5 of the Biggest Spiders in Mississippi

Mississippi is known for its blues music, the river with which it shares a name, and its modern agricultural prowess. Both the rural and urban areas of this state are full of interesting animals, including fish, snakes, alligators, and even spiders. Today, we will focus on identifying five of the biggest spiders in Mississippi. When we’re talking about the biggest spiders in Mississippi, it’s more of a contest of leg span. If only we went by body length, we’d be missing the vast majority of the spider’s overall size. So, if you’re ready to learn about Mississippi arachnids with some of the biggest bodies and longest leg spans, then read on.

5. Southern House Spider

The southern house spider is an unwelcome guest in many homes, but they are mostly harmless. They can reach up to 0.75 inches in body length and have leg spans of 2 inches, with females being larger. Females have stockier, grey to black bodies, while the slimmer males are a light brown to amber color.

These spiders are mostly found in homes, especially in small crevices. Only females and juveniles build messy-looking webs to entangle small insects. The males spend their time searching for a mate. The southern house spider can bite humans, but it is not dangerous. Their bites can leave a bump and may cause mild pain.

4. Carolina Wolf Spider

The Carolina wolf spider is the largest wolf spider species and can be found across much of the continental U.S. It can reach up to 1.4 inches in body length and up to 4 inches in leg span. They are brown to dark brown in color with darker markings along their mottled bodies. They have orange on their faces and mouthparts, and some males may have orange on the sides of their abdomens.

These wolf spiders dig burrows to live in, but they do not trap prey. They are nocturnal, wandering hunters that ambush their prey and paralyze it with venom. You can sometimes find these spiders in the dark recesses of homes. However, they prefer open areas outdoors with ground cover. You may also find them under rocks or around logs. A wolf spider bite can be painful and may cause swelling at the site.

3. Dark Fishing Spider

The dark fishing spider has a body length of 1 inch and a leg span that can reach over 3 inches, with females being larger. They have mottled black and brown bodies, with noticeable W-shaped patterns on the abdomen. The spider’s legs are banded black and brown. Dark fishing spiders have hydrophobic hairs that allow them to walk and run on water.

Despite its name, the dark fishing spider is not always found close to water. While it can be found around vegetation near permanent water, it can also be found in dry, forested areas and in yards. These spiders do not build webs. Instead, they hunt and capture insects and small arthropods on the ground or in the water. Bites from these spiders are very rare. However, if you do get bitten, the pain is said to be similar to a bee sting.

2. Pantropical Huntsman Spider

The pantropical huntsman spider was accidentally introduced into the U.S. due to international trade and can be found in Mississippi and other Gulf states where hot, humid conditions allow it to thrive. These spiders have flattened brown bodies with a light-colored circle running around most of the carapace. They have a dark pattern on the middle portion of the cephalothorax, a light area immediately behind the eyes, and a black stripe in the middle of their abdomens. They can reach 1.1 inches in body length and up to 5 inches in leg span.

These spiders live in homes, barns, and other places where they can stay warm during the winter. They cannot survive the cold very well since they are not adapted for it. They do not capture their prey in webs, but instead hunt insects and other invertebrates. Their bites are not dangerous to people, and the spiders aren’t overly aggressive. A bite will cause swelling and pain in the affected area, which can sometimes result in a headache.

1. Texas Brown Tarantula

Texas brown tarantulas are among the most common tarantulas in the southern U.S. They can grow up to 2 inches in body length and up to 5 inches in leg span, with males being smaller. These tarantulas have dark brown bodies and legs, with coarse, brown urticating hairs on their abdomens. The spiders use their back legs to kick these spiky hairs toward threats.

Texas brown tarantulas prefer forest and grassland habitats where they can burrow underground. They line their burrows with silk and wait for insects and other invertebrates to disturb the webbing at the entrance. Then, they pounce and inject their prey with venom. These spiders are not aggressive, and their bites are mostly harmless, although they can be painful and may cause swelling.