Spiders in California
California has 309 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 49,586 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the bold jumper, the half-edged wall jumping spider and Steatoda nobilis. Medically significant: the western black widow, the brown widow and the desert recluse.
Widow spiders in California
Widow spiders: two species are listed for California, with 2,012 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the western black widow (1,236), ahead of the brown widow (776).
Observation records of the western black widow in California run through most of the year, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Napa County. Observation records of the brown widow in California run through most of the year, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Orange County.
Recluse spiders in California
One species of this group is listed for California: the desert recluse, with 40 records (0.1% of the state's spider records).
Observation records of the desert recluse in California run mostly February through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from San Bernardino County, Kern County and San Diego County.
Jumping spiders in California
Jumping spiders: 71 species are listed for California, with 12,102 records (24% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the bold jumper (2,606), ahead of the half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178).
Plus 59: Hirsute paradise spider, California red jumping spider, Habronattus signatus, Oregon paradise jumping spider, Hairy tufted jumping spider, California flattened jumping spider, Habronattus californicus, Pelegrina aeneola, Beach-dwelling jumping spider, Habronattus amicus, Mexigonus minutus, Metaphidippus manni, Habronattus ustulatus, Habronattus schlingeri, Heliophanus apiatus, Attinella dorsata, Proszynski's jumping spider, Phanias harfordi, Habronattus elegans, Phoenix jumping spider, Habronattus klauseri, Phidippus nikites, Phidippus kastoni, Mexigonus morosus, Phidippus californicus, Habronattus kubai, Phanias albeolus, Minute jumping spider, Salticus palpalis, Habronattus formosus, Habronattus mustaciatus, Metaphidippus siticulosus, Sassacus papenhoei, Habronattus ophrys, Messua limbata, Pantropical jumper, Habronattus kawini, Habronattus peckhami, Bronze jumper, Marpissa robusta, Phidippus octopunctatus, Metaphidippus chera, Pelegrina balia, Brilliant jumping spider, Chalcoscirtus diminutus, Marchena minuta, Habronattus hallani, Phanias concoloratus, Desert red jumping spider, Phidippus boei, Habronattus icenoglei, Habronattus tranquillus, Habronattus jucundus, Hakka himeshimensis, Phanias monticola, Phidippus asotus, Platycryptus arizonensis, Phidippus concinnus, Thick-spined jumping spider.
Observation records of the bold jumper in California run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Solano County, Los Angeles County and Santa Clara County. Observation records of the half-edged wall jumping spider in California run mostly March through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Solano County, Sacramento County and Stanislaus County. Observation records of the Johnson jumper in California run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alameda County, San Diego County and Marin County.
Wolf spiders in California
Wolf spiders: twelve species are listed for California, with 1,555 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the Koch's wolf spider (1,020), ahead of the McCook's split wolf spider (211).
Related species: Pardosa saxatilis
Related species: Pardosa saxatilisObservation records of the Koch's wolf spider in California run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Contra Costa County and Santa Clara County. Observation records of the McCook's split wolf spider in California run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Stanislaus County. Most licensed records of Pardosa californica in California come from San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Merced County.
Orb weavers in California
Orb weavers: 39 species are listed for California, with 3,931 records (8% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the silver argiope (758), ahead of the western spotted orbweaver (566).
Plus 27: Cat-faced spider, California orbweaver, Shamrock orbweaver, Arabesque orbweaver, Metepeira ventura, Eriophora edax, Northern orb weaver, Metepeira crassipes, Eustala californiensis, Southern bolas spider, Ornamental orbweaver, Metepeira spinipes, Araneus bispinosus, Spiny-backed orbweaver, Metepeira gosoga, Araneus detrimentosus, Bridge orbweaver, Butterfly orbweaver, Eustala rosae, Larinia directa, Nordmann's orbweaver spider, Arizona labyrinth orb-weaver, Furrow orbweaver, Humpbacked orbweaver, Fierce orbweaver, Zilloides orb-weaver, Heptagonal orbweaver.
