Spiders in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia

Black- and-Yellow Garden Spider

• The black-and-yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia), also called simply garden spider, commonly inhabits woodlands and garden areas, and grows up to 1 1/8 inch in length. Distinguished by a black and yellow pattern on their abdomens, some of these spiders also have alternating orange bands around their legs. Black-and-yellow garden spiders are orb weavers, meaning that their webs consist of spoked, wheel-shaped, concentric circles -- or orbs. These carnivores consume insects and other non-insect arthropods such as centipedes, ticks and other spiders.

Black Tail Crab Spider

• Black tail crab spiders (Synema parvulum) are members of the family Thomisidae, which are globally known as "crab spiders." These spiders are generally distinguished by their long, forward-sitting, front legs that are significantly longer than their hind legs, giving them an appearance like crabs'. The black tail crab spider specifically has a black marking on the end of its abdomen. Feeding off of insects, these black, brown or red spiders ambush their prey as opposed to catching them in webs.

Brown Recluse Spider

• Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles recluse) are poisonous, and have only recently been found to occur on a more widespread basis in the northern panhandle. As the name implies, these spiders to seek shelter in undisturbed, secluded areas. Indoors, they may be found in closets or behind curtains. Brown recluse spiders range color from brown to orange-yellow. Their distinguishing feature is a dark violin shaped pattern in the upper section of their bodies. It is because of this marking that brown recluse spiders are sometimes called fiddle-back or violin spiders.

Wolf Spider

• Wolf spider is an umbrella term for members of the family Lycosidae, and also members of the genus Hogna within that same family. Wolf spiders are presumably the largest and most prevalent spiders in the region, growing up to 1 3/8 inches in length -- not including their legs. Usually brown or yellow with contrasting markings or stripes, wolf spiders hunt for insects at night. There are more than 100 species of wolf spider in the United States and Canada.

Black Widow

• Black widow spiders are members of the genus Latrodectus, consisting of more than 30 species, with the southern black widow or Latrodectus mactans the most widely known. These extremely poisonous spiders are distinguished by a red marking, similar in shape to an hourglass, on their abdomen. Black widows have a body length of up to 1/2 inch -- not including their legs -- and generally avoid human contact, inhabiting hidden or sheltered areas. These black spiders use escape as their first recourse before biting, and will bite only as a defense mechanism if trapped. Also, contrary to popular belief, black widow females rarely eat their males after mating.