Snakes and spiders in Lubbock County, Texas
Lubbock County, home of Lubbock, has 10 snake and 18 spider species on record, from 225 licensed snake and 437 spider records. Venomous species here: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the western black widow and the brown recluse.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Lubbock County?
Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 16 licensed records, 1% of all Texas records of it. The western black widow: 9 licensed records, 5% of all Texas records of it. The brown recluse: 5 licensed records, 4% of all Texas records of it.
What snakes are in Lubbock County?
In all, 10 snake species are on the Lubbock County list. The most recorded are the checkered garter snake (39), the plain-bellied watersnake (32) and the coachwhip (24).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Checkered garter snake Thamnophis marcianus | 39 | 2% |
| 2 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 32 | 1% |
| 3 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 24 | 1% |
| 4 | Plains hog-nosed snake Heterodon nasicus | 19 | 7% |
| 5 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 18 | 1% |
| 6 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 16 | 1% |
| 7 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 12 | 3% |
| 8 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 11 | 2% |
| 9 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 9 | 1% |
| 10 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | — | — |
When are snakes out in Lubbock County?
Observation records of snakes in Lubbock County run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 21% of them; across Texas the peak is April.
What spiders are in Lubbock County?
In all, 18 spider species are on the Lubbock County list. The most recorded are the bold jumper (55), the western spotted orbweaver (46) and the Apache jumping spider (37).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 55 | 4% |
| 2 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 46 | 10% |
| 3 | Apache jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus | 37 | 49% |
| 4 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 35 | 9% |
| 5 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 17 | 8% |
| 6 | Carolina jumping spider Phidippus carolinensis | 16 | 11% |
| 7 | Hogna antelucana | 16 | 2% |
| 8 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | 14 | 19% |
| 9 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 10 | 2% |
| 10 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 9 | 5% |
| 11 | Cyclosa turbinata | 7 | 9% |
| 12 | Texas black spot tarantula Aphonopelma armada | 7 | 24% |
| 13 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | 6 | 3% |
| 14 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 6 | 5% |
| 15 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | 5 | 4% |
| 16 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 4 | 0% |
| 17 | Xysticus texanus | 2 | 12% |
| 18 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | — | — |
When are spiders out in Lubbock County?
Observation records of spiders in Lubbock County run mostly March through October, peaking in September with 19% of them; across Texas the peak is April.
What stands out in Lubbock County
Species for which Lubbock County holds a large share of all Texas records: the Apache jumping spider, 49% (37 of 76); the ribbon jumping spider, 19% (14 of 75).
Common in Texas, not on the Lubbock County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the western ribbon snake (2,587 statewide), the western ground snake (1,963 statewide), the western rat snake (1,769 statewide), the diamondback water snake (1,612 statewide), the rough earthsnake (1,448 statewide) and the eastern copperhead (1,188 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 Texas, these do not reach the county list: the black-and-yellow argiope (1,979 statewide), the green lynx spider (864 statewide), the spiny-backed orbweaver (751 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (669 statewide), the striped lynx spider (579 statewide) and the familiar jumping spider (518 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Lubbock County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead and the broad-banded copperhead are on the Texas list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plains hog-nosed snake and the gopher snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the Texas coral snake is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the long-nosed snake. 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.
Lubbock County among Texas counties
By licensed snake records Lubbock County ranks 52nd of 254 Texas counties with any.
Other Texas counties with their own page: Travis County, Brewster County, Harris County, Brazos County, El Paso County, Jeff Davis County, Val Verde County and Bexar County.
The whole state: venomous species in Texas, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.