Spiders in Florida
Florida has 237 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 12,555 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver, the spiny-backed orbweaver and Leucauge argyrobapta. Medically significant: the brown widow, the southern black widow, the red widow and the northern black widow.
Widow spiders in Florida
Widow spiders are a small part of the spider record here: four species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the brown widow (146), ahead of the southern black widow (52).
Observation records of the brown widow in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Broward County, Alachua County and Sarasota County. Observation records of the southern black widow in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Duval County and Escambia County.
Jumping spiders in Florida
Jumping spiders: 53 species are listed for Florida, with 2,116 records (17% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the gray wall jumper (392), ahead of the magnolia green jumper (341).
Plus 41: Workman's jumper, Pantropical jumper, Canopy jumping spider, Peppered jumper, Habronattus brunneus, Zygoballus sexpunctatus, Pike slender jumper, Sarinda hentzi, Eris flava, Hentzia chekika, Metacyrba punctata, Grayish jumping spider, Naphrys xerophila, Hammerjawed jumper, Phidippus richmani, Dimorphic jumper, Flea jumping spider, Zygoballus nervosus, Three-spotted paradise spider, Cardinal jumper, Naphrys bufoides, Neonella vinnula, Bronze jumper, Colonus puerperus, Whitman's jumping spider, Apache jumping spider, Eris floridana, Metacyrba floridana, Synemosyna petrunkevitchi, Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider, Neonella camillae, Slender ant mimicking jumping spider, Four-lined slender jumping spider, Paramaevia michelsoni, Phidippus pius, Phlegra hentzi, Leptofreya ambigua, Marpissa bina, Ocala jumper, Ribbon jumping spider, Messua limbata.
Observation records of the gray wall jumper in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Broward County, Orange County and Miami-Dade County. Observation records of the magnolia green jumper in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Broward County, Alachua County and Miami-Dade County. Observation records of the twin-flagged jumping spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Orange County and Seminole County.
Wolf spiders in Florida
Wolf spiders: 34 species are listed for Florida, with 616 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Tigrosa annexa (117), ahead of the rabid wolf spider (51).
Related species: Pirata piraticus
Plus 22: Pardosa littoralis, Pirata sedentarius, Schizocosa crassipes, Pirata apalacheus, Carolina wolf spider, Pardosa saxatilis, Pirata seminolus, Sosippus floridanus, Field wolf spider, McCrone's burrowing wolf spider, Lake Placid funnel wolf spider, Sosippus mimus, Dotted wolf spider, Geolycosa hubbelli, Pardosa parvula, Santa Rosa wolf spider, Hogna antelucana, Schizocosa ceratiola, Shore spider, Pardosa pauxilla, Schizocosa floridana, Sosippus janus.
Observation records of Tigrosa annexa in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Broward County, Orange County and Escambia County. Observation records of the rabid wolf spider in Florida run mostly February through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Escambia County, Orange County and Putnam County. Most licensed records of Rabidosa carrana in Florida come from Hillsborough County, Escambia County and Santa Rosa County.
Orb weavers in Florida
Orb weavers dominate the spider record of Florida: 41 species and 32% of all records. The most recorded is the American golden orb weaver (951), ahead of the spiny-backed orbweaver (864).
Plus 29: Bifurcate trashline orbweaver, Global tentweb weaver, Walckenaer's trashline orbweaver, Heptagonal orbweaver, Florida garden spider, Basilica orbweaver, Difoliate orbweaver, Spotted orbweaver, Larinia directa, Lined orbweaver, Cyclosa turbinata, Wagneriana tauricornis, Metazygia wittfeldae, Brown sailor spider, Giant lichen orbweaver, Spined micrathena, Humpbacked orbweaver, Furrow orbweaver, Starbellied orbweaver, Butterfly orbweaver, Frilled orbweaver, Labyrinth orbweaver, Metepeira datona, Acanthepeira venusta, Black-spotted orbweaver, Acanthepeira marion, Marsh orbweaver, Cyclosa caroli, Red-spotted orbweaver.
Observation records of the American golden orb weaver in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Miami-Dade County and Monroe County. Observation records of the spiny-backed orbweaver in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in January; most licensed records come from Broward County, Monroe County and Miami-Dade County. Observation records of the black-and-yellow argiope in Florida run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Orange County and Polk County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Florida
Long-jawed orb weavers: seven species are listed for Florida, with 1,212 records (10% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Leucauge argyrobapta (630), ahead of the greater leucauge (514).
Observation records of Leucauge argyrobapta in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Miami-Dade County and Orange County. Observation records of the greater leucauge in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in December; most licensed records come from Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Collier County.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Florida
Fishing and nursery web spiders: nine species are listed for Florida, with 451 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the sixspotted fishing spider (182), ahead of the white-banded fishing spider (116).
