Snakes and spiders in Hanover County, Virginia
Hanover County, home of Hanover Courthouse, has 10 snake and 23 spider species on record, from 138 licensed snake and 348 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the southern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Hanover County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 11 licensed records, 2% of all Virginia records of it. The southern black widow: 1 licensed record, 2% of all Virginia records of it.
What snakes are in Hanover County?
In all, 10 snake species are on the Hanover County list. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake (23), the northern water snake (20) and the eastern wormsnake (16).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 23 | 2% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 20 | 1% |
| 3 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 16 | 2% |
| 4 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 11 | 2% |
| 5 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 11 | 2% |
| 6 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 11 | 2% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 8 | 1% |
| 8 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 6 | 3% |
| 9 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 6 | 1% |
| 10 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 5 | 0% |
What spiders are in Hanover County?
In all, 23 spider species are on the Hanover County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (42), the orchard orbweaver (24) and the banded garden spider (22).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Virginia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 42 | 11% |
| 2 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 24 | 3% |
| 3 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 22 | 25% |
| 4 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 19 | 11% |
| 5 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 15 | 17% |
| 6 | Lined orbweaver Mangora gibberosa | 12 | 46% |
| 7 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 10 | 8% |
| 8 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 10 | 5% |
| 9 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 9 | 2% |
| 10 | Labyrinth orbweaver Metepeira labyrinthea | 8 | 10% |
| 11 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 8 | 4% |
| 12 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | 8 | 7% |
| 13 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 7 | 2% |
| 14 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 6 | 2% |
| 15 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 6 | 6% |
| 16 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 6 | 1% |
| 17 | Tigrosa annexa | 6 | 12% |
| 18 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 3 | 3% |
| 19 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 3 | 2% |
| 20 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 2 | 0% |
| 21 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 1 | 0% |
| 22 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 1 | 2% |
| 23 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 1 | 2% |
When are spiders out in Hanover County?
Observation records of spiders in Hanover County run mostly May through October, peaking in August with 18% of them; across Virginia the peak is September.
What stands out in Hanover County
Species for which Hanover County holds a large share of all Virginia records: the lined orbweaver, 46% (12 of 26); the banded garden spider, 25% (22 of 87); the brilliant jumping spider, 17% (15 of 87).
Common in Virginia, not on the Hanover County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Virginia, these do not reach the county list: the brown water snake (479 statewide), the northern cottonmouth (349 statewide) and the timber rattlesnake (242 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: Paraphidippus aurantius (299 statewide), the bronze jumper (276 statewide), the spined micrathena (263 statewide) and the white-banded fishing spider (243 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Hanover County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern rat snake, the northern water snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Virginia list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the timber rattlesnake is on the Virginia list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake.
Hanover County among Virginia counties
By licensed snake records Hanover County ranks 22nd of 129 Virginia counties with any.
Other Virginia counties with their own page: Fairfax County, Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Loudoun County and Arlington 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.