Cribellate spider (Metaltella simoni)
The cribellate spider is a spider in the family Desidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 724 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 10 states, most of all California (377), Texas (232) and Alabama (32). Its observation records peak in January.
Metaltella simoni is a species of spider, native to South America (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina), and introduced into the United States and Canada.
From Wikipedia: Metaltella simoni, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the cribellate spider poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the cribellate spider (family Desidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.
Which states have the cribellate spider?
The cribellate spider's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 52% of licensed records. It is listed in 10 states in all; the next are Texas (232), Alabama (32) and Florida (29).
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 377 | 0.8% | 22nd of 309 |
| 2 | Texas | 232 | 0.8% | 22nd of 386 |
| 3 | Alabama | 32 | 0.9% | 29th of 143 |
| 4 | Florida | 29 | 0.2% | 65th of 237 |
| 5 | Georgia | 15 | 0.2% | 76th of 186 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 14 | 0.3% | 48th of 107 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 10 | 0.1% | 89th of 184 |
| 8 | South Carolina | 7 | 0.3% | 61st of 121 |
| 9 | Mississippi | 6 | 0.4% | 44th of 117 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 1 | 0.1% | 94th of 114 |
When is the cribellate spider seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the cribellate spider run through most of the year, peaking in January with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 35% of them.
Season by state
Observation records run through most of the year in Alabama, California and Texas. Each of these states peaks in a different month: January in Texas, May in Alabama and June in California.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | most of the year | January | 183 |
| California | most of the year | June | 113 |
| Alabama | most of the year | May | 32 |
Where the cribellate spider is recorded in each state
California
California holds 377 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 309 spiders listed there. Its observation records in California run through most of the year, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and San Bernardino County. Next come Riverside County (15) and Solano County (15).
Texas
Texas holds 232 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in January; most licensed records come from Fort Bend County, Williamson County and Travis County. Next come Dallas County (20) and Bexar County (18).
Alabama
Alabama holds 32 licensed records, the 29th most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Mobile County, Jefferson County and Pickens County. Next come Baldwin County (2) and Autauga County (1).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County | California | 239 | 33.0% |
| 2 | Fort Bend County | Texas | 48 | 6.6% |
| 3 | Williamson County | Texas | 40 | 5.5% |
| 4 | San Diego County | California | 38 | 5.2% |
| 5 | Travis County | Texas | 30 | 4.1% |
| 6 | San Bernardino County | California | 22 | 3.0% |
| 7 | Dallas County | Texas | 20 | 2.8% |
| 8 | Bexar County | Texas | 18 | 2.5% |
| 9 | Tarrant County | Texas | 17 | 2.3% |
| 10 | Riverside County | California | 15 | 2.1% |
| 11 | Solano County | California | 15 | 2.1% |
| 12 | Ventura County | California | 14 | 1.9% |
| 13 | Harris County | Texas | 13 | 1.8% |
| 14 | Mobile County | Alabama | 11 | 1.5% |
| 15 | Orange County | California | 11 | 1.5% |
How recent are the cribellate spider records?
Most of what is known about the cribellate spider is recent: 74% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2020 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1975; the busiest year was 2026, with 78 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1980s | 4 | 0.5% |
| 1990s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 2000s | 39 | 5.3% |
| 2010s | 311 | 42.0% |
| 2020s | 384 | 51.9% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 35 counties where the cribellate spider is most recorded, 23 are also top counties for the spotted orbweaver, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Spotted orbweaver | 23 |
| Black-and-yellow argiope | 21 |
| Cyclosa turbinata | 21 |
| Bold jumper | 20 |
| Green lynx spider | 20 |
| Dysdera crocata | 19 |
| Striped lynx spider | 18 |
| Triangulate bud spider | 18 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Desidae with profiles here: Gray house spider.
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GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.