Types of Spiders in the State of Ohio

Linyphiidae -- Sheet Web Weavers

• The majority of spiders in Ohio come from the sheet web weaver, or Linyphiidae, family. Two examples of Linyphiidae found in Ohio are the bowl and doily weaver spider, or Frontinella communis, and the hammock spider, or Pityohyphantes costatus. Members of this family are 5 mm long or less and create small dome-shaped webs.

Salticidae -- Jumping Spiders

• The second most numerous family in Ohio is the jumping spider, or Salticidae, family. Two examples of Salticidae are the bronze jumper, or Eris militaris, and the zebra jumper, or Salticus scenicus. Members of this spider family are less than 10 mm long, can jump up to 40 times their body length and have excellent vision.

Araneidae -- Orb Weavers

• Members of the orb weaver, or Araneidae, family range greatly in size and coloring. Some examples include the shamrock orb weaver, or Araneus trifolium; the star-bellied orb weaver, or Acanthepeira stellata; the bolas spider, or Mastophora hutchinsoni; and the white micrathena, or Micrathena gracilis. According to the Explorit Science Museum, members of this family are most recognizable for the webs they weave "with nonsticky radiating strands and spiraling sticky threads."

Lycosidae -- Wolf Spiders

• Ohio has 56 members of the wolf spider, or Lycosidae, family. Two examples are the burrowing wolf spider, or Geolycosa missouriensis, and the pirate wolf spider, or Pirata minutus. Members of this family are more likely to live and hunt on the ground than to use a web to capture prey. Female wolf spiders carry their eggs and spiderlings on their backs.

Theridiidae -- Cobweb Weaver

• One of the more visually striking and venomous spiders, the black widow, belongs to the cobweb weaver, or Theridiidae, family. Ohio actually has two species of the widow spider, the northern black widow, or Latrodectus variolus, and the southern black widow, or Latrodectus mactans. These spiders produce meshlike webs and often cocoon their prey in silk to immobilize them.

Thomisidae -- Crab Spiders

• Crab spiders, or Thomisidae, move laterally like a crab, which is where they get their name. An example of a member of the crab spider family in Ohio is the elegant crab spider, or Xysticus elegans. These spiders capture insects by hiding on tops of plants and flowers; often their coloring allows them to blend into this environment.

Gnaphosidae -- Ground Spiders

• Ground spiders, or Gnaphosidae, are usually black or brown and between 2 and 17 mm long. An example is the parson spider, or Herpyllus ecclesiasticus. These nocturnal spiders are most often found in leaves and use little silk when hunting.