Observation records of the sixspotted fishing spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Orange County, Alachua County and Franklin County. Observation records of the white-banded fishing spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Escambia County and Orange County. Most licensed records of the slender nursery web spider in Florida come from Collier County, Sarasota County and Orange County.
Crab spiders in Florida
Crab spiders are a small part of the spider record here: ten species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is Misumenops bellulus (71), ahead of the whitebanded crab spider (47).
Most licensed records of Misumenops bellulus in Florida come from Collier County, Monroe County and Broward County. Observation records of the whitebanded crab spider in Florida run mostly June through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Hernando County and Santa Rosa County. Most licensed records of the celer crab spider in Florida come from Okeechobee County, Escambia County and Orange County.
Cobweb spiders in Florida
Cobweb spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 17 species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is Stemmops bicolor (29), ahead of Rhomphaea projiciens (20).
Genus Stemmops, species not shown
Same family (Theridiidae): Latrodectus hesperusSame family (Theridiidae): Latrodectus hesperus
Plus five: Common house spider, Tent cobweb weaver, Theridiid spidereater, Ladybird spider, Triangulate bud spider.
Lynx spiders in Florida
Lynx spiders: five species are listed for Florida, with 597 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the green lynx spider (509), ahead of the striped lynx spider (33).
Observation records of the green lynx spider in Florida run mostly May through December, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Orange County, Alachua County and Broward County. Most licensed records of the striped lynx spider in Florida come from Orange County, Okeechobee County and Collier County.
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Florida
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: eight species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the blacktailed red sheetweaver (53), ahead of Mermessus maculatus (50).
Related species: Agyneta micaria
Related species: Agyneta micaria
Genus Masoncus, species not shownObservation records of the blacktailed red sheetweaver in Florida run mostly December through July, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Sarasota County and Orange County. Most licensed records of Mermessus maculatus in Florida come from Highlands County, Leon County and Alachua County. Observation records of the bowl and doily spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in February; most licensed records come from Orange County, Alachua County and Sarasota County.
Ground and sac spiders in Florida
Ground and sac spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 16 species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the yellow ghost spider (27), ahead of Castianeira crucigera (19).
Related species: Drassyllus insularis
Plus four: Gnaphosa sericata, Two-lined stealthy ground spider, Red-spotted ant mimic sac spider, Zelotes florodes.
Other spiders in Florida
Other spiders: 33 species are listed for Florida, with 605 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the huntsman spider (103), ahead of the southern house spider (65).
Same family (Oonopidae): Heteroonops spinimanusSame family (Oonopidae): Heteroonops spinimanus
Plus 21: Emblyna florens, Oonopid spider, Lathys immaculata, Myrmekiaphila torreya, Abbot purseweb spider, Physocyclus globosus, Humped spider, Uloborus campestratus, Smeringopus pallidus, Scytodes alayoi, Flatmesh weaver, Scytodes atlacoya, Teminius insularis, Audouin's trapdoor spider, Decaphora cubana, Cosmopolitan spider hunter, Red-legged purseweb spider, Longbodied cellar spider, Natal cellar spider, Common pirate spider, Ummidia rongodwini.
Observation records of the huntsman spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Alachua County and Broward County. Observation records of the southern house spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in January; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Hardee County and Miami-Dade County. Observation records of the box spider in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Hillsborough County and Lee County.
Where in Florida are spiders recorded most?
Alachua County leads with 1,590 records (13%), followed by Broward County and Miami-Dade County; the top five counties hold 42% of the total. 67 of Florida's 67 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alachua County | 1,590 | 12.7% |
| 2 | Broward County | 1,275 | 10.2% |
| 3 | Miami-Dade County | 847 | 6.7% |
| 4 | Orange County | 785 | 6.3% |
| 5 | Monroe County | 737 | 5.9% |
| 6 | Highlands County | 549 | 4.4% |
| 7 | Sarasota County | 514 | 4.1% |
| 8 | Duval County | 473 | 3.8% |
| 9 | Escambia County | 420 | 3.3% |
| 10 | Collier County | 405 | 3.2% |
| 11 | Okeechobee County | 393 | 3.1% |
| 12 | Hillsborough County | 302 | 2.4% |
When do spiders come out in Florida?
Observation records of spiders in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April with 10% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 21% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from February to March.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7% | 7% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 6% | 8% |
Spiders: Florida compared with its neighbors
Florida ranks 9th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
Florida lists more spider species than any state it borders (Florida: 237 species; Georgia 186, Alabama 143).
