Spiders in Kentucky
Kentucky has 103 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 1,864 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the bold jumper, the dark fishing spider and the orchard orbweaver. Medically significant: the northern black widow, the brown recluse and the southern black widow.
Widow spiders in Kentucky
Widow spiders: two species are listed for Kentucky, with 58 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the northern black widow (37), ahead of the southern black widow (21).
Observation records of the northern black widow in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Fayette County and Garrard County.
Recluse spiders in Kentucky
One species of this group is listed for Kentucky: the brown recluse, with 22 records (1% of the state's spider records).
Jumping spiders in Kentucky
Jumping spiders: 24 species are listed for Kentucky, with 465 records (25% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the bold jumper (95), ahead of the familiar jumping spider (75).
Plus twelve: Whitman's jumping spider, Flea jumping spider, Thin-spined jumping spider, Canopy jumping spider, Habronattus decorus, Slender ant mimicking jumping spider, Zebra spider, Hammerjawed jumper, Asian wall jumper, Habronattus coecatus, Eris floridana, Common Hentz jumping spider.
Observation records of the bold jumper in Kentucky run mostly March through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Jefferson County, Madison County and Fayette County. Observation records of the familiar jumping spider in Kentucky run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Jefferson County and Fayette County. Observation records of Paraphidippus aurantius in Kentucky run mostly April through August, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Madison County, Fayette County and Jefferson County.
Wolf spiders in Kentucky
Wolf spiders: ten species are listed for Kentucky, with 125 records (7% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the Georgia wolf spider (36), ahead of the rabid wolf spider (31).
Observation records of the Georgia wolf spider in Kentucky run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Madison County, Rowan County and Edmonson County. Observation records of the rabid wolf spider in Kentucky run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Madison County, Rowan County and Fayette County.
Orb weavers in Kentucky
Orb weavers: 23 species are listed for Kentucky, with 424 records (23% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the arrowhead orbweaver (76), ahead of the black-and-yellow argiope (59).
Plus eleven: Barn spider, Heptagonal orbweaver, Sixspotted orbweaver, Starbellied orbweaver, Difoliate orbweaver, Humpbacked orbweaver, Labyrinth orbweaver, Tuftlegged orbweaver, Giant lichen orbweaver, Basilica orbweaver, Red-spotted orbweaver.
Observation records of the arrowhead orbweaver in Kentucky run mostly July through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Madison County, Fayette County and Jefferson County. Observation records of the black-and-yellow argiope in Kentucky run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Jefferson County, Madison County and Fayette County. Observation records of the spotted orbweaver in Kentucky run mostly July through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Madison County, Jefferson County and Fayette County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Kentucky
Long-jawed orb weavers: two species are listed for Kentucky, with 94 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the orchard orbweaver (81), ahead of the eastern cave long-jawed spider (13).
Observation records of the orchard orbweaver in Kentucky run mostly April through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Jefferson County and Fayette County.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Kentucky
Fishing and nursery web spiders: seven species are listed for Kentucky, with 222 records (12% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the dark fishing spider (82), ahead of the nursery web spider (64).
Observation records of the dark fishing spider in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Shelby County and Powell County. Observation records of the nursery web spider in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Fayette County and Shelby County.
Crab spiders in Kentucky
Crab spiders: seven species are listed for Kentucky, with 78 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the whitebanded crab spider (27), ahead of the black-banded crab spider (15).
Cobweb spiders in Kentucky
Cobweb spiders are a small part of the spider record here: four species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the triangulate bud spider (21), ahead of the common house spider (14).
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in Kentucky
One species of this group is listed for Kentucky: the barn funnel weaver, with 13 records (0.7% of the state's spider records).
Lynx spiders in Kentucky
One species of this group is listed for Kentucky: the striped lynx spider, with 8 records (0.4% of the state's spider records).
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Kentucky
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: three species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the bowl and doily spider (28), ahead of the blacktailed red sheetweaver (6).
Ground and sac spiders in Kentucky
Ground and sac spiders are a small part of the spider record here: five species with 0.6% of records between them. The most recorded is the parson spider (7), ahead of the garden ghost spider (2).
Other spiders in Kentucky
Other spiders: 13 species are listed for Kentucky, with 63 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the southeastern wandering spider (18), ahead of the longbodied cellar spider (15).
Plus one: Myrmekiaphila fluviatilis.
Where in Kentucky are spiders recorded most?
Madison County dominates: 31% of the state's licensed spider records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 62%. 92 of Kentucky's 120 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison County | 582 | 31.2% |
| 2 | Fayette County | 223 | 12.0% |
| 3 | Jefferson County | 192 | 10.3% |
| 4 | Campbell County | 87 | 4.7% |
| 5 | Shelby County | 64 | 3.4% |
| 6 | Kenton County | 55 | 3.0% |
| 7 | Edmonson County | 50 | 2.7% |
| 8 | Perry County | 37 | 2.0% |
| 9 | Rowan County | 29 | 1.6% |
| 10 | Garrard County | 27 | 1.4% |
| 11 | Pulaski County | 24 | 1.3% |
| 12 | Wolfe County | 24 | 1.3% |
When do spiders come out in Kentucky?