Observation records of the silver argiope in California run mostly April through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Orange County. Observation records of the western spotted orbweaver in California run mostly June through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County and San Diego County. Observation records of the garden spider in California run mostly June through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Alameda County, San Francisco County and Santa Cruz County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in California
Long-jawed orb weavers are a small part of the spider record here: seven species with 0.4% of records between them. The most recorded is the long-jawed orb weaver (96), ahead of the versicolor long-jawed orbweaver (40).
Most licensed records of the long-jawed orb weaver in California come from Mono County, Merced County and Solano County. Most licensed records of the versicolor long-jawed orbweaver in California come from Los Angeles County, San Mateo County and Santa Barbara County.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in California
One species of this group is listed for California: Tinus peregrinus, with 4 records (under 0.1% of the state's spider records).
Tarantulas in California
Tarantulas are a small part of the spider record here: eight species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the Bay Area blonde (320), ahead of the California ebony tarantula (100).
Observation records of the Bay Area blonde in California run mostly May through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County and San Luis Obispo County. Observation records of the California ebony tarantula in California run mostly April through December, peaking in September; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Orange County and Riverside County. Observation records of the Pecos brown in California run mostly March through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Riverside County.
Crab spiders in California
Crab spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 22 species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the goldenrod crab spider (228), ahead of Xysticus californicus (92).
Related species: Mecaphesa asperataRelated species: Mecaphesa asperataPlus ten: Nearctic white-striped running crab spider, Oblong running spider, Xysticus locuples, Evans's running crab spider, Utah crab spider, Mecaphesa aikoae, Mecaphesa rothi, Cricket thief spider, Misumessus dicaprioi, Xysticus gosiutus.
Observation records of the goldenrod crab spider in California run mostly March through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from San Mateo County, Sonoma County and Marin County. Most licensed records of Xysticus californicus in California come from San Diego County, Santa Barbara County and Fresno County. Observation records of the whitebanded crab spider in California run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Orange County.
Cobweb spiders in California
Cobweb spiders: 21 species are listed for California, with 3,709 records (7% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Steatoda nobilis (1,914), ahead of the false black widow (1,201).
Related species: Euryopis funebrisPlus nine: Theridion dilutum, Common candy-striped spider, Theridion punctipes, Red-and-white asagena, Tidarren haemorrhoidale, Asagena medialis, Lizard spider, Steatoda washona, Wamba crispulus.
Observation records of Steatoda nobilis in California run through most of the year, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Solano County, San Diego County and Los Angeles County. Observation records of the false black widow in California run through most of the year, peaking in November; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, Solano County and Napa County. Most licensed records of the common house spider in California come from Los Angeles County, Orange County and Santa Barbara County.
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in California
Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: six species with 0.9% of records between them. The most recorded is the corner funnel weaver (310), ahead of the desert grass spider (61).
Same family (Agelenidae): Tegenaria domestica
Related species: Hololena curtaMost licensed records of the corner funnel weaver in California come from Los Angeles County, Ventura County and San Bernardino County. Observation records of the desert grass spider in California run mostly April through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Riverside County. Most licensed records of Callidalena tijuana in California come from San Diego County.
Lynx spiders in California
Lynx spiders: six species are listed for California, with 2,271 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the western lynx spider (1,123), ahead of the striped lynx spider (662).
Observation records of the western lynx spider in California run mostly January through June, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Solano County, Santa Clara County and Santa Barbara County. Observation records of the striped lynx spider in California run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Solano County, Merced County and San Diego County. Observation records of the green lynx spider in California run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County.
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in California
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: five species with 0.6% of records between them. The most recorded is the sierra dome spider (85), ahead of the bowl and doily spider (78).
Observation records of the sierra dome spider in California run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from San Mateo County, Contra Costa County and Santa Clara County. Observation records of the bowl and doily spider in California run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Santa Barbara County, San Diego County and Santa Clara County. Most licensed records of Neriene digna in California come from Los Angeles County, San Francisco County and Alameda County.
Ground and sac spiders in California
Ground and sac spiders: 37 species are listed for California, with 2,026 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the mouse spider (273), ahead of the northern yellow sac spider (234).
