Spiders in Kansas

Kansas is home to a wide variety of spiders due to its diverse habitats. The list of dangerous spiders found here includes the black widow and the brown recluse. Those of the yellow sac family, also present in the state are known to be mildly venomous.

Spiders in Kansas Identification Chart

Common Spiders in Kansas

Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia) Black-footed Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium inclusum)

Largest Spiders in Kansas

Carolina Wolf (Hogna carolinensis) Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus)

Highly Venomous Spiders

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

Southern Black Widow Size Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) - Did you know there's a spider called the southern black widow? It's mostly found in North America. It has family members like the western black widow and northern black widow, and they look a bit alike.… Continue Reading >

Northern Black Widow Spider Size Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) - The Northern Black Widow is a cool spider found mainly on the 'East Coast' of North America. It's a close relative to the southern and western black widows.… Continue Reading >

Western Black Widow Spider Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) - Have you ever heard about the Western Black Widow spider? It's a special spider found mostly in the western areas of North America. They are closely related to the northern black widow.… Continue Reading >

Sicariidae

Brown Recluse Image Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa) - The brown recluse spider is a special spider found mostly in the central and southern parts of the U.S. It's part of a small group of spiders in North America known for having strong venom, along with the Chilean recluse and black widow.… Continue Reading >

Cheiracanthium

Yellow Sac Spider Size Black-Footed Yellow Sac (Cheiracanthium inclusum) - Meet the yellow sac spider! It's a spider that originally came from the Americas. Over time, it's been a part of different spider families, and now it's in the Eutichuridae family.… Continue Reading >

Less Venomous Spiders  

Orb-weaver (Araneidae)

Star Bellied Orb Weaver Spider Starbellied Orb-weaver (Acanthepeira stellata) - The Starbellied orb-weaver is a special spider from the Araneidae family. You can often see it in places like Mexico and Canada, especially between late spring and early fall.… Continue Reading >

Spotted Orb Weaver Spider Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera) - The spotted orb weaver is a tiny spider that lives in places like Florida, Maine, Arizona, and Minnesota. Part of the orb weavers family, they usually roam at night.… Continue Reading >

Yellow Garden Spider Images Yellow Garden (Argiope aurantia) - Imagine a spider with bright yellow and black colors, weaving an amazing web in the garden. That's the Yellow Garden Spider for you! They're super peaceful and really good at making fancy webs.… Continue Reading >

  • Heptagonal Orb-weaver (Gea heptagon)

Nursery Web (Pisauridae)

Dark Fishing Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus) - The Dark Fishing Spider is a special spider from the Pisauridae family. It looks a lot like the striped fishing spider. Here's something wild: after these spiders mate, the male often becomes a meal for the female!… Continue Reading >

Jumping (Salticidae)

Bold Jumping Spider Picture Bold Jumping (Phidippus audax) - Bold jumping spiders are super cool members of the Salticidae spider family. They get attention for their amazing jumps and colorful looks. Instead of using webs to catch food, they like to sneak up on bugs and jump on them!… Continue Reading >

Male Tan Jumping Spider Tan Jumping (Platycryptus undatus) - Tan jumping spiders are super interesting! They hop around and belong to the jumping spider family. You can find them in places like North and Central America.… Continue Reading >

Phidippus texanus Phidippus texanus - Phidippus texanus is a member of fascinating jumping spiders, calling North America its home. With swift moves and keen eyesight, this spider adds a unique touch to the world of arachnids.… Continue Reading >

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

Triangulate Cobweb Spider Triangulate Cobweb (Steatoda triangulosa) - Meet the triangulate cobweb spider from the Steatoda genus! Found in places like North America, New Zealand, and Europe, this little spider has a neat triangular pattern on its back.… Continue Reading >

Crab (Thomisidae)

White Banded Crab Spider White Banded Crab (Misumenoides formosipes) - Did you know there are spiders called White banded crab spiders? They're part of a big family named Thomisidae. These spiders live in the United States and Canada.… Continue Reading >

Wolf (Lycosidae)

South Carolina Wolf Spider Carolina Wolf (Hogna carolinensis) - The Carolina Wolf Spider, native to America, is just one of the many wolf spider species globally. Known for being quick hunters, they prefer the chase over waiting on webs. You'll often spot these speedy spiders during midsummer nights, particularly around June.… Continue Reading >

Tigrosa Georgicola Spider Tigrosa Georgicola - The Tigrosa georgicola is a kind of spider that lives in the southeastern parts of the United States. It's part of the Lycosidae spider family.… Continue Reading >

  • Hogna baltimoriana
  • Tigrosa helluo
  • Tigrosa grandis

Anyphaenidae

  • Garden Ghost (Hibana gracilis)

Ground (Gnaphosidae)

Eastern Parson Spider Parson (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) - The eastern parson spider is a special kind of spider from the USA and Canada. It's part of the Gnaphosidae family. Instead of making webs to catch food, this spider likes to chase down its meals!… Continue Reading >

Prowling (Miturgidae)

  • Long-legged Sac (‎Cheiracanthuim mildei)

Corinnidae

Broad Faced Sac Spider Broad-faced Sac Spider (Trachelas tranquillus) - The broad-faced sac spider belongs to the ground sac spiders family. These spiders call North America their home. Ready to uncover some cool facts about them?… Continue Reading >

Castianeira amoena Castianeira amoena - Step into the world of the Castianeira amoena spider! This unique crawler is part of the Corinnidae spiders family. It has special colors and patterns that warn other animals to stay away.… Continue Reading >

Frequently Asked Questions

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The most dangerous spiders in Kansas are the black widow and the brown recluse, as both possess medically significant venom. While the yellow sac spider is also venomous and common in the state, its bite is considered far less potent and typically results in only localized, minor reactions.

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You can identify a brown recluse spider by its uniform tan or light brown color and the distinct, dark violin-shaped marking on its back. Unlike most spiders, it has only six eyes arranged in three pairs. These reclusive spiders prefer dark, undisturbed areas like closets and attics.

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The largest spider in Kansas is typically the Carolina Wolf Spider, which can achieve a leg span of over four inches. Another notably large species is the Dark Fishing Spider. While their size can be intimidating, neither of these spiders is considered medically dangerous to humans in the state.

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Yes, yellow garden spiders are venomous, but their venom is not harmful to humans. A bite from this common orb-weaver is rare and often compared to a bee sting, causing only minor, localized pain and swelling. They are not aggressive and are beneficial for controlling insect populations.

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If you are bitten by a black widow spider, you should seek immediate medical attention. Clean the bite area with soap and water, apply a cool compress to help reduce swelling, and try to keep the affected limb elevated. If possible, safely capture the spider for positive identification.

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You are most likely to find wolf spiders on the ground in open habitats like fields, lawns, and wooded areas across Kansas. They do not spin webs to catch prey but instead hunt actively. They may enter homes accidentally while searching for prey, often staying near baseboards or in basements.

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Yes, fishing spiders, such as the Dark Fishing Spider, are commonly found near bodies of water in Kansas like ponds, streams, and lakes. They are semi-aquatic and can run across the water’s surface to hunt insects and even small fish. They may also be found in damp basements.