Spiders in Texas
Texas has 386 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 28,738 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope, the bold jumper and the rabid wolf spider. Medically significant: the southern black widow, the western black widow, the brown recluse, the brown widow, the Texas recluse, the Big Bend recluse, the northern black widow and the Apache recluse.
Widow spiders in Texas
Widow spiders are a small part of the spider record here: four species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the southern black widow (200), ahead of the western black widow (164).
Observation records of the southern black widow in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Travis County and Hidalgo County. Observation records of the western black widow in Texas run mostly April through November, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Brewster County, Randall County and Briscoe County. Observation records of the brown widow in Texas run mostly April through November, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Bexar County, Harris County and Hidalgo County.
Recluse spiders in Texas
Recluse spiders are a small part of the spider record here: four species with 0.6% of records between them. The most recorded is the brown recluse (112), ahead of the Texas recluse (59).
Observation records of the brown recluse in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Denton County, Dallas County and Randall County. Most licensed records of the Texas recluse in Texas come from Hidalgo County, Edwards County and Starr County.
Jumping spiders in Texas
Jumping spiders: 84 species are listed for Texas, with 6,005 records (21% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the bold jumper (1,454), ahead of the twin-flagged jumping spider (669).
Plus 72: Phidippus arizonensis, Messua limbata, Cardinal jumper, Hammerjawed jumper, Colonus puerperus, Flea jumping spider, Apache jumping spider, Ribbon jumping spider, Three-lined maevia, Brilliant jumping spider, Putnam's jumper, Magnolia green jumper, Naphrys acerba, Habronattus coecatus, Habronattus fallax, High eye-lashed jumping spider, Sassacus papenhoei, Bagheera prosper, Pike slender jumper, Colonus hesperus, Phidippus pius, Salticus austinensis, Short-bellied slender jumping spider, Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider, Four-lined slender jumping spider, Habronattus decorus, Phidippus vexans, Metaphidippus chera, Sarinda hentzi, Whitman's jumping spider, Leptofreya ambigua, Phlegra hentzi, Cheliferoides longimanus, Cheliferoides segmentatus, Metacyrba floridana, Phidippus carneus, Zygoballus sexpunctatus, Texas paradise spider, Phidippus pruinosus, White-jawed jumping spider, Habronattus forticulus, Habronattus mexicanus, Marpissa obtusa, Habronattus cognatus, Habronattus klauseri, Hyetussa complicata, Paraphidippus aurantius, Habronattus icenoglei, Habronattus virgulatus, Pelegrina pervaga, Phidippus octopunctatus, Adanson's house jumper, Habronattus conjunctus, Half-edged wall jumping spider, Poultonella alboimmaculata, Attinella juniperi, Canopy jumping spider, Habronattus sugillatus, Habronattus tranquillus, Salticus peckhamae, Chalcoscirtus diminutus, Common white-cheeked jumping spider, Hairy tufted jumping spider, Hart's jumping spider, California flattened jumping spider, Eris floridana, Hirsute paradise spider, Minute jumping spider, Paraphidippus fartilis, Admestina archboldi, Attinella concolor, Attinella dorsata.
Observation records of the bold jumper in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Dallas County and Travis County. Observation records of the twin-flagged jumping spider in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Harris County, Travis County and Dallas County. Observation records of the familiar jumping spider in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Jackson County and Harris County.
Wolf spiders in Texas
Wolf spiders: 44 species are listed for Texas, with 3,599 records (13% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the rabid wolf spider (1,048), ahead of Hogna antelucana (805).
Plus 32: Tigrosa grandis, Varacosa shenandoa, Gladicosa pulchra, Shore spider, Pardosa delicatula, Schizocosa retrorsa, Pardosa vadosa, Geolycosa rafaelana, Sosippus texanus, Allocosa funerea, Schizocosa saltatrix, Varacosa avara, Schizocosa rovneri, Drumming sword wolf spider, Hogna coloradensis, Pardosa atlantica, McCook's split wolf spider, Pardosa pauxilla, Schizocosa aulonia, Allocosa absoluta, Geolycosa riograndae, Camptocosa texana, Hogna tigana, Missouri burrowing wolf spider, Allocosa noctuabunda, Pardosa falcifera, Rabidosa hentzi, Schizocosa perplexa, Pardosa hamifera, Pardosa sura, Stone spider, Pardosa littoralis.
Observation records of the rabid wolf spider in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Wilson County, Dallas County and Travis County. Observation records of Hogna antelucana in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Erath County and Wilson County. Observation records of Tigrosa annexa in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Williamson County, Harris County and Travis County.
Orb weavers in Texas
Orb weavers: 46 species are listed for Texas, with 6,668 records (23% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the black-and-yellow argiope (1,979), ahead of the spiny-backed orbweaver (751).
