Snakes and spiders in Iroquois County, Illinois
Iroquois County, home of Watseka, has 5 snake and 9 spider species on record, from 16 licensed snake and 873 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the northern cottonmouth, the eastern copperhead, the eastern massasauga, the timber rattlesnake and 3 more are on the Illinois list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Iroquois County?
In all, 5 snake species are on the Iroquois County list. The most recorded are the eastern milksnake (6), the eastern racer (3) and the DeKay's brown snake (2).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Illinois records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 6 | 10% |
| 2 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 3 | 2% |
| 3 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 2 | 1% |
| 4 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 2 | 8% |
| 5 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | — | — |
What spiders are in Iroquois County?
In all, 9 spider species are on the Iroquois County list. The most recorded are Pardosa saxatilis (222), Schizocosa bilineata (41) and the shore spider (40).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Illinois records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pardosa saxatilis | 222 | 41% |
| 2 | Schizocosa bilineata | 41 | 30% |
| 3 | Shore spider Pardosa milvina | 40 | 40% |
| 4 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 33 | 30% |
| 5 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 30 | 22% |
| 6 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 20 | 15% |
| 7 | Long-palped ant-mimic sac spider Castianeira longipalpa | 13 | 22% |
| 8 | Lonely wolf spider Piratula insularis | 11 | 31% |
| 9 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 9 | 7% |
What stands out in Iroquois County
Species for which Iroquois County holds a large share of all Illinois records: Pardosa saxatilis, 41% (222 of 545); the shore spider, 40% (40 of 101); the lonely wolf spider, 31% (11 of 35); the whitebanded crab spider, 30% (33 of 111); Schizocosa bilineata, 30% (41 of 138); the long-palped ant-mimic sac spider, 22% (13 of 59); the brilliant jumping spider, 22% (30 of 139); the arabesque orbweaver, 15% (20 of 133).
Common in Illinois, not on the Iroquois County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Illinois, these do not reach the county list: the northern cottonmouth (259 statewide), the plains garter snake (250 statewide), the northern water snake (243 statewide), the ring-necked snake (87 statewide), the eastern rat snake (86 statewide) and the eastern wormsnake (85 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 Illinois, these do not reach the county list: the bold jumper (344 statewide), the brown recluse (313 statewide), Piratula minuta (208 statewide), the pale sheetweb weaver (196 statewide), the brush-legged split wolf spider (192 statewide) and the tan crab spider (187 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Iroquois County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Illinois list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern milksnake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the eastern massasauga and the timber rattlesnake are on the Illinois list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the gopher snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Illinois under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake.
Iroquois County among Illinois counties
By licensed snake records Iroquois County ranks 29th of 90 Illinois counties with any.
Other Illinois counties with their own page: Union County, Cook County, Will County, Champaign County, Jo Daviess County, Mason County, Effingham County and Lee County.
The whole state: venomous species in Illinois, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.