Related species: Zelotes fratris
Plus 25: Anyphaena californica, Falconina gracilis, Castianeira thalia, Micaria utahna, Zelotes tenuis, Zelotes discens, Heser nilicola, Zelotes anthereus, Marinarozelotes barbatus, Cesonia trivittata, Herpyllus hesperolus, Sergiolus columbianus, Zelotes puritanus, Castianeira athena, Gnaphosa californica, Drassyllus saphes, Castianeira occidens, Meriola californica, Spicky jawed ground spider, Zelotes monachus, Sergiolus angustus, Zelotes gabriel, Creugas bajulus, Cesonia classica, Cesonia josephus.
Observation records of the mouse spider in California run mostly March through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, Alameda County and San Francisco County. Most licensed records of the northern yellow sac spider in California come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Orange County. Most licensed records of Drassyllus insularis in California come from San Diego County, Contra Costa County and Inyo County.
Other spiders in California
Other spiders: 71 species are listed for California, with 5,159 records (10% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the marbled cellar spider (805), ahead of the longbodied cellar spider (688).
Plus 59: Giant crab spider, Thevenet's trapdoor spider, Aliatypus coylei, Tricholathys monterea, Gertsch's triangleweaver, Hypochilus kastoni, Syspira longipes, Yorima angelica, Curicaberis peninsulanus, Emblyna oregona, Syspira tigrina, Anachemmis linsdalei, Apostenus californicus, Kukulcania geophila, Neoanagraphis pearcei, Icenogle trapdoor spider, Homalonychus theologus, West coast laceweaver, Gertschanapis shantzi, Psilochorus californiae, Cabrillo Monument trapdoor spider, Mallos pallidus, Dictyna calcarata, Noonops coachella, Mimetus eutypus, Kibramoa madrona, Plectreurys tristis, San Bernardino Hills trapdoor spider, Spitting spider, Promyrmekiaphila clathrata, Dictis striatipes, Hypochilus petrunkevitchi, Trogloraptor marchingtoni, Callobius olympus, Oecobius annulipes, Pholcophora americana, Tarsonops systematicus, Agroeca trivittata, Orchestina moaba, Archoleptoneta schusteri, Arizona black hole spider, Escaphiella hespera, Segestria pacifica, Western false wolf spider, Anachemmis sober, Blabomma californicum, Night-hunting woodland spider, Dirksia cinctipes, Giant daddy-long-legs spider, Kibramoa suprenans, Oecobius maculatus, Physocyclus californicus, Southern coastal dune trapdoor spider, Antrodiaetus montanus, Apomastus kristenae, Common foldingdoor spider, Psilochorus utahensis, Miwok trapdoor spider, Apomastus schlingeri.
Observation records of the marbled cellar spider in California run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Solano County, Los Angeles County and Santa Clara County. Observation records of the longbodied cellar spider in California run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Alameda County. Observation records of Dysdera crocata in California run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Santa Clara County.
Where in California are spiders recorded most?
Los Angeles County leads with 9,176 records (19%), followed by San Diego County and Solano County; the top five counties hold 61% of the total. 58 of California's 58 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County | 9,176 | 18.5% |
| 2 | San Diego County | 8,431 | 17.0% |
| 3 | Solano County | 7,130 | 14.4% |
| 4 | Santa Barbara County | 3,547 | 7.2% |
| 5 | Santa Clara County | 1,848 | 3.7% |
| 6 | Sacramento County | 1,626 | 3.3% |
| 7 | Contra Costa County | 1,469 | 3.0% |
| 8 | Alameda County | 1,245 | 2.5% |
| 9 | Riverside County | 1,160 | 2.3% |
| 10 | San Bernardino County | 1,036 | 2.1% |
| 11 | Orange County | 971 | 2.0% |
| 12 | Sonoma County | 944 | 1.9% |
When do spiders come out in California?
Observation records of spiders in California run through most of the year, peaking in April with 12% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 14% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from February to March.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 5% | 9% | 12% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 12% | 6% | 4% |
Spiders: California compared with its neighbors
California ranks 4th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
California lists more spider species than any state it borders (California: 309 species; Arizona 162, Oregon 88, Nevada 47).
