With their creepy-crawly legs and all of the horror movies made about them, it’s easy to understand why spiders get a bad rap.
If you’re terrified of spiders, you’re not alone.
In fact, arachnophobia (fear of spiders) is one of the most common phobias in the world. And, around 18 percent of men and 55 percent of women experience a fear of spiders to some degree. (nikonlenswear.com)
To help quell your fear of spiders, it can help to know which ones are actually worth being afraid of and which ones are completely harmless.
Check out this guide to learn about the different types of spiders.
Table of Contents
Domestic House Spider
As you may guess by the name, one of the most common spiders in the US is the domestic house spider (scientific name: tegenaria domestica).
These spiders are brown or dark orange in color and come with a pale mark on their breastplate.
Domestic house spiders spin a distinctive funnel-shaped web and are typically found in dark crevices in cupboards, furniture, attics, storage rooms, basements, and other undisturbed places.
Hobo Spider
The hobo spider (scientific name: tegenaria agrestis) is also brown or dark orange in color.
A light shape runs down the middle of their sternum, and they also spin funnel-shaped webs. They’re also typically found in undisturbed areas of the home.
Because of their many similarities, hobo spiders and domestic spiders are often confused with one another.
However, these spiders are more commonly found in Europe than they are in the United States.
Black Widow Spider
When people think of scary-looking spiders, the black widow spider is usually the one that comes to mind.
Female spiders are shiny black and have a red hourglass shape or come with red spots under the abdomen. To identify a black widow, you should look for this distinctive body shape.
Males, on the other hand, are brown or dark gray in color. They also have an hourglass shape, yet theirs is white or yellow in color.
The venom of females is also at least three times as potent as the males’ venom.
These spiders are typically found in stone walls, woodpiles, outdoor furniture, barns, sheds, and basements.
If you find a black widow spider in your home, you should call pest control.
Brown Recluse
Brown recluse spiders are dark or light brown in color and often come with a violin-shaped mark on their back.
However, not all brown recluse spiders have this marking, so the best way to identify them is by their 6 eyes (most spiders have 8).
These spiders tend to hide out in basements, garages, sheds, and woodpiles.
Daddy Longlegs
Last but not least, we have daddy longlegs, another common spider you’ll find in and around the home.
Daddy longlegs are light brown, gray, or yellow in color, and they’re distinguished by their exceptionally long, thin legs.
Typically, these spiders are found hiding in damp basements, crawlspaces, windows, ceilings, garages, and closets.
Types of Spiders: Is it Good or Bad?
As you can see, there are many different types of spiders out there that you may come into contact with.
Of course, coming into contact with one spider in your home shouldn’t freak you out, but it’s always a good idea to have pest control over to make sure there isn’t an infestation.
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