On this page Which spiders can hurt you All 80 spiders Lookalikes When they are active If you are bitten or stung Common questions What official sources say About this list Sources IDNR: More than 630 species of spiders have been identified in Illinois so far.
This page lists 80 spiders : all from IDNR's Wild About Illinois Spiders! - Gallery by Family and Species.
4 are venomous by official accounts. IDNR gives a total of 630; the 80 here are the spiders official sources name one by one.
Not every species: no complete official list of Illinois spiders exists, so this page covers the ones state and Extension sources name. How lists are built .
Which spiders can hurt you Official sources single out these spiders in Illinois, in their own words:
Photo: Meghan Cassidy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized Venomous. “The venom of the brown recluse is considered dangerous and occasionally fatal to humans, although people are rarely bitten.” IDNR
Photo: Shenrich91 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized southern black widow Venomous. “The venom of the female is very toxic to humans, but humans are rarely bitten because this spider is shy and not aggressive.” IDNR
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons northern black widow IDNR names this species and says no bites have been attributed to it. “No bites have been attributed to the northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus), a species that lives in forests.” IDNR
All 80 spiders Venomous species first, then A to Z. Do not handle them.
Find by name
Photo: Meghan Cassidy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized Loxosceles reclusa
Venomous per IDNR
Size Body about 7 to 12 mm (about 3/8 inch); females average about 9 mm and males about 8 mm. UC IPM says a recluse body is not more than 3/8 inch long. How to recognize it Six equal-sized eyes in three pairs. UC IPM calls this the most definitive feature, since most spiders have eight eyes. The violin mark alone is not a reliable way to identify it UC IPM's five-point check: six eyes in pairs, evenly colored finely haired abdomen, no spines on the legs, evenly colored legs, body no more than 3/8 inch Where in Illinois The brown recluse may be found in the southern two-thirds of Illinois. IDNR What the sources say Venom: “The venom of the brown recluse is considered dangerous and occasionally fatal to humans, although people are rarely bitten.” (IDNR)
Habitat: It often lives inside houses in dark places like closets and dressers. It also can be found outdoors under rocks, logs or debris. (IDNR)
Full brown recluse guide
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons northern black widow Latrodectus variolus
Venomous per CDC/NIOSH
Danger to people “No bites have been attributed to the northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus), a species that lives in forests.” IDNR What the sources say Venom: “Black widows and brown recluses are two types of venomous spiders in the United States.” (CDC/NIOSH)
Habitat: A species that lives in forests (IDNR) (IDNR)
Photo: Shenrich91 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized southern black widow Latrodectus mactans
Venomous per IDNR
Where in Illinois IDNR: "builds its web near the ground in secluded places or indoors in sheds and barns throughout Illinois." … IDNR What the sources say Venom: “The venom of the female is very toxic to humans, but humans are rarely bitten because this spider is shy and not aggressive.” (IDNR)
Range: IDNR: "builds its web near the ground in secluded places or indoors in sheds and barns throughout Illinois." Illinois Poison Center: "Usually only found in southern Illinois". The two official sources differ.
Habitat: The black widow builds a web under objects in outbuildings, trash piles and other similar locations. (IDNR)
Photo: Kristen Diesburg · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist spitting spider Scytodes thoracica
Venomous per IDNR
What the sources say Venom: “…the spider spits a mixture of glue and venom on it, trapping it against the object it was walking on.” (IDNR)
No confirmed photo of antmimic spider antmimic spider Castianeira alata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Nick Chirico · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of black lace-weaver spider black lace-weaver spider Amaurobius ferox
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Michael J. Papay · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Argiope aurantia
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Size Females 3/4 to 1 inch long, not counting legs (Missouri); 19 to 28 mm (Penn State); Texas A&M says the female body is more than 1 inch. Males about 1/4 inch (Missouri); 5 to 8 mm (Penn State). How to recognize it Round web about 2 feet across, built only by females; the spider rests head-down at the center, where a zigzag silk band (stabilimentum) runs vertically. Abdomen an elongated oval, pointed at the rear, with two humps (shoulders) at the front. Males are much smaller than females and rarely noticed.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
96 records by month. Full black-and-yellow garden spider guide
No confirmed photo of boulder spider boulder spider Pardosa saxatilis
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Meghan Cassidy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized bronze jumper Eris militaris
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: WanderingMogwai · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized brushlegged wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: NathanScientific · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons Carolina wolf spider Hogna carolinensis
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of cobweb spider cobweb spider Anelosimus studiosus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: John P Friel · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist cobweb spider Phoroncidia americana
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of cobweb spider cobweb spider Steatoda albomaculata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of cribellate orb weaver cribellate orb weaver Octonoba sinensis
Non-venomous per IDNR
What the sources say Venom: “Family Uloboridae - … These spiders do not have venom glands.” (IDNR)
Photo: skitterbug · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist crowned hentzia jumping spider Hentzia mitrata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of dotted wolf spider dotted wolf spider Rabidosa punctulata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Zygy · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist emerald jumper Paraphidippus aurantius
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of filmy dome spider filmy dome spider Neriene raidiata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of funnel weaver spider funnel weaver spider Coras lamellosus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ghost spider ghost spider Arachosia cubana
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Curtis Burke · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist grass spider Agelenopsis naevia
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Michelle Campbell · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist green crab spider Misumessus oblongus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground crab spider ground crab spider Xysticus funestus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground spider ground spider Drassyllus lepidus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground spider ground spider Haplodrassus signifer
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground spider ground spider Sergiolus capulatus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground spider ground spider Sergiolus decoratus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground spider ground spider Sergiolus montanus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of ground spider ground spider Sergiolus ocellatus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of Hentz’s orbweaver Hentz’s orbweaver Neoscona crucifer