What spiders are in Florida? All 237 species
Ranked by licensed records in Florida. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 237 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | Araneidae | 951 | 7.6% |
| 2 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | Araneidae | 864 | 6.9% |
| 3 | Leucauge argyrobapta | Tetragnathidae | 630 | 5.0% |
| 4 | Greater leucauge Leucauge argyra | Tetragnathidae | 514 | 4.1% |
| 5 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | Oxyopidae | 509 | 4.1% |
| 6 | Gray wall jumper Menemerus bivittatus | Salticidae | 392 | 3.1% |
| 7 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 357 | 2.8% |
| 8 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | Salticidae | 341 | 2.7% |
| 9 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | Araneidae | 309 | 2.5% |
| 10 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | Salticidae | 247 | 2.0% |
| 11 | Regal jumper Phidippus regius | Salticidae | 213 | 1.7% |
| 12 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | Araneidae | 197 | 1.6% |
| 13 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | Pisauridae | 182 | 1.4% |
| 14 | Silver argiope Argiope argentata | Araneidae | 152 | 1.2% |
| 15 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | Theridiidae | 146 | 1.2% |
| 16 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | Araneidae | 121 | 1.0% |
| 17 | Tigrosa annexa | Lycosidae | 117 | 0.9% |
| 18 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | Pisauridae | 116 | 0.9% |
| 19 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 107 | 0.9% |
| 20 | Huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria | Sparassidae | 103 | 0.8% |
| 21 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | Salticidae | 95 | 0.8% |
| 22 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | Araneidae | 78 | 0.6% |
| 23 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | Araneidae | 78 | 0.6% |
| 24 | Slender nursery web spider Pisaurina undulata | Pisauridae | 77 | 0.6% |
| 25 | Zilloides orb-weaver Metazygia zilloides | Araneidae | 72 | 0.6% |
| 26 | Misumenops bellulus | Thomisidae | 71 | 0.6% |
| 27 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | Salticidae | 66 | 0.5% |
| 28 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | Filistatidae | 65 | 0.5% |
| 29 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | Araneidae | 63 | 0.5% |
| 30 | Box spider Crossopriza lyoni | Pholcidae | 62 | 0.5% |
| 31 | Bifurcate trashline orbweaver Allocyclosa bifurca | Araneidae | 61 | 0.5% |
| 32 | Global tentweb weaver Cyrtophora citricola | Araneidae | 54 | 0.4% |
| 33 | Walckenaer's trashline orbweaver Cyclosa walckenaeri | Araneidae | 54 | 0.4% |
| 34 | Blacktailed red sheetweaver Florinda coccinea | Linyphiidae | 53 | 0.4% |
| 35 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | Theridiidae | 52 | 0.4% |
| 36 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | Lycosidae | 51 | 0.4% |
| 37 | Mermessus maculatus | Linyphiidae | 50 | 0.4% |
| 38 | Heptagonal orbweaver Gea heptagon | Araneidae | 49 | 0.4% |
| 39 | Florida garden spider Argiope florida | Araneidae | 47 | 0.4% |
| 40 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | Thomisidae | 47 | 0.4% |
| 41 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | Araneidae | 46 | 0.4% |
| 42 | Difoliate orbweaver Acacesia hamata | Araneidae | 44 | 0.4% |
| 43 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | Salticidae | 44 | 0.4% |
| 44 | Rabidosa carrana | Lycosidae | 42 | 0.3% |
| 45 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | Linyphiidae | 41 | 0.3% |
| 46 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | Lycosidae | 41 | 0.3% |
| 47 | Ogre-faced spider Deinopis spinosa | Deinopidae | 40 | 0.3% |
| 48 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | Salticidae | 39 | 0.3% |
| 49 | Celer crab spider Mecaphesa celer | Thomisidae | 39 | 0.3% |
| 50 | Beata wickhami | Salticidae | 38 | 0.3% |
| 51 | Hentzia grenada | Salticidae | 38 | 0.3% |
| 52 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 36 | 0.3% |
| 53 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | Araneidae | 36 | 0.3% |
| 54 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | Salticidae | 36 | 0.3% |
| 55 | Workman's jumper Phidippus workmani | Salticidae | 36 | 0.3% |
| 56 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | Salticidae | 35 | 0.3% |
| 57 | Trochosa abdita | Lycosidae | 35 | 0.3% |
| 58 | Larinia directa | Araneidae | 34 | 0.3% |
| 59 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | Oxyopidae | 33 | 0.3% |
| 60 | Florida false wolf spider Ctenus captiosus | Ctenidae | 31 | 0.2% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.