Discover 6 Brown Spiders in Wisconsin

Written by Lev Baker
Updated: April 20, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


Wisconsin is home to a diverse array of wildlife, from majestic deer to fearsome bears. However, lurking in the shadows and often unnoticed are brown spiders, a fascinating but often misunderstood group of creatures. 

From their unique hunting tactics to their venomous bites, brown spiders in Wisconsin are a fascinating and vital part of the state’s ecosystem. Join us as we explore the world of these elusive arachnids and learn more about their fascinating lives.

Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

Brown recluse spider

Unlike web-building spiders, the brown recluse is a running spider that hunts its prey down in a manner similar to wolves.

©Nick626/Shutterstock.com

Belonging to the arachnid family, the brown recluse spider is among the handful of venomous spider species inhabiting the state of Wisconsin.

Appearance

When fully grown, brown recluse spiders can measure between 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. These spiders come in various shades, ranging from tan to dark brown, and are usually distinguished by a characteristic dark fiddle-shaped marking on the top of their cephalothorax.

Behavior

Similar to other spider species, the brown recluse spider is not typically aggressive toward humans. It is not uncommon to coexist with an infestation without ever getting bitten. Most bites occur as a result of unintentionally trapping the spider against bare skin, typically because one gets stuck in a piece of clothing.

Habitat

Brown recluse spiders are commonly found in outdoor settings such as woodpiles and debris, with hundreds or even thousands of them residing in one place. When they invade indoor spaces, they tend to seek out cardboard material as it resembles their natural habitat of rotting tree bark.

Eating Habits

When it comes to their diet, brown recluse spiders are similar to other spider species and primarily feed on small insects and other spiders. However, unlike web-building spiders, the brown recluse is a running spider that hunts its prey down in a manner similar to wolves.

Venom

Nausea, headache, myalgias, and malaise are some of the systemic symptoms that can occur as a result of brown recluse venom. The bite kills skin cell tissue in a process called necrosis. Children may experience more severe reactions to the venom than adults. Brown recluses rarely bite humans, and when they do, it is extremely rare for the bite to result in death.

Fun Facts

  • Brown recluse spiders possess impressive survival abilities and can endure up to 12 months without food or water.
  • Active in temperatures ranging between 45 degrees F and 110 degrees F.
  • Due to their small fangs, brown recluse spiders are unable to bite through clothing and may have to gnaw on human skin to effectively bite.

Giant House Spider (Eratigena atrica)

Giant House Spider

Adult males boast leg spans of up to 4 inches!

©R K Hill/Shutterstock.com

In Wisconsin, the house spider has a huge relative called the giant house spider!

Appearance

The defining feature of the giant house spider is undoubtedly its size. Adult males boast leg spans of up to 4 inches, and females’ leg span measure up to 2 inches. Additionally, these spiders have large hairy bodies and are typically a muddy brown in color.

Behavior

Startling the giant house spider may cause it to flee swiftly, as they are not known to be aggressive creatures. However, in rare instances when they feel threatened, they may bite.

Habitat

The giant house spider is a versatile creature and can be found in and around various man-made structures such as rooms, storage sheds, fences, bridges, and barns. They tend to prefer dark corners and crevices, where they can construct their typical funnel webs.

Eating Habits

Feeding primarily on other arthropods, the giant house spider typically hunts at night. Flies, moths, and crickets are common food sources for this spider species. They are skilled hunters, using their impressive speed and agility to capture their prey.

Venom

While the giant house spider may look intimidating, its bites are typically not serious, and its venom only poses a risk to individuals with specific allergies. 

Fun Facts

  • The giant house spider is a carnivore.
  • Predators of the giant house spider include lizards, centipedes, and hawks.
  • The behavior of the giant house spider is typically solitary.

Striped Fishing Spider (Dolomedes scriptus)

Striped Fishing Spider

A tell-tale sign that distinguishes males from females is the presence of a white band.

©Oleg Nikonov/Shutterstock.com

Striped fishing spiders are native to Wisconsin and can be spotted in their natural habitat.

Appearance

The striped fishing spider boasts a distinct appearance with light stripes on its legs and a pair of stripes on each side of its body, all set against a pale brown background. Females of this particular species can span up to 5.9 inches with their legs, while their male counterparts are slightly smaller. 

A tell-tale sign that distinguishes males from females is the presence of a white band, while the cephalothorax of females features a dark band.

Behavior

By sensing vibrations on the surface of the water, the striped fishing spider adeptly detects the movement of its prey. Once located, the spider glides across the water to swiftly seize and overpower its target. It is also capable of submerging itself underwater to capture small fish and other small aquatic creatures.

Habitat

The preferred habitat of the striped fishing spider is along streams, particularly those with fast currents, although it can inhabit almost any body of water. Typically, these spiders can be found perched on the water’s edge, with their forelegs extended out onto the surface of the water as they rest.

Eating Habits

These spiders sustain themselves on a diet consisting of insects, encompassing both aquatic and non-aquatic varieties, as well as other small prey. 

Venom

As is the case with almost every species of spider found in North America, the striped fishing spider has the ability to bite and inject venom. Nevertheless, its venom is generally regarded as non-hazardous, unless an individual is allergic to it.

Fun Facts

  • Striped fishing spiders have a global distribution, with around 100 species identified worldwide.
  • Typically, the lifespan of these spiders ranges from one to two years.
  • These spiders communicate with each other using vibrations, known as seismic communication.

Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus)

tan jumping spider

Jumping spiders have an amazing ability to jump up to 50 times their body length!

