Snakes and spiders in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake has 13 snake and 24 spider species on record, from 329 licensed snake and 87 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the eastern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Chesapeake?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 25 licensed records, 7% of all Virginia records of it. The eastern copperhead: 20 licensed records, 3% of all Virginia records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 5 licensed records, 2% of all Virginia records of it.
What snakes are in Chesapeake?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Chesapeake list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (78), the brown water snake (44) and the northern water snake (39).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 78 | 7% |
| 2 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 44 | 9% |
| 3 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 39 | 3% |
| 4 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 25 | 7% |
| 5 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 24 | 39% |
| 6 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 20 | 3% |
| 7 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 15 | 4% |
| 8 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 14 | 1% |
| 9 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 13 | 8% |
| 10 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 12 | 2% |
| 11 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 8 | 32% |
| 12 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 5 | 1% |
| 13 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 5 | 2% |
When are snakes out in Chesapeake?
Observation records of snakes in Chesapeake run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 19% of them, the same peak as Virginia as a whole.
What spiders are in Chesapeake?
In all, 24 spider species are on the Chesapeake list. The most recorded are the familiar jumping spider (9), the black-and-yellow argiope (8) and the magnolia green jumper (6).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 9 | 2% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 8 | 2% |
| 3 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 6 | 1% |
| 4 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 5 | 1% |
| 5 | Canopy jumping spider Phidippus otiosus | 5 | 8% |
| 6 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 5 | 2% |
| 7 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 5 | 2% |
| 8 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 4 | 1% |
| 9 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 3 | 1% |
| 10 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 3 | 1% |
| 11 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 2 | 1% |
| 12 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 2 | 4% |
| 13 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 2 | 1% |
| 14 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 1% |
| 15 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 2 | 3% |
| 16 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 2 | 3% |
| 17 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 2 | 1% |
| 18 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | — | — |
| 19 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | — | — |
| 20 | Featherlegged orbweaver Uloborus glomosus | — | — |
| 21 | Leucauge argyrobapta | — | — |
| 22 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | — | — |
| 23 | Scytodes atlacoya | — | — |
| 24 | Tigrosa annexa | — | — |
When are spiders out in Chesapeake?
Observation records of spiders in Chesapeake run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 32% of them; across Virginia the peak is September.
What stands out in Chesapeake
Species for which Chesapeake holds a large share of all Virginia records: the plain-bellied watersnake, 39% (24 of 61).
Common in Virginia, not on the Chesapeake list
Among the snakes most recorded across Virginia, these do not reach the county list: the eastern rat snake (1,247 statewide) and the eastern wormsnake (793 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 Virginia, these do not reach the county list: the bronze jumper (276 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Chesapeake
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the brown water snake, the northern water snake, the plain-bellied watersnake and the mud snake.
Chesapeake among Virginia counties
By licensed snake records Chesapeake ranks 6th of 129 Virginia counties with any.
Other Virginia counties with their own page: Fairfax County, Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach, Loudoun County, Arlington County and Hanover County.
The whole state: venomous species in Virginia, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.