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of jumping spider jumping spider Habronattus borealis
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Adrienne van den Beemt · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist jumping spider Habronattus decorus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of jumping spider jumping spider Marpissa formosa
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: platycryptus · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons jumping spider Phidippus mystaceus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of jumping spider jumping spider Phidippus putnami
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Benjamin Burgunder · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist jumping spider Sassacus papenhoei
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of long-jawed orbweaver long-jawed orbweaver Tetragnatha guatemalensis
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Bill Keim · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist marbled orb-weaver spider Araneus marmoreus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of nursery web spider nursery web spider Pisaurina dubia
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Turner Brockman · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized orange antmimic Castianeira amoena
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of orbweaver spider orbweaver spider Acanthepeira cherokee
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of orbweaver spider orbweaver spider Araneus guttulatus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of orbweaver spider orbweaver spider Araneus juniperi
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of orbweaver spider orbweaver spider Eustala cepina
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Katja Schulz · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist orchard spider Leucauge venusta
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of pale jumping spider pale jumping spider Thiodina sylvana
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: spidereyes · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist Pike slender jumper Marpissa pikei
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of pirate spider pirate spider Mimetus epeiroides
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of prowling spider prowling spider Zora pumila
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons red and black jumping spider Phidippus clarus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of reticulated pirate spider reticulated pirate spider Mimetus notius
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of rock weaver rock weaver Titanoeca brunnea
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of running crab spider running crab spider Thanatus formicinus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons scallop-banded spider Pisaurina mira
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Even Dankowicz · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist scarlet sheetweaver Florinda coccinea
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of shore spider shore spider Pardosa milvina
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Ken Clark · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: cesar stastny · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of thickjawed orbweaver thickjawed orbweaver Pachygnatha tristriata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of thin-legged wolf spider thin-legged wolf spider Pardosa pauxilla
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized tringulate orbweaver Verrucosa arenata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Gladicosa pulchra
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Pardosa lapidicina
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Pirata sedentarius
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Rabidosa hentzi
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Schizocosa aulonia
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Schizocosa bilineata
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Schizocosa retrorsa
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Schizocosa stridulens
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Trochosa sepulchralis
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Varacosa avara
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. No confirmed photo of wolf spider wolf spider Varacosa shenandoa
Not stated
Venom No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it. Spiders people confuse Yellow garden spider or Banded garden spider (banded orb weaver)? Missouri Department of Conservation: the banded garden spider is slightly smaller than the black-and-yellow garden spider, with a pointier hind end, and its abdomen has many thin silver and yellow crosswise lines and thicker black, spotty lines.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When spiders are active in Illinois Records of spiders in Illinois peak in June to September. They show when people record spiders, not how many there are (about month bars ).
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2,907 records of spiders in Illinois by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records). If you are bitten or stung Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
Official advice from Illinois Poison Center:
What official sources say Are there brown recluse spiders in Illinois? Yes. IDNR: the brown recluse may be found in the southern two-thirds of Illinois, often inside houses. IDNR
“The brown recluse may be found in the southern two-thirds of Illinois.” Sources IDNR Mission Statement . Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Wild About Illinois Spiders! (gallery by family and species) . Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (4) “More than 630 species of spiders have been identified in Illinois so far.” “…the spider spits a mixture of glue and venom on it, trapping it against the object it was walking on.” “Family Uloboridae - … These spiders do not have venom glands.” “No bites have been attributed to the northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus), a species that lives in forests.” Brown Recluse (Wild About Illinois Spiders: Family Sicariidae) . Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (2) “The venom of the brown recluse is considered dangerous and occasionally fatal to humans, although people are rarely bitten.” “The brown recluse may be found in the southern two-thirds of Illinois.” Southern Black Widow (Wild About Illinois Spiders) . Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “The venom of the female is very toxic to humans, but humans are rarely bitten because this spider is shy and not aggressive.” Venomous Spiders at Work (CDC/NIOSH) . CDC/NIOSH. archived copy, captured October 6, 2026; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “Black widows and brown recluses are two types of venomous spiders in the United States.” Snakes (Health & Safety: Insects and Animals) . Illinois Poison Center (Illinois Health and Hospital Association). undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “IPC is here to help. Calls to our helpline, 1-800-222-1222, are free and confidential. … Call 911 if someone is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing.” Spiders (Health & Safety: Insects and Animals) . Illinois Poison Center (Illinois Health and Hospital Association). undated page; checked November 3, 2026. Quoted passages (1) “Do not hesitate to call the Illinois Poison Center (1-800-222-1222) if you are unsure of what to do next!” GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page. 
_-_05.08.23.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
