The landscape of West Virginia is defined by rugged, heavily forested mountains, steep-sided hills, and river-carved valleys, all teeming with spiders. From tiny brown spitting spiders (Scytodes thoracica), which measure less than 0.25 inches, to much larger specimens, the state is home to dozens of spider species. Continue reading to learn about five of the biggest spiders in West Virginia.
5. Trapdoor Spider
The trapdoor spider may look scary, but you’ll probably never encounter one.
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| Scientific Name | Leg Span | Danger to Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Ummidia Genus | 1-2 inches | Delivers a mildly painful bite. |
Unlike many of the other spiders on this list, most of the trapdoor spider’s length comes from its body rather than its legs. Their bodies can reach about an inch and a half in length, and their short, powerful legs, used for burrowing, bring their total size to about 2 inches.
You’ll rarely see these creatures because they spend most of their time in their burrows. They hunt and live in these web-lined caverns, opening the hinged door only to attack prey that happens to scurry by.
These spiders may look scary with their shiny black carapaces and hairy legs, but trapdoor spiders are not dangerous. Their bite is mildly painful, in the rare case that they bite at all.
4. Long-Bodied Cellar Spider
Cellar spiders are commonly seen in basements.
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| Scientific Name | Leg Span | Danger to Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Pholcus phalangioides | 1-2 inches | A bite may cause a mild burning sensation. |
Long-bodied cellar spiders are somewhat translucent spiders, ranging in color from grayish-brown to light brown, and are commonly found in basements, garages, and unused pantries.
Most of the long-bodied cellar spider’s length comes from its legs. Its body is small and relatively peanut-shaped. Sometimes, these spiders have a dark marking on their cephalothorax that resembles a skull, which is why they are occasionally called skull spiders.
Long-bodied cellar spiders may look creepy with their long-legged skittering, but on the rare occasion that they bite, their bite is milder than a bee’s sting.
3. Black and Yellow Garden Spider
The black and yellow garden spider uses its web to great effect.
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| Scientific Name | Leg Span | Danger to Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Argiope aurantia | 0.2-3 inches | Rarely bites humans, but it may cause pain and swelling. |
As this spider’s name suggests, you’re most likely to find this creature living in your gardens and other areas with tall plants that they can use to build webs. These spiders build webs that are a few feet in diameter, and they’re very noticeable.
After all, the black and yellow garden spider is also known as the writing spider. That name comes from its habit of building a stabilimentum, a thick, dense portion of the web constructed in a zig-zag shape. It appears as if someone with messy handwriting tried to leave a message on the web.
This species has a silvery cephalothorax and an abdomen with black, yellow, and sometimes gray patterns on it. Black and yellow garden spiders can have some white spots on the abdomen. They may bite if disturbed; their bites result in mild pain and swelling.
2. Tiger Wolf Spider
The tiger wolf spider is also known as the speckled wolf spider or woodland giant wolf spider.
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| Scientific Name | Leg Span | Danger to Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Tigrosa aspersa | 2-3 inches | Delivers a moderately painful bite that causes swelling and redness, other symptoms may appear. |
This wolf spider species is also called the speckled tiger spider and is known by a few other names. It’s not hard to spot these creatures. They’re very large, with bodies that measure over an inch and legs that may approach 3 inches. Most often, you’ll find them in tall grass, wooded areas, and near human structures, which they use for shelter and to obtain food.
The tiger wolf spider is usually a dark color, such as brown or black, with a light-brown stripe running from behind its eyes. Their bodies often have lighter patterns, and their femurs may display alternating light and dark chevrons.
Like most other spiders, the tiger wolf spider prefers to flee instead of fighting. If they do bite, the bite location may be painful, and individuals who are allergic to wolf spider venom may experience additional symptoms such as nausea, headache, and fever. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.
1. Dark Fishing Spider
The dark fishing spider prefers to spend time on trees.
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| Scientific Name | Leg Span | Danger to Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Dolomedes tenebrosus | 3.5-4.5 inches | This spider can bite humans and deliver pain that is similar to a bee sting. |
Fishing spiders are the largest spiders in West Virginia, and the dark fishing spider is usually considered the biggest of them all. Interestingly, this spider is not often found near water like other members of its family. Instead, you can find them resting on trees.
These spiders are often light brown to dark brown in color, and their appearance is best described as mottled due to the variations in patterns along the body. The abdomen usually has W-shaped patterns toward the back end, and the legs are usually banded with a light and dark color.
Don’t be alarmed if you see one of these running across a dock. They’re not dangerous to humans. They rarely interact with humans, and the worst a bite will do is cause pain similar to a wasp sting.
