Common Tennessee Spiders

Black Widow

• The black widow is one of the few poisonous species of spiders that inhabit Tennessee. Black widow spiders commonly live among humans without incident, according to the Tennessee Poison Center. Reported bite cases are rare, but are serious and typically require medical attention. The southern species of black widow is most common in Tennessee. This species range in color from shiny black to a dull, reddish brown. They typically have a distinctive orange or red hourglass mark on the underside of their abdomen. Males are typically smaller than females and are not as dangerous.

Grass Spider

• Grass spiders, which belong to the funnel web weaver class of spiders, are common throughout Tennessee and much of the United States, according to the Insect Identification website. These spiders are not harmful to humans. They spin a funnel-shaped web in the grass or other low-lying foliage as a means of trapping insects, which the grass spider uses for food. Grass spiders range in size from about 1/2 to 3/4 inches and may be yellow, brown or gray. The male is typically smaller than the female.

Southern Crevice Spider

• The southern crevice spider, sometimes known as the southern house spider, is common in Tennessee and throughout the American South. They spin their webs in dark corners and crevices indoors. They may also be found outside, under logs, in trees and in other dark places. Males and females look remarkably different. Females are typically gray and are about twice the size of the male. Males are typically brown or khaki. Males have longer legs than the females, while females have larger abdomens. Female southern crevice spiders are reclusive and spin webs, while males are more active and do not spin webs. Most of the southern crevice spiders that are seen running across the floor in Tennessee homes are male, according to Orkin.