©SwastikEs/Shutterstock.com

Tan jumping spiders can be found in many regions across the United States and parts of Canada.

Appearance

These spiders have a body that ranges from brown and tan, to gray, with a mixture of white and black specks and red patches, notably around their eyes. The females measure between 0.39-0.51 inches, while males are 0.33-0.37 inches in size.

Typically, the abdomen of a tan jumping spider displays an undulating pattern.

Behavior

Salticidae members are well-known for their impressive jumping abilities! This spider is no exception ā€“ it uses this skill to surprise and ambush its prey rather than relying on webs to capture them. This arachnid is an incredibly quick runner, enabling it to swiftly pounce on top of its chosen prey.

Habitat

The tan jumping spider primarily nests on vertical surfaces, such as tree trunks, fences, and walls of buildings. People often find these spiders crawling inside their houses in late autumn.

Eating Habits

Jumping spiders have outstanding vision and are hunter spiders that rely on sight. They feed on flies, moths, and aphids, along with other arachnids.

Venom

Jumping spiders possess fangs and produce venom that is not dangerous to humans. They usually only bite when provoked, and the bite is not usually harmful. They are not typically aggressive unless threatened.

Fun Facts

  • The eight eyes of a jumping spider wrap around their head, providing them with almost 360-degree vision.
  • Their hair-covered legs help them to traverse smooth surfaces, such as glass, with ease.
  • Jumping spiders have an amazing ability to jump up to 50 times their body length!

American Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira)

american nursery web spider

When fully grown, these spiders’ bodies can reach approximately 3/4 of an inch in length.

©SDeming/Shutterstock.com

Pisaurina mira is a type of spider that belongs to the Pisauridae family and is commonly known as the American nursery web spider. 

Appearance

These spiders display two distinct physical variations. One variation has a light tan body with a broad, darker brown stripe running down the center, along with medium-length legs. The other variation has a more extensive, intricate pattern and less noticeable striping, with long legs. 

When fully grown, these spiders’ bodies can reach approximately 3/4 of an inch in length.

Behavior 

The American nursery web spider is named for its unique behavior of protecting its egg sac. The female carries the sac in her jaws, supported by a strand of web that attaches to her spinnerets until the eggs are close to hatching. At that point, she hides the sac and constructs a silken enclosure around it, using nearby vegetation as reinforcement. 

Habitat

Fields, meadows, and woods are typical habitats for American nursery web spiders, although they can also be found living in tall grass, shrubs, and bushes. These spiders have been known to venture indoors as well and reside in houses. They create webs to hold their egg sacs and then house the baby spiderlings.

Eating Habits

Unlike spiders that construct webs to trap insects, American nursery web spiders are active hunters that roam over vegetation in search of small prey. They are not passive predators but rather actively seek out and capture their prey. Pisaurina mira has been observed catching not only small insects but also larger ones, such as tadpoles, on occasion.

Venom

The venom of the American nursery web spider is potent enough to kill its prey and has been observed to be effective even against small fish. However, the venom is not powerful enough to pose a significant threat to humans or pets.

Fun Facts

  • American nursery web spiders share a physical resemblance with wolf spiders.
  • These spiders have exceptional motion-detecting eyes.
  • There are approximately 240 species of nursery web spiders found in North America and around 50 species in Europe.

Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica)

barn funnel weaver(Tegenaria Domestica)

Its distinctive markings include chevron patterns on the abdomen and two dark lines on each side of the cephalothorax.

©Korovko Gleb/Shutterstock.com

The barn funnel weaver is a type of spider that can be found in Wisconsin and is known for its remarkable agility and hunting abilities. 

Appearance

The barn funnel weaver spider displays a range of coloration, including shades of dark brown, reddish-brown, and even pale yellow. Its distinctive markings include chevron patterns on the abdomen and two dark lines on each side of the cephalothorax. The spider’s long legs are also a defining feature, characterized by black-brown banding that can help in identification.

Females are larger than males, with lengths ranging from 0.30 to 0.45 inches. Males, on the other hand, measure approximately 0.24 to 0.35 inches in length.

Behavior

Barn funnel weavers are skilled hunters that utilize their quick movement and vision as well as their web-spinning abilities. Their forward-facing eyes, which make up six out of their eight eyes, allow them to detect and track movement, enabling them to target prey efficiently.

Habitat

Barn funnel weaver spiders inhabit diverse habitats, such as sheds and barns, where they take refuge in door crevices. They also live in natural surroundings like rock faces’ cracks and under rocks and boards outdoors.

Eating Habits

Typically, the barn funnel weaver spider constructs a web in the form of a tunnel, which serves as its dwelling place. This web features a complex network of threads that ensnare insects, providing a source of nourishment for the spider.

Venom

There is no venomous threat to humans from this particular species, and they seldom exhibit biting behavior. In the rare event that a bite occurs, it is typically painless. Furthermore, there are no known documented cases of individuals being bitten by the barn funnel weaver.

Fun Facts

  • Reported to have a lifespan of up to seven years.
  • Shy in nature and prefer to avoid contact whenever possible.
  • Feed on other unwanted insects and provide significant benefits.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Pong Wira/Shutterstock.com


Share on:
About the Author

Lev is a writer at AZ Animals who primarily covers topics on animals, geography, and plants. He has been writing for more than 4 years and loves researching topics and learning new things. His three biggest loves in the world are music, travel, and animals. He has his diving license and loves sea creatures. His favorite animal in the world is the manta ray.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.