Spiders are common around the world, and there are many that you will likely see specifically in Texas. Spiders are arachnids. Many people have an extreme fear of spiders called arachnophobia.
Most spiders have eight eyes and eight legs, although there is some variety. All spiders produce silk, but only some make webs, while others hunt their prey, and some ambush.
We are going to go through ten of the most common Texas spiders you will encounter or need to know about in Texas.
1: American House Spider
The American House spider, also known as the common house spider, is present throughout North America. They have a distinctly larger abdomen and are frequently shades of brown.
As the name suggests, this type of spider is often found in homes, usually in the corners of windows or rooms. Its web is also the inspiration for many of the cobweb themes related to Halloween.
They can be a problem if they infest a home, and you will need a professional to get rid of them.
2: Long-bodied Cellar Spider
The Long Bodied Cellar Spider is one of the more common Texas spiders. It has distinctly long legs, several times longer than its body, which makes this spider easy to identify.
As its name suggests, the Long Bodied Cellar Spider is often found in dark, cool cellars. They are harmless and help to catch pests within homes.
3: Black and Yellow Garden Spider
The Black and Yellow Garden Spider is known by many different names, including the zigzag spider, because it creates a thicker zigzag pattern on its webs.
The Black and Yellow Garden Spider is probably most recognizable for its large size, distinct yellow and black features, and two-foot webs.
This spider is a staple for garden spaces around Texas as well as the United States in general. It helps regulate garden pests by feeding on them.
4: Orb-Weavers
There are many species of orbweavers that make their home in Texas. The Giant Lichen Orbweaver and the Tropical Orbweaver are two of the larger species growing to about an inch and they make enormous webs of eight feet and nineteen feet respectively!
The Spinybacked Orbweaver is one of the more distinct species as it has six spikes along its abdomen, hence its name. It isn’t poisonous, but the spikes do help it appear inedible to its predators. Orbweavers are harmless to humans, preferring to hide or run away.
5: Jumping Spider
Jumping spiders are considered by many to be the cutest spiders because they have two larger front eyes, are hairy, and are quite small at often only three to fifteen millimeters.
They also have the incredible ability to leap forty times their body length. Jumping spiders do not build webs, but hunt with their keen eyesight. They are not aggressive and tend to avoid people when possible.
6: Black Widow
The Black Widow spider has a very distinct red or orange hourglass shape on its large black abdomen. Female Black Widows are three to four times larger than their male counterparts.
Black Widows are one of the most venomous spiders in North America. They make very messy-looking webs and are often found in dark corners of garages, woodpiles, or cellars.
It is important to be able to identify and avoid them or get them taken care of by a professional if necessary.
7: Brown Recluse
The Brown Recluse spider, also known as the Desert Recluse in Texas, is often said to be identifiable by its violin shaped markings on its back and by looking at its eyes because they are one of only a few spiders with six eyes.
This spider is not only venomous, but its bite can cause necrosis on rare occasions. The Desert Recluse builds irregular webs that are low to the ground.
They often prefer darker places like wood piles, attics, or corners. It is important to get a professional involved if they are near or inside your home.
8: Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are frequently over an inch in size. They are hunters, similar to jumping spiders, and don’t build webs, although some do create burrows to ambush their prey from.
Wolf spiders are generally found outdoors in fields or woods, and they are very quick. The Wolf Spider is unique in the world of spiders because it not only carries around an egg sac attached to its abdomen, but also carries the young on its back until they are ready to be on their own.
If provoked, they deliver a strong, painful bite that will need to be taken care of, but their venom is generally not as dangerous to humans as the Black Widow or Brown Recluse.
9: Tarantula
Texas Brown Tarantulas are larger, growing to over four inches including their legs, and heavier, weighing up to three ounces, than most spiders.
They also look menacing and scary, but in reality are fairly docile and not aggressive. The female Texas Brown tarantula can live an incredible forty years or more!
They hunt and eat medium-sized insects like grasshoppers or roaches, but have also been known to eat geckos. In a unique defense mechanism, the Texas Brown tarantula will flick its irritating leg hairs at an attacker.
10: American Grass Spider
The American Grass Spider is common throughout North America and is found everywhere in Texas. As its name suggests, it lives mostly in fields or more arid climates.
They are sometimes confused with Wolf spiders because of similar habitat areas as well as body shape and coloring. They are harmless to humans and not usually aggressive.
GoGo Gecko Pest Control
There is almost an endless variety of spiders to see in Texas. The ten common Texas spiders listed above are ones you are likely to encounter at some point while living in Texas.
If you are worried about an infestation, especially with a more venomous species like the Brown Recluse or Black Widow, it’s a good idea to get professional pest control service. They can assess the situation and lay out a plan to control the pests.
