The Most Massive Spiders You Can Encounter in America

Love them or hate them, spiders are all around us. There are around 50,000 species of spiders in the world, and more than 3,500 of them are in the United States. Spiders can be various sizes, from tiny sheet weavers to huge tarantulas, but have you ever wondered what’s the biggest one you might encounter? Let’s take a look at the largest spiders in America, ranked by leg span!

10. Six-Spotted Fishing Spider

The first spider on the list is the six-spotted fishing spider (Dolomedes triton), which has a leg span of 2.5 inches. Six-spotted fishing spiders have a body length of approximately 0.8 inches and are greyish-brown with light-colored spots on their abdomen. However, they are named because of the six dark-colored spots on their cephalothorax. They inhabit most of North America and live in slow-moving wetland areas, such as streams, ponds, and the shores of lakes. Six-spotted fishing spiders eat a variety of small fish and aquatic insects. They use venom to incapacitate their prey, but they are not considered to be dangerous to humans.

9. Giant House Spider

Given their name, it’s unsurprising that the giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) makes the list. Giant house spiders have a leg span of up to 2.95 inches for males, although females have slightly longer bodies, with a length of around 0.73 inches. They are dark brown and have hairy bodies and legs. Although they are native to Europe, they were introduced to the United States in the 1900s and are now one of the most common spiders found in homes. Giant house spiders don’t usually bite unless they are threatened.

8. Carolina Wolf Spider

The Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) is the largest species of wolf spider in the United States. Females are larger than males and have a body length of up to 1.4 inches and a leg span of three inches. Carolina wolf spiders are mainly light brown with dark brown markings. Despite their name, they are actually found in a large area of the United States, and even in Canada. They live in a variety of habitats, including forests and grasslands. They live in burrows, often digging their own, although they may sometimes take over one abandoned by another animal. Carolina wolf spiders are ambush predators and eat small insects.

7. Dark Fishing Spider

Like the six-spotted fishing spider, the dark fishing spider is often found in locations close to water. However, these spiders can also be found in woodland areas. Dark fishing spiders (Dolomedes tenebrosus) have a leg span of 3.5 inches and a body length of up to one inch, with females being a little larger than the males. They are brown with stripes and chevron markings on their legs. Dark fishing spiders hunt prey both on the land and on the water. They typically scurry away when disturbed, but they can bite if threatened.

6. Texas Brown Tarantula

Moving on to the tarantulas now, the first of which is the Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi), which has a leg span of up to four inches. Texas brown tarantulas have dark brown, hairy bodies and can weigh as much as three ounces as adults. They live in several southern states, where they inhabit grasslands and scrublands. Texas brown tarantulas are venomous but tend to rear up on their hind legs in a defensive posture when threatened rather than biting. However, bites from these spiders can be painful, although they’re not usually serious.

5. Golden Orb Weaver

Next is the golden orb weaver (Trichonephila clavipes), which has a maximum leg span of 4.9 inches. The males are typically dark brown, but females have an orange-colored abdomen with yellowish-white spots. Golden orb weavers live in the southern region of the United States, where they inhabit forests and woodlands. As their name suggests, they make orb-shaped webs. These webs are particularly large, spanning three to six feet, and are used to catch small insects.

4. Rio Grande Gold Tarantula

The Rio Grande gold tarantula is another large spider in America. Rio Grande gold tarantulas (Aphonopelma moderatum) have a leg span of 4.5 to 5.5 inches. They have a stunning appearance, with a tan-brown to orange body and darker legs. They are endemic to the Rio Grande Valley region in southwestern Texas, where they thrive in dry habitats. Despite their size, these spiders aren’t particularly aggressive and rarely bite. They are venomous, though, and use their venom to catch and kill a variety of insects.

3. Texas Tan Tarantula

The third-largest spider in America is the Texas tan tarantula (Aphonopelma anax), which has a leg span of five to six inches. Texas tan tarantulas are tan and brown, with a similar appearance to the Texas brown tarantula. They mainly inhabit the Southeastern region of Texas but have also been observed in Mexico. These tarantulas prefer shrub forests and grasslands and live in burrows. The females lay their eggs in the burrow and guard the entrance from predators. However, these spiders are not usually aggressive towards humans.

2. Desert Blonde Tarantula

Desert blonde tarantulas (Aphonopelma chalcodes) have many other names, including the Arizona blonde tarantula and the western desert tarantula. They have a leg span of up to six inches and a body length of approximately 2.2 inches. Desert blonde tarantulas are usually a light tan color, which is why they are named “blonde”, although males have black legs. They live in the southwestern region of the US, where they favor desert habitats. They live in burrows, which they use to escape the heat during the daytime. Desert blonde tarantulas are venomous, but they’re not typically dangerous to humans; their bites are often compared to a bee sting.

1. Johnny Cash Tarantula

The largest spider in America is the Johnny Cash tarantula (Aphonopelma johnnycashi), which has a leg span of six inches. This spider was only discovered in 2015 close to the Folsom Prison in California, which is why it’s named after Johnny Cash, because of his song “Folsom Prison Blues.” Johnny Cash tarantulas vary in color depending on their gender: males are black, while females are dark brown. They are venomous but generally have a docile nature and are rarely dangerous to humans.