Snakes and spiders in Gwinnett County, Georgia
Gwinnett County, home of Lawrenceville, has 13 snake and 36 spider species on record, from 57 licensed snake and 421 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Gwinnett County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 2 licensed records, 2% of all Georgia records of it. The brown widow: 3 licensed records, 7% of all Georgia records of it.
What snakes are in Gwinnett County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Gwinnett County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (9), the northern water snake (9) and the DeKay's brown snake (7).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Georgia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 9 | 4% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 9 | 4% |
| 3 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 7 | 3% |
| 4 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 6 | 3% |
| 5 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 5 | 4% |
| 6 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 4 | 4% |
| 7 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 3 | 2% |
| 8 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 2 | 2% |
| 9 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 2 | 2% |
| 10 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 2 | 3% |
| 11 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 1 | 0% |
| 12 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 1 | 4% |
| 13 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | — | — |
When are snakes out in Gwinnett County?
Observation records of snakes in Gwinnett County run mostly February through September, peaking in May with 27% of them, the same peak as Georgia as a whole.
What spiders are in Gwinnett County?
In all, 36 spider species are on the Gwinnett County list. The most recorded are the magnolia green jumper (30), the Putnam's jumper (30) and the Joro spider (28). Gwinnett County holds more than half of all Georgia records of the thick-spined jumping spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Georgia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 30 | 8% |
| 2 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 30 | 21% |
| 3 | Joro spider Trichonephila clavata | 28 | 5% |
| 4 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 27 | 11% |
| 5 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 21 | 15% |
| 6 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 16 | 13% |
| 7 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 13 | 4% |
| 8 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 13 | 4% |
| 9 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 13 | 10% |
| 10 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 12 | 19% |
| 11 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 11 | 10% |
| 12 | Thick-spined jumping spider Tutelina similis | 11 | 79% |
| 13 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 10 | 10% |
| 14 | Slender ant mimicking jumping spider Synemosyna formica | 9 | 13% |
| 15 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 8 | 5% |
| 16 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 8 | 7% |
| 17 | Maevia expansa | 6 | 19% |
| 18 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 6 | 10% |
| 19 | Black-banded crab spider Synema parvulum | 5 | 12% |
| 20 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 5 | 16% |
| 21 | Barronopsis texana | 4 | 31% |
| 22 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 4 | 3% |
| 23 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 3 | 7% |
| 24 | Labyrinth orbweaver Metepeira labyrinthea | 3 | 11% |
| 25 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 3 | 15% |
| 26 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 2 | 2% |
| 27 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 2 | 2% |
| 28 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 2 | 2% |
| 29 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 2 | 3% |
| 30 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 2 | 1% |
| 31 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 1 | 3% |
| 32 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 1 | 3% |
| 33 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 1 | 2% |
| 34 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 6% |
| 35 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | — | — |
| 36 | Tigrosa annexa | — | — |
When are spiders out in Gwinnett County?
Observation records of spiders in Gwinnett County run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 16% of them; across Georgia the peak is August.
What stands out in Gwinnett County
Species for which Gwinnett County holds a large share of all Georgia records: the Putnam's jumper, 21% (30 of 145); the bronze jumper, 19% (12 of 62); Paraphidippus aurantius, 15% (21 of 137).
Common in Georgia, not on the Gwinnett County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Georgia, these do not reach the county list: the brown water snake (2,808 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (166 statewide) and the southern watersnake (155 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 Georgia, these do not reach the county list: the American golden orb weaver (194 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Gwinnett County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth and the Florida cottonmouth are on the Georgia list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider and the false black widow. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the brown recluse is on the Georgia list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Gwinnett County among Georgia counties
By licensed snake records Gwinnett County ranks 16th of 153 Georgia counties with any.
Other Georgia counties with their own page: Charlton County, Clarke County, Cobb County and DeKalb County.
The whole state: venomous species in Georgia, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.