Plus 34: Metazygia wittfeldae, Lined orbweaver, Bifurcate trashline orbweaver, Humpbacked orbweaver, Larinia directa, Tuftlegged orbweaver, Cyclosa turbinata, Butterfly orbweaver, Zilloides orb-weaver, Starbellied orbweaver, Araneus detrimentosus, Spined micrathena, Basilica orbweaver, Arrowhead orbweaver, Heptagonal orbweaver, Arrowshaped micrathena, Difoliate orbweaver, Labyrinth orbweaver, Neoscona utahana, Southern bolas spider, Argiope blanda, Frilled orbweaver, Black-spotted orbweaver, Wagneriana tauricornis, Red-femured spotted orbweaver, Marbled orbweaver, Rubens orbweaver, Openfield orbweaver, Red-spotted orbweaver, Walckenaer's trashline orbweaver, Cyclosa caroli, Eustala emertoni, Metepeira comanche, Meadow dark-eyed orbweaver.
Observation records of the black-and-yellow argiope in Texas run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Tarrant County and Travis County. Observation records of the spiny-backed orbweaver in Texas run mostly April through December, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Harris County and Travis County. Observation records of the western spotted orbweaver in Texas run mostly May through November, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Lubbock County and Bexar County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Texas
Long-jawed orb weavers are a small part of the spider record here: eight species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is Leucauge argyrobapta (233), ahead of the orchard orbweaver (123).
Observation records of Leucauge argyrobapta in Texas run mostly April through December, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Harris County, Hidalgo County and Fort Bend County. Observation records of the orchard orbweaver in Texas run mostly March through July, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Travis County and Tarrant County. Most licensed records of the long-jawed orb weaver in Texas come from Comal County, Dallas County and Galveston County.
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Texas
Fishing and nursery web spiders: ten species are listed for Texas, with 917 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the nursery web spider (420), ahead of the sixspotted fishing spider (200).
Observation records of the nursery web spider in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in February; most licensed records come from Parker County, Travis County and Dallas County. Observation records of the sixspotted fishing spider in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Harris County, Tarrant County and Brazoria County. Observation records of the dark fishing spider in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Tarrant County, Jasper County and Harris County.
Tarantulas in Texas
Tarantulas are a small part of the spider record here: six species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the Texas brown tarantula (323), ahead of the Texas tan tarantula (135).
Observation records of the Texas brown tarantula in Texas run mostly April through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Brewster County, Dallas County and Travis County. Observation records of the Texas tan tarantula in Texas run mostly April through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Cameron County and Starr County.
Crab spiders in Texas
Crab spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 19 species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is Mecaphesa dubia (128), ahead of the celer crab spider (124).
Plus seven: Tan crab spider, Oblong running spider, Philodromus minutus, Multicolored bark crab spider, Xysticus pellax, Cricket thief spider, Philodromus infuscatus.
Observation records of Mecaphesa dubia in Texas run mostly February through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Travis County and Bexar County. Observation records of the celer crab spider in Texas run mostly March through July, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Collin County and Travis County. Observation records of the whitebanded crab spider in Texas run mostly June through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Jackson County, Galveston County and Jasper County.
Cobweb spiders in Texas
Cobweb spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 15 species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is the triangulate bud spider (400), ahead of Cryptachaea porteri (185).
Related species: Cryptachaea porteriPlus three: Emertonella emertoni, Emertonella taczanowskii, Euryopis spinigera.
Observation records of the triangulate bud spider in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Travis County and Lubbock County. Most licensed records of Cryptachaea porteri in Texas come from Williamson County, Travis County and Bexar County. Observation records of the American dewdrop spider in Texas run mostly April through November, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Fort Bend County, Hidalgo County and Dallas County.
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in Texas
Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.1% of records between them. The most recorded is Barronopsis texana (16), ahead of the desert grass spider (3).
Lynx spiders in Texas
Lynx spiders: seven species are listed for Texas, with 1,517 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the green lynx spider (864), ahead of the striped lynx spider (579).
Observation records of the green lynx spider in Texas run mostly May through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Travis County and Bexar County. Observation records of the striped lynx spider in Texas run mostly March through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Tarrant County and Denton County. Observation records of the green lynx in Texas run mostly April through December, peaking in November; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Cameron County and Starr County.
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Texas
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: eleven species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is Agyneta llanoensis (167), ahead of the filmy dome spider (92).
Related species: Agyneta micaria
Related species: Mermessus maculatus
Related species: Agyneta micariaRelated species: Agyneta micariaRelated species: Agyneta micariaRelated species: Agyneta micariaMost licensed records of Agyneta llanoensis in Texas come from Williamson County, Travis County and Bexar County. Observation records of the filmy dome spider in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Travis County and Denton County. Observation records of the bowl and doily spider in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Tarrant County, Dallas County and Hardin County.
