Common Spiders of Grand Junction, Colorado

Western Black Widow

• Western black widows have a reputation as extremely harmful to humans, but these spiders are quite shy and reclusive. Although its bite might make you feel sick, it can't kill you. The female has a round, shiny black body with a red hourglass shape on the underbelly. Females are quite small, only 1/4 to 1/3 inch long. Males are even smaller and unlikely to be seen. Western black widows are quite common and frequent dark nooks between stacked wood or cracks in rock.

Wolf Spider

• Wolf spiders have large leg spans, fat bodies and menacing fangs. Their bodies are usually up to an inch long, but with their legs they span a full 3 inches. Wolf spiders are nocturnal hunters that capture their prey without using a web. Females are brown while males are dark gray with black accents.

  Their habitat ranges from woodlands to dry inland shrubs. They're commonly found in gardens and along gravel beds at the shore of a river. The bite of a wolf spider can cause severe swelling, but for the most part they're relatively harmless.

Funnel Weaver

• During the summer and fall funnel weaver spiders, also known as grass spiders, are most common in Grand Junction homes. These spiders have quick movements, stripped legs and violin-shaped markings on the back. Funnel weavers have four pairs of eyes instead of the common three and are dark brown to black in color. They weave funnel-shaped webs in thick grass, shrubs and in corners to capture their prey. Although funnel weavers are quite common, they're absolutely harmless to people.

Jumping Spiders

• Like wolf spiders, jumping spiders hunt their prey instead of waiting in a web. They are capable of quickly jumping short distances, about half an inch, to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Jumping spiders have excellent vision that enables them to see 360 degrees. They are almost an inch long and display vibrant colors on their hairy bodies.

  Jumping spiders are common in homes during spring and summer months. They prefer to stay near windowsills or planters, where they can find prey. Their bite tends to sting, but does not cause serious harm.