Common Spiders of Nebraska

Most common spiders found in Nebraska's wide farm fields and smaller city gardens are beneficial spiders. These spiders make a good living off of the pests that can potentially ruin bumper crops of corn, sorghum or tomatoes. Beneficial spiders would much rather be outside than in your house, so carefully put them back outside so they can continue to eat the bugs that bug humans.

One common spider found in Nebraska is the Woodlouse hunter. The head and body of the Woodlouse hunter are brown, with reddish-orange legs and a pinkish tan abdomen according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Woodhouse hunter looks fearsome with its large front jaws, but it does not typically bite people. It is far more interested in pill bugs (roly-polies) and other woodlice. Woodlouse hunters come out mainly at night, but can be found during the day hiding out under rocks or bark during the day.

These large, fast-moving spiders can scare people all over Nebraska, but they typically do not bite people and their bite is not typically venomous. Wolf spiders come in a variety of colors including brown, black, gray, white or yellow with short hairs covering their bodies. They do not build webs, but live in shallow tunnels or dig burrows. They are generally nocturnal and hunt for their prey outside where they like to live. If you find a wolf spider in your house and you can actually catch it, release it back outside so they can eat pests like grasshoppers and ants (see references 1& 2).

Orb weavers and other garden spiders are commonly found on Nebraska's large farms and in city gardens. Orb weavers spin large, beautiful webs and can usually be found right in the middle. These spiders are colorful with yellow, black and white markings and some have spike-like projections on their abdomens. These spiders rarely bite humans and, if bitten, their bites usually do not cause adverse reactions. These spiders are also considered beneficial spiders since they eat flies which can spread diseases and and grasshoppers which eat your plants.

Brown recluse spiders are known to bite humans and their bite is venomous. The initial bite does not hurt, but the wound becomes ulcerated and painful. These wounds are slow to heal and in some cases do not heal at all. Because the spider is shaped like a violin, these spiders can also be called "fiddle-back" or "violin spiders." Brown recluse spiders are found mainly the south-east section of the state or are brought in boxes or other containers from southern states. They prefer to live in wood piles, under leaves, bark or stones. They can infest schools, buildings, apartments and houses, especially in areas that are undisturbed like attics, basements and garages.