Ground and sac spiders in Texas
Ground and sac spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 61 species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is Falconina gracilis (199), ahead of the two-lined stealthy ground spider (45).
Genus Talanites, species not shownPlus 49: Gnaphosa sericata, Long-palped ant-mimic sac spider, Castianeira crocata, Sergiolus stella, White sac spider, Castianeira trilineata, Trachelas similis, Meriola decepta, Prairie ant-mimic corinne spider, Talanites exlineae, Wulfila albens, Anyphaena fraterna, Camillina pulchra, Drassyllus dromeus, Drassyllus texamans, Eastern spurred ghost spider, Gnaphosa fontinalis, Lupettiana mordax, Trachelas volutus, Zelotes lasalanus, Callilepis chisos, Clubiona abboti, Drassyllus antonito, Drassyllus dixinus, Drassyllus inanus, Drassyllus lepidus, Drassyllus notonus, Drassyllus orgilus, Drassyllus prosaphes, Elaver texana, Elaver wheeleri, Gnaphosa altudona, Herpyllus emertoni, Litopyllus temporarius, Marinarozelotes lyonneti, Mazax pax, Micaria deserticola, Micaria nanella, Micaria nye, Nodocion floridanus, Northern yellow sac spider, Strotarchus piscatorius, Synaphosus paludis, Zelotes aiken, Zelotes duplex, Zelotes gertschi, Zelotes hentzi, Zelotes lymnophilus, Zelotes pseustes.
Observation records of Falconina gracilis in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Harris County and Williamson County. Observation records of the two-lined stealthy ground spider in Texas run mostly February through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Travis County and Dallas County. Observation records of the parson spider in Texas run mostly April through December, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fort Bend County, Bexar County and Dallas County.
Other spiders in Texas
Other spiders: 65 species are listed for Texas, with 2,272 records (8% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Cicurina varians (514), ahead of the cribellate spider (232).
Related species: Cicurina arcuata
Plus 53: Southwestern trapdoor spider, Tayshaneta fawcetti, Dysdera crocata, Euagrus chisoseus, Scytodes univittata, Teminius affinis, Leptoctenus byrrhus, Gaucelmus augustinus, Tayshaneta coeca, Tayshaneta devia, Government Canyon bat cave spider, Longbodied cellar spider, Natal cellar spider, Mexican two-tailed spider, Comstock's wafer trapdoor spider, Modisimus texanus, Huntsman spider, Arizona black hole spider, Cicurina travisae, Tayshaneta archambaulti, Audouin's trapdoor spider, Tayshaneta concinna, Hahnia flaviceps, Marbled cellar spider, Selenops actophilus, Tayshaneta sprousei, Bandit cave spider, Chihuahuan antcolony spider, Tayshaneta whitei, Ariadna bicolor, Lathys delicatula, Tayshaneta anopica, Eidmannella reclusa, Tayshaneta madla, Dictis striatipes, Spermophora senoculata, Ctenus valverdiensis, Madla cave meshweaver, Common pirate spider, Flatmesh weaver, Orthonops lapanus, Sphodros paisano, Apex mesh weaver, Neoantistea mulaiki, Smeringopus pallidus, Zora pumila, Dictyna annexa, Neoantistea agilis, Neoantistea oklahomensis, Ogre-faced spider, Ash hahniid spider, Dictyna formidolosa, Phantyna pixi.
Most licensed records of Cicurina varians in Texas come from Williamson County, Bexar County and Travis County. Observation records of the cribellate spider in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in January; most licensed records come from Fort Bend County, Williamson County and Travis County. Most licensed records of the cave cobweb spider in Texas come from Williamson County, Bexar County and Travis County.
Where in Texas are spiders recorded most?
Hidalgo County leads with 2,897 records (10%), followed by Travis County and Dallas County; the top five counties hold 36% of the total. 221 of Texas's 254 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hidalgo County | 2,897 | 10.1% |
| 2 | Travis County | 2,427 | 8.4% |
| 3 | Dallas County | 1,845 | 6.4% |
| 4 | Williamson County | 1,795 | 6.2% |
| 5 | Bexar County | 1,492 | 5.2% |
| 6 | Harris County | 1,245 | 4.3% |
| 7 | Tarrant County | 1,136 | 4.0% |
| 8 | Fort Bend County | 1,073 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Wilson County | 657 | 2.3% |
| 10 | Denton County | 569 | 2.0% |
| 11 | Collin County | 534 | 1.9% |
| 12 | Cameron County | 469 | 1.6% |
When do spiders come out in Texas?
