Key Takeaways
- Most Florida spiders are not dangerous and prefer to avoid people.
- Web shape, body type, color, and hiding place can help with identification.
- Widow spiders require caution, especially around clutter, storage, and outdoor furniture.
- Many spider problems start with high insect activity around the home.
- Professional treatment can help when spiders keep returning indoors or around entry points.
Common Florida Spiders You May See Around Homes
Pest assessment
Native Field Report
Florida is home to a wide range of spiders, and most of them are not a medical concern — but a few, like widow spiders and the rare Florida brown recluse, deserve extra caution. Here's how the common species stack up on appearance, hiding spots, and risk level.
1. Wolf Spiders
Ground hunter, not a medical concernWhat it is
Usually brown, gray, or tan with darker markings, and can look larger than other indoor spiders. They hunt on the ground and run after prey instead of waiting in a web, and females may carry a visible egg sac or spiderlings.
Where it turns up
Garages, patios, door thresholds, mulch beds, storage areas, and other ground-level rooms.
The Native read
The fast movement and size can look alarming, but wolf spiders fall into the group of common species the article describes as not a medical concern.
2. Orb Weavers
Outdoor web builderWhat it is
Rounded bodies that vary in color, responsible for the large, wheel-shaped webs seen in Florida yards. The golden silk orb weaver, also called the banana spider in Florida, is known for large webs and golden-colored silk.
Where it turns up
Webs often appear between shrubs, trees, porch posts, fences, or exterior lighting areas where flying insects gather; they usually stay outdoors.
The Native read
Seeing one near a walkway or patio is usually a web-placement issue rather than a sign of a problem indoors.
3. Cellar Spiders
Low concern, messy websWhat it is
Very long, thin legs with small bodies, building loose, messy webs. Sometimes called 'daddy longlegs,' though true cellar spiders are spiders while harvestmen are a different arachnid that does not spin webs.
Where it turns up
Corners, garages, sheds, attic areas, and under eaves.
The Native read
Not usually a serious concern, but their webs can build up quickly in quiet, undisturbed areas.
4. Jumping Spiders
Low concernWhat it is
Small and compact, active during the day, with large front-facing eyes that make them easier to recognize than many other spiders. They stalk and jump on prey instead of using a web.
Where it turns up
Window frames, screens, patio furniture, exterior walls, garden plants, and cars or outdoor equipment.
The Native read
Usually end up indoors by accident rather than as a sign of a bigger problem.
5. Southern House Spiders
Mistaken IDWhat it is
Males can be brown with long legs and a body shape similar to a brown recluse, but southern house spiders have eight eyes while brown recluse spiders have six.
Where it turns up
Thick, messy webs around window frames, eaves, cracks, and sheltered exterior spaces.
The Native read
Commonly mistaken for brown recluses, so color alone shouldn't be used to identify a brown spider found indoors.
6. Black Widow Spiders
Venomous, use cautionWhat it is
Female southern black widows are glossy black and may have a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. Several widow species occur in Florida, including southern black widows, brown widows, red widows, and northern black widows.
Where it turns up
Protected, low-disturbance spaces such as garages, sheds, wood or rock piles, hollow stumps, storage corners, and outdoor equipment.
The Native read
Their venom can cause stronger reactions, so gloves are recommended when moving stored items, firewood, pots, or debris, and a suspected bite warrants contacting a medical professional or poison control.
7. Brown Widow Spiders
Caution advisedWhat it is
Vary in color from tan to darker brown, with orange, yellow, white, black, or brown markings. Egg sacs look round with pointed projections instead of smooth.
Where it turns up
Protected sites around homes, including mailboxes, under outdoor chairs, behind hurricane shutters, in empty containers, and under eaves.
The Native read
Generally timid but still worth treating with caution — avoid reaching blindly into dark or recessed spaces.
8. Brown Recluse Spiders
Rarely found, avoid handlingWhat it is
Often blamed for mystery bites, though verified records in Florida are limited to eight of the state's 67 counties. A 'violin' marking and brown color aren't enough for a confident ID — eye pattern and body shape matter too.
Where it turns up
Not tied to a specific hiding spot in the article; many brown spiders found indoors get misidentified as brown recluses.
The Native read
If you find a brown spider and aren't sure what it is, avoid handling it directly — capture it in a container or take a clear photo instead.
Less product. Solved sooner.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are usually brown, gray, or tan with darker markings. They can look alarming because they move quickly and may be larger than other indoor spiders, but they do not build the neat, circular webs many people associate with spiders.
They hunt on the ground and may show up in:
- Garages
- Patios
- Door thresholds
- Mulch beds
- Storage areas
- Ground-level rooms
Orb Weavers
Orb weavers are the spiders responsible for many of the large, wheel-shaped webs seen in Florida yards. Their webs often appear between shrubs, trees, porch posts, fences, or exterior lighting areas where flying insects gather.
Many orb weavers have rounded bodies and can vary in color. The University of Florida’s guide to common and charismatic Florida spiders includes golden silk orb weavers, also called banana spiders in Florida, which are known for large webs and golden-colored silk.
Orb weavers usually stay outdoors. If you see them near walkways or patios, the issue is often web placement rather than an indoor infestation.
Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders have very long, thin legs and small bodies. They often build loose, messy webs in corners, garages, sheds, attic areas, and under eaves.
People may call them “daddy longlegs,” but that name can be confusing. Some true cellar spiders are spiders, while harvestmen are a different type of arachnid and do not spin webs. If the animal is sitting in a web inside a corner, it is more likely a cellar spider.
