Search Results - Field Guide

Showing 1 - 10 of 12 results
Photo of a nursery web spider on a plant
Nursery Web Spiders
Pisaurina spp.
Nursery web spiders build silken tents in plants to protect their egg sacs, then stand guard until the hatchlings are ready to disperse. Large and velvety, nursery web spiders have long legs and variable color patterns.
Photo of a male redlegged purseweb spider walking on limestone gravel
Purseweb Spiders
Sphodros spp.
Purseweb spiders build tubular webs attached to the bases of trees. Because these are easily overlooked, most people usually only see the males, which walk around in the open in early summer as they seek mates.
Photo of a spotted orbweaver or barn spider, Neoscona crucifera, with black background
Barn Spider
Neoscona crucifera
A widespread species, the barn spider commonly builds its webs in woods and on the eaves of barns, houses, and similar structures.
Photo of wolf spider with young
Wolf Spiders
Nearly 250 species in North America north of Mexico
A wolf spider doesn't spin webs to catch its prey — it runs it down like a wolf! Spiders in this family have long legs and are usually gray, brown, black, or tan with dark brown or black body markings (especially stripes).
Blue-black spider wasp resting on senna foliage
Blue-Black Spider Wasps
Anoplius spp.
There are nearly 50 North American species of blue-black spider wasps. Many in this genus are entirely black, with a bluish sheen, while many others have an orange marking on the abdomen.
Glossy black spider wasp manipulating paralyzed spider
Spider Wasps
About 300 species in North America north of Mexico
People notice spider wasps when they notice a female lugging a captured spider to its doom. In most cases, she will drag the spider into a burrow, lay an egg on the spider, and then hunt for more spiders!
Long-legged wasp grasping a wolf spider while clinging to house siding
Entypus Spider Wasps
Entypus aratus, E. unifasciatus, E. fulvicornis, and others
Spider wasps in genus Entypus are bluish black and usually have some amount of amber color on their dark, smoky wings. Some species have bright yellow antennae.
Black and rust-colored wasp on a plant
Poecilopompilus Spider Wasps
Poecilopompilus algidus and P. interruptus
Poecilopompilus spider wasps provision their nests with orbweaver spiders. They dig nest burrows into the ground and therefore prefer sandy or other workable substrates.
Red and black spider wasp visiting snow-on-the-mountain flowers
Psorthaspis Spider Wasps
Psorthaspis spp.
Spider wasps in genus Psorthaspis look quite a lot like velvet ants. There are several species. The ones in our area are usually red and black, just like the coloration of the velvet ants in our region.
Photo of a bold jumping spider.
Bold Jumper
Phidippus audax
The bold jumper, or white-spotted jumping spider, is fuzzy, makes jerky movements, jumps surprisingly long distances, and doesn't build webs. It usually has a black body with white, orange, or reddish spots on the abdomen.