What spiders are in California? All 309 species
Ranked by licensed records in California. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 309 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 2,606 | 5.3% |
| 2 | Half-edged wall jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus | Salticidae | 2,178 | 4.4% |
| 3 | Steatoda nobilis | Theridiidae | 1,914 | 3.9% |
| 4 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | Theridiidae | 1,236 | 2.5% |
| 5 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | Theridiidae | 1,201 | 2.4% |
| 6 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | Oxyopidae | 1,123 | 2.3% |
| 7 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | Lycosidae | 1,020 | 2.1% |
| 8 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | Salticidae | 901 | 1.8% |
| 9 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | Salticidae | 825 | 1.7% |
| 10 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | Pholcidae | 805 | 1.6% |
| 11 | Habronattus pyrrithrix | Salticidae | 800 | 1.6% |
| 12 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | Theridiidae | 776 | 1.6% |
| 13 | Silver argiope Argiope argentata | Araneidae | 758 | 1.5% |
| 14 | Colonus hesperus | Salticidae | 746 | 1.5% |
| 15 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | Pholcidae | 688 | 1.4% |
| 16 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | Oxyopidae | 662 | 1.3% |
| 17 | Dysdera crocata | Dysderidae | 657 | 1.3% |
| 18 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | Araneidae | 566 | 1.1% |
| 19 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | Araneidae | 457 | 0.9% |
| 20 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | Araneidae | 390 | 0.8% |
| 21 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | Antrodiaetidae | 389 | 0.8% |
| 22 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | Desidae | 377 | 0.8% |
| 23 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | Oxyopidae | 371 | 0.7% |
| 24 | Gray house spider Badumna longinqua | Desidae | 342 | 0.7% |
| 25 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | Theraphosidae | 320 | 0.6% |
| 26 | Habronattus americanus | Salticidae | 316 | 0.6% |
| 27 | Corner funnel weaver Hololena curta | Agelenidae | 310 | 0.6% |
| 28 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | Salticidae | 304 | 0.6% |
| 29 | Salticus peckhamae | Salticidae | 301 | 0.6% |
| 30 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 289 | 0.6% |
| 31 | Mouse spider Scotophaeus blackwalli | Gnaphosidae | 273 | 0.6% |
| 32 | Flatmesh weaver Oecobius navus | Oecobiidae | 247 | 0.5% |
| 33 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | Salticidae | 237 | 0.5% |
| 34 | Northern yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium mildei | Cheiracanthiidae | 234 | 0.5% |
| 35 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | Thomisidae | 228 | 0.5% |
| 36 | Habronattus tarsalis | Salticidae | 227 | 0.5% |
| 37 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | Araneidae | 225 | 0.5% |
| 38 | Gray wall jumper Menemerus bivittatus | Salticidae | 216 | 0.4% |
| 39 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | Salticidae | 213 | 0.4% |
| 40 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | Lycosidae | 211 | 0.4% |
| 41 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | Theridiidae | 197 | 0.4% |
| 42 | Drassyllus insularis | Gnaphosidae | 195 | 0.4% |
| 43 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | Gnaphosidae | 186 | 0.4% |
| 44 | Bull-headed sac spider Trachelas pacificus | Trachelidae | 183 | 0.4% |
| 45 | California red jumping spider Phidippus adumbratus | Salticidae | 167 | 0.3% |
| 46 | California funnel-web spider Calisoga longitarsis | Nemesiidae | 165 | 0.3% |
| 47 | Habronattus signatus | Salticidae | 162 | 0.3% |
| 48 | Uloborus diversus | Uloboridae | 156 | 0.3% |
| 49 | Cyclosa turbinata | Araneidae | 155 | 0.3% |
| 50 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 147 | 0.3% |
| 51 | Oregon paradise jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis | Salticidae | 140 | 0.3% |
| 52 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | Salticidae | 128 | 0.3% |
| 53 | Pardosa californica | Lycosidae | 122 | 0.2% |
| 54 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | Salticidae | 118 | 0.2% |
| 55 | Zoropsid spider Zoropsis spinimana | Zoropsidae | 114 | 0.2% |
| 56 | California trapdoor spider Bothriocyrtum californicum | Halonoproctidae | 113 | 0.2% |
| 57 | Habronattus californicus | Salticidae | 112 | 0.2% |
| 58 | Pelegrina aeneola | Salticidae | 104 | 0.2% |
| 59 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | Araneidae | 101 | 0.2% |
| 60 | California ebony tarantula Aphonopelma eutylenum | Theraphosidae | 100 | 0.2% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.