Why do spiders spin webs? Because they can’t knit.
All kidding aside, spiders themselves are no joke. Most people are merely disturbed by spiders, but the idea of getting bitten by a potentially poisonous spider is something to make everyone wary.
To expand your knowledge and safety on common spiders in Pennsylvania, read this article. We’ll discuss the most common spiders and if they’re poisonous.
Grass Spider
Webs are a great identifier for grass spiders. Known for their wide or tunnel-like webs, Grass Spiders are shy and unlikely to be spotted often. They’re dark brown with bands on their backs along with dark legs.
You’ll find these spiders and their webs in the grass and plants like ivy. They’re also likely to be found in barns, on fences, and in bushes. Grass spiders are not poisonous, but their bites are reported to be painful and a cause for side effects like swelling, redness, and itchiness.
Common House Spider
Common House Spiders are widely found in the windows, doorways, and crevices of houses and barns. They’re brown and round with legs that tuck underneath them. Their webs are simple and plenty, common to spot in corners.
Common House Spiders are not known to bite humans, so you won’t find yourself in danger of these spider bites. However, keeping them out of your house is always desired.
Barn Funnel Weaver Spider
These spiders are dual-toned, red and brown, with an elongated oval body and legs. Barn Funnel Weavers spin their webs in small dimensions and are found in barns, sheds, doorways, rocks, and wood boards. While not poisonous, these spiders do have painful side effects.
Brown Recluse Spider
Large, brown, and spindly, Brown Recluse Spiders are entirely household spiders. These spiders are shy but might bite when trapped between sheets or clothing. Brown Recluse Spiders have a venomous bite and can cause serious harm.
In 10% of Brown Recluse Spider bite cases, their venom will cause necrotic lesions on your skin, resulting in deep infection and can be fatal. However, the possibility of a Brown Recluse Spider biting you is extremely rare. Here is our guide on what to do if you find a Brown Recluse Spider in your home.
Hacklemesh Weaver Spider
Hacklemesh Weaver Spiders reside in damp basements, in woodpiles, and on tree bark. Colored red-brown with stripes along their back and legs, these spiders create tunnel-like webs and are not poisonous.
Yellow Garden Spider
One of the largest and elaborately colored spiders in Pennsylvania, Yellow Garden Spiders are striped light yellow and black.
They spin round, intricate webs that are found in barns, gardens, weeds, and bushes. Yellow Garden Spiders aren’t poisonous, but their bites are known to mimic the effect of bee stings.
Cross Orb-Weaver Spider
Originally from Europe, Cross Orb-Weaver Spiders are known for their round orange and brown bodies. These spiders are found in summer and autumn, on the sides of buildings that reflect sunlight.
Cross Orb-Weaver Spiders are not poisonous but will cause redness, pain, and swelling with their bites.
Southern Black Widow Spider
Everyone knows what Black Widow Spiders look like, but seeing one is rare. Southern Black Widow Spiders live in woodpiles, crevices, and dark corners of barns and structures.
These spiders are poisonous and a bite from them will result in strong symptoms, such as muscle aches, burning, fever, difficulty breathing, and chills. These symptoms last from 3 days to a week but do not result in fatality.
Spined Micrathena Spider
Strangely spiny, these spiders are black and reflective. Their bodies are shaped narrowly and are easily camouflaged. Their webs are silk strands that stretch across pathways and trees, commonly found in wooded areas. Spined Micrathena Spiders are not poisonous and not known to bite.
Broad-Faced Sac Spider
Broad-Faced Sac Spiders are known for their red, black, and brown bodies. Mostly found in foliage, these spiders dwell under windowsills and house sidings.
Since these spiders feed on dead and decaying arthropods, their bites are known to be painful and can cause dangerous infections.
Parson Spider
These ground spiders do not spin webs, as they spend their time hunting for prey during nighttime. Parson Spiders are brown and black and are known for their fast, zigzag movements.
While not poisonous, these spiders can cause allergic reactions when leaving bites.
Wolf Spider
Wolf Spiders are the most common ground spiders, hunting at night for prey throughout firewood and foliage. Grey and brown, Wolf Spiders are commonly seen in the winter and are not poisonous but have painful bites.
Agrarian Sac Spider
These yellow and brown spiders are lanky and sneaky. You’ll find Agrarian Sac Spiders in foliage, wood planks, and in corners of barns and houses.
A bite from these spiders will give you rashes, nausea, fever, and muscle cramps. While getting bitten by an Agrarian Sac Spider is rare, it’s best avoided as different people have different reactions to their bite.
Fishing Spider
Fishing Spiders look similar to Wolf Spiders in their colors, patterns, and size, however, their dark color contrasts and wide-spanned legs separate them from Wolf Spiders.
These spiders are large and stalk on water, catching prey like aquatic insects and small fish. Fishing Spiders are common to find in ponds and lakes. While getting bitten by these spiders is painful, they’re not poisonous.
Long-bodied Cellar Spider
Close in resemblance to a Daddy-Long-Legs Spider, Long-Bodied Cellar Spiders look like a smaller, flatter version. Light brown and spindly, these spiders reside far away from water, usually in trees or wooded areas, as well as in common living spaces.
Long-Bodied Cellar Spiders are not known to bite and are not poisonous.
Bold Jumper Spider
Bold Jumper Spiders are the most common jumper spiders in Pennsylvania, earning their name through their hunting technique: leaping. Hairy with black fur, Bold Jumper Spiders are small and found indoors as well as outdoors, in places like deck rails and windowsills. These spiders are not poisonous, but you will have mild allergic reactions from a Bold Jumper’s bite.
What To Do About These Most Common Spiders
Coming across any of these spiders is unpleasant, but the good news is that you’ll likely avoid a spider bite from any of these types.
With the knowledge of the most common spiders in PA, you’re prepared to identify and avoid these critters. However, the more information, the better. If this article hooked you, be sure to check out our pest info on spiders.
If you find more than what you can handle in your home with one of these spider types, contact us for a free inspection today.