 Nursery Web spiders -
(Pisaurina sp.
Family Pisauridae) - These spiders resemble the wolf spiders (Lycosidae), but have a
different eye pattern.
Pisaurids have their eyes arranged in 2 rows, the posterior row
slightly recurved, the median
eyes in the second row slighly (if any) larger than the others.
(Wolf spiders have eyes arranged in 3 rows). The egg sac is carried
by the female under her
prosoma, held there by her
chelicerae
pedipalps. Before the eggs
hatch, the female attaches the sac to a plant and then builds a web
around it -- and
stands guard nearby. The Pisaurids forage for their food and build
webs only for protecting their young.
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24 August, 2008:
Hi again!
You were so helpful the other day when I emailed you some pics of the spiders causing me grief that when I found this character, I had to send him to you to see if he is harmful or just a critter. My nightmares are subsiding but I really need them to quit completely! Thank you again and have a wonderful weekend!
Still fearful of spideys,
wlj
PS sent 2 pictures, can't remember which one was better. |
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Reply: It's a looks more like nursery web spider than
a grass spider.
13 July, 2008:
Hi, I live on Cape Cod, MA & saw this spider living in my wisteria bush. I have to say she is pretty large & aggressive. After looking at your site I think she is a grass/ funnel spider but just wanted to double check. I say she because she is guarding the hundreds of babies in her web & I don't know if I should be freaked out. Thanks, Jessica |
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Reply: It's a nursery web spider too.
10
July, 2008:
I love your website - mostly because I am always worried that the creepy crawly is a deadly spider about to bite myself and my children! Thank goodness I can go to your website and see that my imagination is working overtime again. Would you be able to identify this spider? It as outside my house by our front door. We live in York County Maine.
Thank you!
Eliza |
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Reply: It's a male nursery web spider I think.
5 July, 2008:
Hi there,
You are the spider expert!
Can you possibly tell me what type this is and if it is venomous?
I live in Sedona, Arizona.
Thanks a lot for your time :)
Malou
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Reply: Here's another nursery web spider. The
way they hold their legs together at the front is a good way to
identify these spiders.
13 June, 2008:
I live in central Michigan, and I found this spider in
the hallway to my apt. I'm not scared of spiders but
I'm kind of curious about this particular spider,
because I've never seen one like it. It was highly
aggressive when I tried to nudge it into a cup with
some paper. I'm just wondering how dangerous it is
since it looks like it was trying to lay eggs in my
building and I'm not too sure if it's a brown recluse.
I'd greatly appreciate any assistance. thank you
very much for your time.
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Reply: It's a nursery web spider too.
10 June, 2008:
Hello, are you able to tell me what kind of spider this is? I’m from New Jersey and I’ve seen big wolf spiders but didn’t think this was one. Thank you! |
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Reply: It's a nursery web spider.
8 June, 2008:
what is it? |
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Reply: It's a nursery web spider.
8 June, 2008:
Found this spider on my side porch early in the morning. To give reference the ware staple is ~1” at it’s widest point so the spider is 3-4” in length. I thought it interest how the front-paired legs are held together. A few years ago we had one of these (smaller version) on the neck of a guest. She obviously freaked out but it did not bite her.
Can you tell me the genus/species? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dave |
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24 May, 2008:
Hi Glen, just something to say hello with. One resting on a leaf
and one unlucky Crane fly, I think you can see the fright in his
eyes. Take care. Eddie |
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10 May, 2008:
I found two of them on my patio already. It seems as
though they want to get into the house.
Click for a larger view.
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4 May, 2008:
Hi Glen,
This guy was crawling around my plant table the other night.
Feel free to use the pictures if you want.
--Damy
Click for a larger view.
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4 April, 2008:
Hi Glen, This little Nursery Web Spider sped off of our
carport and onto some gravel where I managed a few snapshots. He
was extremely docile. I even prodded him with a pine straw, and
he remained mostly still. I will send you a brief video after
all the pictures, if I can get it down below 3 megabytes. --Damy
Click for a larger view.
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7 February, 2008:
I had thought it was a male Southern House at first glance,
but now I'm thinking Nursery Web Spider. But I really haven't found
an exact match anywhere yet. Please let me know what it is and if
you put my pics on your page. BTW, here are some more pics of that
particular spider. Thanks a bunch,
Damy,
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29
June, 2007:
Hi there, I wonder if You know the name of this 6-legged
spider? Photo taken by a friend of mine in Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, USA Thank You
Leo
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22
June, 2007:
To whom it may concern, I have attached a photo of a spider
outside my house. This spider was located in Rochester, NY. I
have never seen a spider that looked this way in my life. My
girlfriend had her hand about an inch away before it moved and
she noticed it. The abdomen part of it was bigger than my thumb
nail. It was about 1 1/2" to 2" in diameter. I was just
wondering if this spider can be harmful or poisonous. I am not a
fan of spiders but I figured it was outside of my house in its
environment so I didn't do anything to it. Plus, I was afraid it
might grab my foot and body slam me! Just inquiring, any
information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank
You, Nick
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18 June, 2007:
Can you tell me what this spider is?