Cellar spiders are not usually a serious concern, but their webs can build up quickly in quiet areas.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are small, compact, and active during the day. Their large front-facing eyes make them easier to recognize than many other spiders. Instead of using webs to trap insects, they stalk and jump on prey.
You may see them on:
- Window frames
- Screens
- Patio furniture
- Exterior walls
- Garden plants
- Cars or outdoor equipment
Southern House Spiders
Southern house spiders are commonly mistaken for brown recluses because the males can be brown with long legs and a somewhat similar body shape. One helpful difference is that southern house spiders have eight eyes, while brown recluse spiders have six.
They may build thick, messy webs around window frames, eaves, cracks, and sheltered exterior spaces. If you find a brown spider indoors, do not rely on color alone for identification.
Fishing Spiders
Fishing spiders are usually found near water, damp outdoor areas, docks, ponds, canals, and vegetation close to moisture. They can be large and fast, which makes them easy to notice.
They are not usually indoor pests, but they may wander onto patios, pool decks, or lanais, especially in homes near water or dense landscaping.
Florida Spiders That Deserve Extra Caution
Most spiders around Florida homes are not a medical concern. Still, a few species should be handled carefully, especially if they are found near storage, outdoor furniture, garages, or areas where hands and feet may accidentally press against them.Black Widow Spiders
Female southern black widows are glossy black and may have a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. UF/IFAS notes that southern black widows are found in the southeastern United States and that several widow species occur in Florida, including southern black widows, brown widows, red widows, and northern black widows.
Black widows often choose protected, low-disturbance spaces such as:
- Garages
- Sheds
- Wood or rock piles
- Hollow stumps
- Storage corners
- Outdoor equipment
Brown Widow Spiders
Brown widows are common around homes in parts of Florida. They vary in color, from tan to darker brown, and may have orange, yellow, white, black, or brown markings. Their egg sacs are a helpful clue because they look round with pointed projections instead of smooth.
UF/IFAS Sarasota County describes brown widow spiders as spiders that often build webs in protected sites around homes, including mailboxes, under outdoor chairs, behind hurricane shutters, in empty containers, and under eaves.
Brown widows are generally timid, but they should still be treated with caution. Avoid reaching blindly into dark or recessed spaces.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are often blamed for mystery bites, but they are not as common in Florida as many people think. UF/IFAS reports that verified records of brown recluse and related recluse spiders in Florida are limited to eight of the state’s 67 counties in its brown recluse spider profile.
This matters because many harmless brown spiders are misidentified as brown recluses. Color and a “violin” marking are not enough for a confident ID. Eye pattern, body shape, location, and expert identification matter.
If you find a brown spider and are unsure what it is, avoid handling it directly. Capture it safely in a container or take a clear photo if possible.
How To Identify Florida Spiders By Webs And Behavior
You do not always need a close-up view to narrow down the type of spider. Web location and behavior can tell you a lot. Orb-shaped webs outdoors often point to orb weavers. Messy corner webs indoors may come from cellar spiders or house spiders. Irregular, low webs in sheltered clutter may deserve closer inspection for widow spiders. Ground-running spiders are often hunters, such as wolf spiders. Small spiders that move in short bursts and seem to watch you are often jumping spiders. Large spiders near water or pool areas may be fishing spiders. A few ID questions can help:- Is the spider in a web or running on the ground?
- Is the web neat and circular or messy and irregular?
- Is it indoors, outdoors, near water, or near stored items?
- Is there an egg sac nearby?
- Are insects also active in the same area?
Where Spiders Hide Around Florida Homes
Spiders usually settle where they can find food, shelter, and low disturbance. Around Florida homes, that often means shaded, humid, insect-heavy areas. Outdoors, spiders may hide in landscaping, tall grass, shrubs, wood piles, patio furniture, under decks, around docks, behind shutters, and under roof eaves. Indoors, they often choose closets, garages, attics, crawl spaces, storage boxes, window corners, and areas under furniture. When spiders keep showing up inside, the issue may be tied to entry points and insects. Open doors, torn screens, vents, gaps around windows, foundation cracks, and roofline openings can all give spiders and their prey a way in.Why Spiders Keep Showing Up
Spiders follow food. If insects are active around your lights, doors, trash areas, landscaping, or moisture-prone spaces, spiders may become more noticeable. Common conditions that attract spider activity include:- Exterior lights that draw flying insects
- Dense plants touching the home
- Unsealed gaps around windows and doors
- Cluttered garages or sheds
- Standing water or damp areas
- Boxes and stored items that are rarely moved
- Insect activity indoors or around the foundation
How To Reduce Spiders Around Your Home
You can reduce spider activity by making the home less useful to them. Focus on access, hiding places, and insect pressure. Start outside. Trim shrubs and branches away from the house, reduce clutter around the foundation, move firewood and stored materials away from walls, and keep grass cut back near entry points. Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights at night or switch to lighting that attracts fewer insects. Inside, vacuum webs and egg sacs, organize storage areas, keep boxes sealed, and check rarely used shoes, gloves, and outdoor gear before using them. Seal gaps around doors, windows, vents, and utility lines where possible. For widow spiders, wear gloves when handling outdoor items, storage bins, or cluttered areas where webs may be hidden.When To Call For Spider Control
A single spider sighting does not always mean you have a spider problem. Professional help makes more sense when sightings become frequent, webs keep returning, or spiders are appearing in bedrooms, closets, garages, or other areas where accidental contact is more likely. It is also smart to call when:- You suspect widow spiders around your home
- You are seeing multiple egg sacs
- Spiders keep returning after cleaning
- Webs are building around doors, windows, patios, or garages
- You also notice ants, roaches, mosquitoes, or other insects
- You want help identifying the spider before deciding what to do
