Search Results - Field Guide

Showing 1 - 10 of 18 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 Xysticus crab spider, tan individual
Ground Crab Spiders
Xysticus spp.
Missouri has several species of ground crab spiders in the genus Xysticus. They are usually dull gray or brown with brown, white, or yellow markings. They typically live under bark or on the ground in leaf litter.
Photo of a tan jumping spider
Tan Jumping Spider
Platycriptus undatus
The tan jumping spider usually lives on tree trunks. Its gray, tan, and brown coloration camouflages it against tree bark. There is usually an undulating pattern on the abdomen.
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).
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!
Female spider wasp grasping and dragging body of sac spider
Auplopus Spider Wasps
Auplopus spp.
There are 10 species of spider wasps in genus Auplopus in North America north of Mexico. They often snip off the legs of the spiders they capture, which makes them easier to move around.
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.
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.
Photo of a furrow orbweaver hanging head down with a green background
Furrow Orbweavers
Larinioides spp.
Furrow orbweavers have a distinctive dark pattern on the abdomen that resembles a furrow. These harmless spiders are common under the eaves of homes and near porch lights.