Click for a larger view. |
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11
June, 2007:
Hello,
I was trying to identify this spider and I came across your web
site. I've attached two photos of the spider from different
angles. I found it while opening the pool, it was under a jug
that I used to help hold down the pool cover. I live in upstate
new york, near albany. I have never seen a spider like this one
and would like to know what it is just for curiosities sake.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Sincerely,
Vernon M.
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8 June, 2007:
Hey.....my brother found this spider in his house and was asking
around what kind and if it is dangerous...his wife is pregnant and
we are just trying to be carefull of what goes on to keep her
safe.....if u can help that would be cool .....Thanks alot,
Kyle |
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6
June, 2007:
I have two pictures, two of the same type of spiders, found
on the same day, in a close proximity to each other. They were
fairly large, larger than a silver dollar. Angela
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1 June, 2007:
Hello , I've been on your site quite a few times and thought you or
someone else might be able to identify this spider for me. I've
attached two photos, different spiders but they appear to be the
same species, which I found here in Southwestern Ontario, near
Toronto. I've been looking all over for comparison pictures, and it
seems that based on appearances, it is somewhere between a recluse
spider and a house spider. Just thought someone might know. Thanks!
Sincerely, Sarah H. |
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30
May, 2007:
Hi Glen,
I just stumbled upon your website in trying to
identify a spider I photographed yesterday and I
thought maybe you could help me. It looks
similar to a grass spider, but the markings are
slightly different, perhaps a derivation
thereof? I attached the picture and am kind of
curious what you think. Thanks!
David
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30
May, 2007:
Hey Glen- I have been extensively searching to
find out what these
spiders I have found are. Both were found on the
cantilever of the pool. I am in Peoria AZ ( NW
of Phx) Please let me know if
these
are dangerous- I am a little freaked- I have
been here for a year and have only seen 2 sun
spiders and was glad about that…. Now more
varieties are popping up- Thanks for all your
help in advance!!!! J 1484- I saw 4 of these in
various life stages around the pool- this pic
has the 2 largest. Thanks Again, Danielle
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11 May, 2007:
I am a
spider-lover...and your site is like finding the
MoThER-LODE! Thank you soooo much for creating it!
I'll be visiting it frequently! Peace, Marlene
Azoulai
Click for a larger view
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6 March, 2007:
Glen,
Would I refer to you as
a spider expert?
I'm an entomologist
myself, though know little about Oz spiders. I've
scoured the internet but can't find any details for this
spider my wife killed (that's an understatement!)
yesterday. Any ideas?
Regards Steve.
Click for a larger view
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4 December, 2006:
Dear sir/madam, Can you help
me id this spider I am currently serving in Iraq with the
coalition and court this spider running over my laptop so I
put it in a bottle and feed it flies. It sometime produces a
web. I was wondering what it is I’ve looked at your sight
but can’t seem to be able to find it. It may just be the run
of the mill common spider but I would like to know if that
is possible
I hope you can help me
Yours sincerely
Shane Ludden
CPO Royal Navy
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11
October, 2006:
I found these in my back yard a couple of years ago I
have pics of the male and the female. I have been trying to figure out what
kind of spider this is, I have come close but the size is never right, they
formed about a 3 inch circle, if you can do this that would be great. I have
a few other pics of them, if you want those too let me know I will send them
to you, and there were 3 males and one female at least that I saw and have
never seen them since, have a nice or night whenever you get this. Thank you, Geoff
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3 August, 2006:
Here are a couple nice shots of a spider we found on a tarp in our
garage a few months ago. Spiders aren't exactly my cup of tea, but she
(or he) is quite a beauty. The leg span was about 2.5 to 3 inches wide,
nearly spanning
the bottom of the jelly jar in the first photo. My girlfriend thought it
was a Wolf Spider at first, but upon further research (mostly on your
site), we finally settled on identifying it as a Nursery Web Spider.
Upon release, it seemed content to rest on the rusty trailer hitch
where we took the second photo.
Jeff
NW Pennsylvania, USA
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Reply: This is a nursery
web weaver and not considered dangerous.
27 July, 2006:
What is this spider? I found it on my porch banister and I am not
sure what kind of spider or if it is dangerous
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16 July, 2006:
This was found by my grandchildren-- and the babies,,,, I
didn't see any that looked like this---are they dangerous? could you email
me back about this?
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25 June, 2006:
Hi
there... I live in Arizona, and have recently encountered 2 black widows and
a few other spider. This was found outside our doorstep and was wondering if
you could help to identify it? Thanks so much!