Observation records of spiders in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in August with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from March to April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 1% | 5% | 11% | 16% | 10% | 14% | 16% | 14% | 8% | 3% | 1% |
Spiders: Kentucky compared with its neighbors
Kentucky ranks 33rd of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
Of the seven states bordering Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana and Missouri list more spider species (Kentucky: 103 species; Ohio 332, Illinois 243, Virginia 176, Tennessee 138, Indiana 133, Missouri 117, West Virginia 90).
What spiders are in Kentucky? All 103 species
Ranked by licensed records in Kentucky. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 103 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 95 | 5.1% |
| 2 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | Pisauridae | 82 | 4.4% |
| 3 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | Tetragnathidae | 81 | 4.3% |
| 4 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | Araneidae | 76 | 4.1% |
| 5 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | Salticidae | 75 | 4.0% |
| 6 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | Pisauridae | 64 | 3.4% |
| 7 | Paraphidippus aurantius | Salticidae | 64 | 3.4% |
| 8 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 59 | 3.2% |
| 9 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | Araneidae | 56 | 3.0% |
| 10 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | Araneidae | 41 | 2.2% |
| 11 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | Theridiidae | 37 | 2.0% |
| 12 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | Lycosidae | 36 | 1.9% |
| 13 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | Araneidae | 35 | 1.9% |
| 14 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | Araneidae | 31 | 1.7% |
| 15 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | Salticidae | 31 | 1.7% |
| 16 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | Lycosidae | 31 | 1.7% |
| 17 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | Salticidae | 30 | 1.6% |
| 18 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | Linyphiidae | 28 | 1.5% |
| 19 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | Pisauridae | 28 | 1.5% |
| 20 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | Thomisidae | 27 | 1.4% |
| 21 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | Salticidae | 26 | 1.4% |
| 22 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | Sicariidae | 22 | 1.2% |
| 23 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | Araneidae | 21 | 1.1% |
| 24 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | Theridiidae | 21 | 1.1% |
| 25 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | Theridiidae | 21 | 1.1% |
| 26 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | Salticidae | 20 | 1.1% |
| 27 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | Araneidae | 20 | 1.1% |
| 28 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | Pisauridae | 19 | 1.0% |
| 29 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | Salticidae | 18 | 1.0% |
| 30 | Southeastern wandering spider Anahita punctulata | Ctenidae | 18 | 1.0% |
| 31 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | Salticidae | 16 | 0.9% |
| 32 | Pisaurina dubia | Pisauridae | 16 | 0.9% |
| 33 | Black-banded crab spider Synema parvulum | Thomisidae | 15 | 0.8% |
| 34 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | Pholcidae | 15 | 0.8% |
| 35 | Tigrosa annexa | Lycosidae | 15 | 0.8% |
| 36 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | Salticidae | 15 | 0.8% |
| 37 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | Thomisidae | 14 | 0.8% |
| 38 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | Theridiidae | 14 | 0.8% |
| 39 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 13 | 0.7% |
| 40 | Barn funnel weaver Tegenaria domestica | Agelenidae | 13 | 0.7% |
| 41 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | Salticidae | 13 | 0.7% |
| 42 | Eastern cave long-jawed spider Meta ovalis | Tetragnathidae | 13 | 0.7% |
| 43 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | Thomisidae | 13 | 0.7% |
| 44 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | Lycosidae | 13 | 0.7% |
| 45 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | Araneidae | 12 | 0.6% |
| 46 | Woodland giant wolf spider Tigrosa aspersa | Lycosidae | 11 | 0.6% |
| 47 | Common white-cheeked jumping spider Pelegrina proterva | Salticidae | 10 | 0.5% |
| 48 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | Araneidae | 9 | 0.5% |
| 49 | Dotted wolf spider Rabidosa punctulata | Lycosidae | 9 | 0.5% |
| 50 | Whitman's jumping spider Phidippus whitmani | Salticidae | 9 | 0.5% |
| 51 | Cyclosa turbinata | Araneidae | 8 | 0.4% |
| 52 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | Salticidae | 8 | 0.4% |
| 53 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | Pisauridae | 8 | 0.4% |
| 54 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | Oxyopidae | 8 | 0.4% |
| 55 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | Gnaphosidae | 7 | 0.4% |
| 56 | Thin-spined jumping spider Tutelina elegans | Salticidae | 7 | 0.4% |
| 57 | Blacktailed red sheetweaver Florinda coccinea | Linyphiidae | 6 | 0.3% |
| 58 | Canopy jumping spider Phidippus otiosus | Salticidae | 6 | 0.3% |
| 59 | Dysdera crocata | Dysderidae | 6 | 0.3% |
| 60 | Thorell's lampshade-web spider Hypochilus thorelli | Hypochilidae | 6 | 0.3% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.