Yellowish to brown, with a dark violin-shaped dorsal markings; 5/8 to 1/2 inch long. Can be found outside under rocks, leaves, debris, bark, wood piles, utility boxes; found inside in storage areas such as closets, attics, bedrooms, usually found close to the ground. The Spiders diet is cockroaches, crickets and other soft-bodied insects. Mating occurs from Feb. to Oct.; 40 to 50 eggs are deposited in off-white, round silken cases; lifetime averages from one to two years. Bite is poisonous, but rarely fatal; neglected bites can cause a disfiguring scar; presence of shed skins indicates infestation.

Black Widow Spider
Genus Latrodectus

Female is 1/2 inch long; shiny black, with hourglass-shaped red mark on underside of abdomen. Can be found almost anywhere, indoors or out; prefer to build their nests close to the ground. The spiders diet is insects trapped in web made by female. Contrary to popular belief, female is usually unsuccessful in any attempt to eat male after mating; 300 to 400 eggs are laid in silken cocoon, hatch in about ten days. Black widows are not aggressive, and will not bite unless provoked. However, they are poisonous. If bitten, seek medical attention; bites are rarely fatal.

Golden Garden Spider
Yellow Argiope
Argiope aurantia

This spider when grown is about 1 1/8 inch long. The adult female shown, is black with yellow and orange markings on the abdomen. It can be found throughout the United States and Canada. They construct large orb webs between scrubs that may reach 2 feet. In the center of the web is a zig zag pattern or so called zipper of heavy silk that adds strength to the web. Try throwing an insect such as a grasshopper into the web. The spider is on it instantly and quickly wraps it in silk. Although the golden garden spider looks dangerous, it is basically harmless.

Wolf Spider

This spider is a common household pest usually in the fall of the year. They are looking for a warm place for the winter. You may find them around doors, windows, basements and garages and yard around foundation. The wolf spider does not spin a web and they normally roam at night. Sometimes the wolf spider is mistaken for the brown recluse. Wolf spiders are normally about 1/2 to 2 inches in length, however they can be larger. They do not have a violin shaped marking behind their head as the brown recluse does. These spiders are on the shy side, hairy and brown to gray in color. Wolf spiders are not poisonous but certain individuals may have reactions to spider bites.