If you live in Maryland, at one point or another, you’ve probably had to deal with spiders. For some people, spiders are just an annoyance; for others, they’re fascinating; and of course, some have arachnophobia! If that’s the case, this article is not for you!
The common types of spiders found in Maryland are Black Widow, Jumping spider and Hobo spiders. Out of these three, the Black Widow is the only one that is considered dangerous because it has venom, which can cause muscle aches, nausea, breathing difficulties, and death if not treated quickly enough.
These bites may also require surgery depending on how bad it gets, so make sure to contact your doctor if something happens! We have created a list of the top 8 most commonly seen spiders in Maryland for your convenience. Are you familiar with any of these?
Image Credit: Liz Weber, Shutterstock
| Species: | L. Hesperus |
| Longevity: | 1 – 3 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | No |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | ¼ inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Black Widow’s size makes it looks like an apple seed. It has a shiny and black body with a red hourglass shape on the underside of the females and no pattern on the males. They are found in densely populated areas such as woodpiles and sheds.
Though they are more common in warm climates, they have been able to adapt to cold temperatures. The black widow spider is poisonous, yet some people still choose to keep it as a pet because it is not aggressive and can be tamed easily. Research has found that 10% of people will have a severe reaction if bitten by this type of spider. Still, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience symptoms such as muscle aches, weakness, nausea, abdominal cramps, and breathing difficulties.
Image Credit: Jason Patrick Ross, Shutterstock
| Species: | D. tenebrosus |
| Longevity: | 1 – 2 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 2 – 3 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Dark Fishing Spider is found in throughout North America and Eurasia. This spider has dark coloration with orange and black stripes on its upper body and can grow up to a total length of 4 inches.
See also Poisonous Spiders in Michigan
They are more often found near large bodies of water such as streams, ponds, or lakes. The spider will wait for prey, including flying insects such as wasps, bees, dragonflies, beetles, and other spiders that are smaller than themselves.
This spider hangs out by the water’s edge, waiting for prey where it lies in wait for unsuspecting bugs before leaping out at them from underwater. In North America, the spider is known to eat insects such as mosquitoes, which are pests to humans.
| Species: | E. agrestis |
| Longevity: | 1 – 2 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | ½ inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Hobo Spider is considered an invasive species in the United States, and it’s one of the most poisonous spiders. It is found in most of the United States as well as Europe. Unlike other spider species, Hobo Spiders are active during the day when they hang under rocks, logs, bark, and lawn clutter.
They also prefer to live near humans, so if you see them, you may want to treat them with caution because there have been numerous reports of Spider bites causing severe reactions and even death.
The Hobo Spider is not known to attack humans unless provoked, so you can reduce the risk of being bitten by gloves, boots, and long pants. It is also advised that you don’t crush these Spiders if you see them because they release a pheromone that will attract other Spiderlings.
Image Credit: Cornel Constantin, Shutterstock
| Species: | Lycosidae |
| Longevity: | 1 year |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 1 inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
It is a type of spider that hunts at night and is often found on low shrubs or grass in Maryland. They are primarily black with white joints, and they have two large eyes at the front of their faces. Wolf Spiders are non-aggressive but will bite if provoked or trapped against the skin (like if you accidentally sit on one).
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Wolf Spider bites are usually no more severe than a bee sting, so there is no need to worry, but you should keep your fingernails trimmed short to avoid any potential Spider bites.
Wolf Spider bites are not life-threatening unless you happen to be allergic, but they can produce symptoms such as muscle aches, weakness, nausea, abdominal cramps, and breathing issues. Spider bites from the Wolf Spider can be treated with over-the-counter antihistamines and antibiotics, but there are natural remedies that you can use as well.
Image Credit: Ian Redding, Shutterstock
| Species: | Parasteatoda |
| Longevity: | 1 – 2 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 5/16 inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The House Spider is about ¼-inch to ½-inch in size and is typically brown with yellow, orange, or white markings on its abdomen. Their webs will be found in corners of windows and doors outside where they most often stay during day hours. The House Spider’s bite does not usually produce more than localized swelling.
The House Spider is not as dangerous as some other spider species because it doesn’t have a venom that can be fatal for humans. Bites from the House Spider are usually not more than mild to moderate pain.
| Species: | Cheiracanthiidae |
| Longevity: | 1 – 2 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | ¼ inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The spider is named for its coloring and generally lives in homes. The spider has a yellow coloration of the abdomen and will have white spots on it. The spider is about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch in size, which allows them to fit into small cracks and nooks around homes.
The spider is not harmful to people, but people can still get bit provoked by the spider or trapped against the spider’s body. Spider bites from the Yellow House Spider are not fatal, but they can produce localized swelling and pain symptoms. Over-the-counter antihistamines and antibiotics should deal with spider bites from the House Spider, but you may also use natural remedies.
See also Poisonous Spiders in Michigan
Steatoda triangulosa 5314 (Image Credit: NobbiP, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 3.0 Unported)
| Species: | S. triangulosa |
| Longevity: | 1 – 3 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | ¼ inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The spider is named for its spinning of spider webs which are commonly found inside Maryland homes. Spider webs are usually the strands you see in your home and span from one corner of your home to another. Spider webs will be found in most window or door frames outside a house. Cobweb Spider bites are rarely life-threatening unless you happen to be allergic, but they can produce localized swelling and pain symptoms. Over-the-counter antihistamines and antibiotics should deal with spider bites from the Cobweb Spider, but natural remedies may also be used.
Image Credit: R_Winkelmann, Pixabay
| Species: | Salticidae |
| Longevity: | 1 year |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | ½ inch |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Jumping Spider is mainly found in the United States and parts of Asia. Large Spiderlings resemble ants because of their small size (1/8 inch) and brown coloration. They are common Spiderlings found in Maryland homes. There were two reported cases where Jumping Spiders bit people, so they are not considered dangerous, but they do have urticating hair that can cause itching and rashes if it is touched.
There are 29 varieties of spiders found in Maryland. But only 14 of them are considered to be dangerous, some even deadly. Spider bites have a history of causing necrosis, which is the loss and death of cells. Spider bites generally cause swelling, pain, redness, and itching at the bite site.
In Maryland, the Black Widow Spider can be found all over the state. They can be found in residential habitats, agricultural habitats, and urban habitats. They are also frequently found in woodlands. This spider is known to live in trees, logs, and even under rocks. It is an excellent climber but cannot jump like other types of bugs do.
The male Black Widow looks very different from the female, except it has the same coloring: red on its underside with a black band around it. The males are much smaller and less harmful than the female. The male also has a red hourglass shape on its abdomen, but it is not as wide as the female, and it does not have well-defined borders.
You’ll find various spiders in Maryland, and they all have different habitats, appearances, and diets. But which is the most dangerous? The Black Widow Spider has venom that can cause death to humans if it enters the bloodstream or tissue surrounding nerves. And while this type of spider isn’t found as often here as elsewhere in North America due to our colder climate, other types like hobo pose similar threats!
Featured Image Credit by SwastikEs, Shutterstock
