalis, Pimoa altioculata, Gertsch's triangleweaver, Common mesh-weaver, Emblyna peragrata, Antistea brunnea, Ethobuella tuonops, Cybaeopsis wabritaska, Dictyna brevitarsa, Lapland meshweaver, Agroeca ornata, Dictyna minuta, Common foldingdoor spider, Nesticus silvestrii, Ash hahniid spider, Lathys alberta, Longbodied cellar spider, Thick-hooked comb-tailed spider.
Observation records of the common west coast woodland spider in Alaska run mostly May through August, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area. Most licensed records of Usofila pacifica in Alaska come from Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area and Juneau City and Borough. Most licensed records of Emblyna annulipes in Alaska come from Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Kenai Peninsula Borough and Anchorage Municipality.
Where in Alaska are spiders recorded most?
Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area dominates: 38% of the state's licensed spider records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 72%. 26 of Alaska's 26 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area | 9,953 | 38.2% |
| 2 | Denali Borough | 4,063 | 15.6% |
| 3 | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 2,001 | 7.7% |
| 4 | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 1,606 | 6.2% |
| 5 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 1,155 | 4.4% |
| 6 | North Slope Borough | 948 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 944 | 3.6% |
| 8 | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 860 | 3.3% |
| 9 | Anchorage Municipality | 819 | 3.1% |
| 10 | Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area | 795 | 3.0% |
| 11 | Aleutians West Census Area | 642 | 2.5% |
| 12 | Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area | 507 | 1.9% |
When do spiders come out in Alaska?
Observation records of spiders in Alaska run mostly May through August, peaking in August with 29% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Alaska are rarely recorded in winter. The sharpest rise comes from May to June.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 11% | 29% | 22% | 29% | 4% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
Spiders: Alaska compared with its neighbors
Alaska ranks 6th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
What spiders are in Alaska? All 280 species
Ranked by licensed records in Alaska. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 280 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common west coast woodland spider Cybaeus reticulatus | Cybaeidae | 1,213 | 4.7% |
| 2 | Ceratinops inflatus | Linyphiidae | 736 | 2.8% |
| 3 | Sisicottus nesides | Linyphiidae | 528 | 2.0% |
| 4 | Tenuiphantes zelatus | Linyphiidae | 508 | 1.9% |
| 5 | Common six-spotted cobweaver Rugathodes sexpunctatus | Theridiidae | 464 | 1.8% |
| 6 | Symmigma minimum | Linyphiidae | 398 | 1.5% |
| 7 | Walckenaeria cornuella | Linyphiidae | 379 | 1.5% |
| 8 | Pocadicnemis pumila | Linyphiidae | 338 | 1.3% |
| 9 | Pardosa lapponica | Lycosidae | 265 | 1.0% |
| 10 | Pardosa dorsuncata | Lycosidae | 261 | 1.0% |
| 11 | Hump-headed shield sheetweaver Bathyphantes keeni | Linyphiidae | 245 | 0.9% |
| 12 | Shiny wolf spider Pardosa moesta | Lycosidae | 224 | 0.9% |
| 13 | Walckenaeria columbia | Linyphiidae | 220 | 0.8% |
| 14 | Spinyrib wolf spider Alopecosa aculeata | Lycosidae | 204 | 0.8% |
| 15 | Usofila pacifica | Telemidae | 204 | 0.8% |
| 16 | Short shield sheetweaver Bathyphantes orica | Linyphiidae | 186 | 0.7% |
| 17 | Centromerus mariannae | Linyphiidae | 185 | 0.7% |
| 18 | Hilaira herniosa | Linyphiidae | 182 | 0.7% |
| 19 | Robertus vigerens | Theridiidae | 170 | 0.7% |
| 20 | Pardosa uintana | Lycosidae | 168 | 0.6% |
| 21 | Agyneta perspicua | Linyphiidae | 145 | 0.6% |
| 22 | Lepthyphantes alpinus | Linyphiidae | 140 | 0.5% |
| 23 | Sisicottus panopeus | Linyphiidae | 135 | 0.5% |
| 24 | Diplocentria bidentata | Linyphiidae | 134 | 0.5% |
| 25 | Miller dwarf weaver Erigone aletris | Linyphiidae | 132 | 0.5% |
| 26 | Emblyna annulipes | Dictynidae | 131 | 0.5% |
| 27 | Estrandia grandaeva | Linyphiidae | 131 | 0.5% |
| 28 | Ceratinella alaskae | Linyphiidae | 125 | 0.5% |
| 29 | Grey sheetweb weaver Bathyphantes brevipes | Linyphiidae | 123 | 0.5% |
| 30 | Tenuiphantes zibus | Linyphiidae | 123 | 0.5% |
| 31 | Agyneta olivacea | Linyphiidae | 122 | 0.5% |
| 32 | Complicated sheet-web weaver Improphantes complicatus | Linyphiidae | 122 | 0.5% |
| 33 | Gnaphosa microps | Gnaphosidae | 120 | 0.5% |
| 34 | Armed sheet-web weaver Zornella armata | Linyphiidae | 116 | 0.4% |
| 35 | Gnathonarium taczanowskii | Linyphiidae | 110 | 0.4% |
| 36 | Xysticus britcheri | Thomisidae | 110 | 0.4% |
| 37 | Metopobactrus prominulus | Linyphiidae | 108 | 0.4% |
| 38 | Dana sheet-web micro-weaver Microlinyphia dana | Linyphiidae | 107 | 0.4% |
| 39 | Long-jawed orb weaver Tetragnatha laboriosa | Tetragnathidae | 107 | 0.4% |
| 40 | Walckenaeria directa | Linyphiidae | 107 | 0.4% |
| 41 | Summer sheet-web weaver Tiso aestivus | Linyphiidae | 102 | 0.4% |
| 42 | Fern sheetweaver Oreonetides filicatus | Linyphiidae | 100 | 0.4% |
| 43 | Emerton's crab spider Xysticus emertoni | Thomisidae | 98 | 0.4% |
| 44 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | Thomisidae | 98 | 0.4% |
| 45 | Pardosa palustris | Lycosidae | 98 | 0.4% |
| 46 | Threebanded crab spider Xysticus triguttatus | Thomisidae | 98 | 0.4% |
| 47 | Gonatium crassipalpum | Linyphiidae | 97 | 0.4% |
| 48 | Morose woodland spider Cybaeus morosus | Cybaeidae | 95 | 0.4% |
| 49 | Satilatlas gertschi | Linyphiidae | 91 | 0.3% |
| 50 | Ceraticelus fissiceps | Linyphiidae | 90 | 0.3% |
| 51 | Ozyptila arctica | Thomisidae | 89 | 0.3% |
| 52 | Hilltop wolf spider Arctosa alpigena | Lycosidae | 88 | 0.3% |
| 53 | Sisicottus montanus | Linyphiidae | 88 | 0.3% |
| 54 | Pardosa podhorskii | Lycosidae | 86 | 0.3% |
| 55 | Scotinotylus sacer | Linyphiidae | 85 | 0.3% |
| 56 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | Araneidae | 85 | 0.3% |
| 57 | Fury sheet-web weaver Bathyphantes eumenis | Linyphiidae | 83 | 0.3% |
| 58 | Cicurina simplex | Hahniidae | 82 | 0.3% |
| 59 | Cnephalocotes obscurus | Linyphiidae | 82 | 0.3% |
| 60 | Walckenaeria occidentalis | Linyphiidae | 82 | 0.3% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.