Observation records of spiders in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 13% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 9% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from March to April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | 3% | 6% | 13% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 7% | 4% |
Spiders: Texas compared with its neighbors
Texas ranks 1st of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
Texas lists more spider species than any state it borders (Texas: 386 species; New Mexico 247, Oklahoma 149, Arkansas 114, Louisiana 107).
What spiders are in Texas? All 386 species
Ranked by licensed records in Texas. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 386 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 1,979 | 6.9% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 1,454 | 5.1% |
| 3 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | Lycosidae | 1,048 | 3.6% |
| 4 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | Oxyopidae | 864 | 3.0% |
| 5 | Hogna antelucana | Lycosidae | 805 | 2.8% |
| 6 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | Araneidae | 751 | 2.6% |
| 7 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | Salticidae | 669 | 2.3% |
| 8 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | Oxyopidae | 579 | 2.0% |
| 9 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | Salticidae | 518 | 1.8% |
| 10 | Cicurina varians | Hahniidae | 514 | 1.8% |
| 11 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | Araneidae | 465 | 1.6% |
| 12 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | Araneidae | 441 | 1.5% |
| 13 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | Araneidae | 423 | 1.5% |
| 14 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | Pisauridae | 420 | 1.5% |
| 15 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | Theridiidae | 400 | 1.4% |
| 16 | Tigrosa annexa | Lycosidae | 330 | 1.1% |
| 17 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | Theraphosidae | 323 | 1.1% |
| 18 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | Salticidae | 300 | 1.0% |
| 19 | Gray wall jumper Menemerus bivittatus | Salticidae | 270 | 0.9% |
| 20 | Silver argiope Argiope argentata | Araneidae | 235 | 0.8% |
| 21 | Leucauge argyrobapta | Tetragnathidae | 233 | 0.8% |
| 22 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | Desidae | 232 | 0.8% |
| 23 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | Salticidae | 226 | 0.8% |
| 24 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 213 | 0.7% |
| 25 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | Araneidae | 211 | 0.7% |
| 26 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | Araneidae | 203 | 0.7% |
| 27 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | Pisauridae | 200 | 0.7% |
| 28 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | Theridiidae | 200 | 0.7% |
| 29 | Falconina gracilis | Corinnidae | 199 | 0.7% |
| 30 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | Salticidae | 185 | 0.6% |
| 31 | Cryptachaea porteri | Theridiidae | 185 | 0.6% |
| 32 | Agyneta llanoensis | Linyphiidae | 167 | 0.6% |
| 33 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | Lycosidae | 166 | 0.6% |
| 34 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | Theridiidae | 164 | 0.6% |
| 35 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | Salticidae | 158 | 0.5% |
| 36 | Giant lichen orbweaver Araneus bicentenarius | Araneidae | 156 | 0.5% |
| 37 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | Salticidae | 154 | 0.5% |
| 38 | Lance wolf spider Schizocosa avida | Lycosidae | 150 | 0.5% |
| 39 | Carolina jumping spider Phidippus carolinensis | Salticidae | 149 | 0.5% |
| 40 | Phidippus texanus | Salticidae | 147 | 0.5% |
| 41 | Eriophora edax | Araneidae | 142 | 0.5% |
| 42 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | Salticidae | 140 | 0.5% |
| 43 | Texas tan tarantula Aphonopelma anax | Theraphosidae | 135 | 0.5% |
| 44 | Cave cobweb spider Eidmannella pallida | Nesticidae | 132 | 0.5% |
| 45 | Mecaphesa dubia | Thomisidae | 128 | 0.4% |
| 46 | American dewdrop spider Argyrodes elevatus | Theridiidae | 126 | 0.4% |
| 47 | Carolina wolf spider Hogna carolinensis | Lycosidae | 125 | 0.4% |
| 48 | Celer crab spider Mecaphesa celer | Thomisidae | 124 | 0.4% |
| 49 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | Tetragnathidae | 123 | 0.4% |
| 50 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | Araneidae | 122 | 0.4% |
| 51 | Metazygia wittfeldae | Araneidae | 115 | 0.4% |
| 52 | Lined orbweaver Mangora gibberosa | Araneidae | 113 | 0.4% |
| 53 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | Sicariidae | 112 | 0.4% |
| 54 | Pardosa mercurialis | Lycosidae | 111 | 0.4% |
| 55 | Dotted wolf spider Rabidosa punctulata | Lycosidae | 106 | 0.4% |
| 56 | Bifurcate trashline orbweaver Allocyclosa bifurca | Araneidae | 103 | 0.4% |
| 57 | Phidippus arizonensis | Salticidae | 101 | 0.4% |
| 58 | Messua limbata | Salticidae | 99 | 0.3% |
| 59 | Cardinal jumper Phidippus cardinalis | Salticidae | 97 | 0.3% |
| 60 | Humpbacked orbweaver Eustala anastera | Araneidae | 97 | 0.3% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.