Sonya in Arizona
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25 June, 2006:
Get a
Load of this! I have a nice shot of a nursery web spider guarding her egg
sack!
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19 May, 2006:
Hi. Last year you helped me identify a fishing
spider. Here is my latest spider friend. I am sure you can
help me identify it. I live on a small lake in the
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Let me know what you think. I find it all very
interesting. Thanks!
Rebecca
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19 May, 2006:
Have a spider living in my hostas, and I've pretty well ID'd it
as a
Nursery Web Spider thanks to the web, especially your website. I
thought I'd share a photo with you.
--Gayle
upstate NY Click for a larger view
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Hey Glen,
Could you tell me what kind of spider this is. I live in South
Jersey and I found it on the side of my house next to my door.
At first I thought it was a fishing spider because of the long
and pointy-backside plus since we have a fish pond next to the
house, but when I looked up the stats for the fisher, the
description didn't fit. Maybe some type of wolf? The circle in
the picture labeled "spider25" is the outline of a quarter. My
sister thought it was a recluse but I've never seen a recluse
with an abdomen that pointy. If I remember correctly, recluse
usually have rounder backsides.
Anyway, see what you think and hopefully I'll hear back from
you. ~Joe
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Reply: Could be a nursery
web weaver, they have that colouring and body shape.
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5 October, 2005:
Found this Nursery web spider crawling on one
of my bronze statues in the garden.
Leo Derks,
Malvern, PA Click for a
larger view.
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2 Sept, 2005:
Hello,
I've been trying to identify this spider for weeks, with no luck.
Could you help? I found it in western North Carolina, USA, with no
web. I'd really appreciate your help!
M
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18
July, 2005:
I live in South Western New Hampshire. I found this inside on
the floor and was wondering what it was. We don't usually have
spiders of this size except
for daddy long legs. This spider was quite aggressive attacking the
jar I caught him in. Can you help identify this feisty guy?
Thanks! -Scott |
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14 June,
2005:
Hi, This morning, coming back from getting my
newspaper, I decided to get rid of the web on my Golden Globe
Arborvitae thinking it was mites. I tried pushing it aside with my
newspaper, and to my surprise, it just seemed to stick together. I
then decided to remove it with my fingers. Some white webbing came
loose, that I flung away. I then saw an egg sac, that I had not seen
fall about an inch. I took a second to decide what to do...destroy
it or what? In that second, the spider that I now know is the mother
jumped and retrieved her egg sac...wrapping herself around it. About
an inch away, the male appeared. I was very startled, but went to
get my camera:) I have taken wonderful pictures of orb weavers in
our yard, but I didn't know what this spider was. I obviously found
it on your site. The mother disappeared with her egg sac deeper into
the shrub. The male stayed awhile longer, and then he too vanished
deep within the shrub. I felt very bad after reading about
them, that I had destroyed the webbing. Will she rebuild the web to
hold the sac? Thanks for your site and if you should have time to
answer my question:) Here are the two pictures.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kathy Kettner
Bedford NH |
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11 June,
2005:
I found this beauty under a motorcycle cover
outside my house in Massachusetts. Any idea what it is?
Click for a larger photo!!
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11 June,
2005:
Hi,
Just found your site which is great, but I was hoping you can help
me id this spider. I thought it looked like a nursery spider, but
just thought I could get a second opinion. These have been all
around in in my house this year in West Brookfield, MA. Thanks for
you time.
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10 June,
2005:
Hi. I have this spider species in my backyard
and it comes up to my back door and railing, near the outside light
at nighttime. It spans about three - four inches with the leg
length. The body is thin and appears flattish. The whole spider lays
flush with whatever object it is on, it doesn't seem to be hairy at
all. My research says possibly water / fishing spider, but some
pictures I have seen of these don't look like the one I have. We do
have a covered pool nearby, but I've never seen the spider in there.
What is it? Is it harmful? THANKS! ~Laura
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10 June,
2005:
Could you tell me if this is a nursery-web
spider. My daughters would like to know if it will bite them. This
is a great web site. THANKS!! Deb and family. |
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Reply: Spider on the right is a nursery web spider, from the
position of the legs I would say the other is too, maybe a male?
7
June,
2005:
I keep getting MANY of these two spiders in my house
and don’t know what they are , interestingly enough this one has 6
visible legs I believe the other one is a nursery spider is this
true ?
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Reply: Looks like
a Nursery web spider.
31
May, 2005:
This spider was on
my door last night. I am in Northeast Pennsylvania, USA. What is it? |
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Reply: That is Pisaurina mira, the
nursery web
spider. Go
here and
here for pics & info: 20 May,
2005:
Hey, I'm Jacob and I'm from Trussville, AL.
(just outisde of Birmingham, AL). I found this spider on a brick
wall while I was doing some yard work and have no idea what kind of
spider it is. Any help would be appreciated! |
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