Tiny jumping spider - let's call her Harriet!
Immature Phidippus
Tiny Jumping Spider, >1/4" long
SPIDERS of
Kaweah River Delta Region
by: Marjorie Moody
Updated regularly
click here to read about 
Marjorie Moody
"The Spider Lady"
click here to view
Spider Checklist
Underlined items are linked to an image below or another website.
Remember to use the BACK button to return to this page.
* = bite can cause necrotic surface wound
**= bite can damage interior organs (liver)
Any spider big enough to break your skin can cause an ulcerated wound.
Phylum: Arthropoda Class:Arachnida Order:Araneae Suborder:Araneomorphae
Family
Filistatidae
   Kukulcania sp.

Uloboridae- only harmless spider in area
  Uloborus diversus

Dictynidae
  Dictyna reticulosa

Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders)
  Holocnemus pluchei
  Psilochorus sp.

Theridiidae  (Comb-Footed Spiders)
  **Latrodectus hesperus(Black Widow)
  Steatoda grossa
  Theridion sp.

Linyphiidae
  Microlinyphia sp.

Araneidae (Orb-Web Spiders)
  Argiope aurantia(Golden Garden Spider)
   Argiope trifascuata
  Gea heptagon
  Larinia directa
  Metepeira crassipes
  Neoscona oaxacensis
  Tetragnatha laboriosa(Long-Jawed Spider)
  Cyclosa(Trash Spider)

Agelenidae (Funnel-Web Spiders)
  Hololena frianta
  Hololena sp.

Lycosidae (Wolf Spiders)
    Alopecosa kochii
        (formerly Terentula kochi)
   Arctosa sp.
  Lycosa gosiuta
  Pardosa californica
  Pardosa ramulosa
  Pardosa sternalis
  Pardosa tuoba
  Schizocosa mccooki

How to preserve a spider

 Family
Oxyopidae (Lynx Spiders)
  Oxyopes salticus
  Oxyopes scalaris

Gnaphosidae
  Herpyllus propinquus
  Sergiolus sp.
  Zelotes griswoldi

Clubionidae (Sac Spiders) 
  Castianeira occidens
  Castianeira 
  Castianeira thalia
  *Cheiracanthium inclusum
  Chiracanthium mildei
  Clubiona pomoa
  Micaria sp.
  Trachelas pacificus

Anyphaenidae
  Aysha incursa

Heteropodidae (Giant Crab Spiders)
  Olios giganteus

Philodromidae (Crab Spiders I)
  Coriarachne utahensis
  Tibellus chamberlini

Thomisidae (Crab Spiders II) 
  Misumenoides formosipes
  Misumenops importunus
  Misumenops lepidus
  Misumenops quercinus
  Xysticus californicus
  Xysticus loculipes

Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)
  Evarcha hoyi    link
  Metacyrba sp.
  Metaphidippus vitis
  Metaphidippus watonus
  Peckhamia sp.
  Pellenes brunneus
  Pellenes klauserii
  Phidippus clarus
  *Phidippus johnsoni (Red-backed Jumping Spider)
  Thiodina sp.
Remember, most arthropods, especially spiders, will bite to defend themselves.
Spiders do not always use venom in a defensive action, but it will cause pain.
Therefore, we suggest that you use caution when observing any spider.
 
Bites and Stings of medically important venomous arthropods
Most phycisians are not trained to properly identify a spider bite.
This results in mistreating a potentially dangerous condition. 
Spider Links:
Argiopes Tree of Life Web Project Misdiagnosis of
Idiopathic Wounds
Jumping Spiders Spider Lesson Plan Clinical Clues for Diagnosis
Brown Recluse  American Arachnological Society Use Corn Starch To 
Dust Spider Webs

main     next insect F

IMAGES: click on an image for more info and images of that spider
Filistatidae- not poisonous, but will cause a painful bite

click image for larger photos
click for more info on our Filistatid spider Tha male Filistatid, Kukulcania sp.  is often mistaken for a "Violin Spider"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Uloboridae - only harmless spider in area

Click image for larger photo.
Uloborus diversus, non-poisonous spider

Uloborus diversus 
Tiny two-horned spider on the abdomen.
 
 
 
 


 


Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders)
 

click for more imagesHolocnemus pluchei
This is the common "Daddy Longlegs" that build so many messy webs.
It also controls Black Widow spiders.
click for larger images and commentary
 
 
 


Theridiidae  (Comb-Footed Spiders)

click images of Black Widows for more pictures 
 

black widow in web, click for more images left - mature Black Widow Latrodectus hesoerus, immature widow

right - immature Black Widow, but still venomous
(image is enlarged) 
**Latrodectus hesperus (Black Widow Spider)
more on "widow" spiders


 
 

click for a larger imageSteatoda grossa
click image for a larger view

This is a common house spider. Some call it the "pillbug spider" because it often leaves the carcasses of its prey in little round "pills" underneath its web. This spider preys upon black widows, so is a good spider, indeed. This spider is a non-hazardous relative to the black widow.


 

cob web spider - click for a larger view
Very small spider, often found in homes.
Theridion sp.
 



Araneidae (Orb-Web Spiders)
 

click for more imagesstabilimentum - zig-zag spider web of undetermined useclick to view bigger images

Argiope  aurantia (Golden Garden Spider) female
Other common names: yellow backed spider and black and yellow garden spider. These are fairly common garden spiders and can be from 1/2 to 2" in body length. Arachnologists have not been able to determine why these spiders weave a "stabilimentum" (zig-zag patterns) in their webs. The exact function is unknown.
Argiope  aurantia is pronounced "r-jee-upee  r-anch-ee-a"
click small images to view close-ups
 
 


 

Argiope trifasciata image, click for a larger viewArgiope trifasciata bottom, click for a larger view
Argiope trifasciata (Banded Garden Spider)
This silver and gold striped spider stands on her head!
click small images to view additional images
 
 
 

Neoscona oaxacensis, immatureclick to view bigger images
click to view bigger images
Neoscona oaxacensis, mature female
common garden spider
click here for close-ups
 
 


 

click here for bigger images of this spiderclick here for bigger images of this spiderclick here for bigger images of this spider
click on small photos to view larger ones.
Tetragnatha elongata, long-jawed spider
Tetragnatha nitens  (Long-Jawed Spider)
(This is not Tetragnatha laboriosa, we'll get
an image of one soon, but this is a close "cousin")


 

Trash Spider
 
 

Cyclosa (Trash Spider)
This spider collects the carcasses of it prey in a vertical line and holds it in its web. The spider is very small and hides amoung the debris. Perhaps being disguised as bird droppings has some advantage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Agelenidae (Funnel-Web Spiders)
 

funnel web spider on stinging nettle

Hololena  frianta 

There is a funnel web spider in Australia that is very hazardous, but it is not related to funnel-web weaver spiders of North America.
 
 
 
 
 


Lycosidae(Wolf Spiders)
click image for more
click for larger view Alopecosa kochii,  female
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


click small images to view bigger ones
click to view close up of female with egg sacclick to viewmommy with broad, click for more pics
Schizocosa mcooki, type of wolf spider
Schizocosa  mcooki, female
Large dark brown spider, 
3/4" in length from tip of cephalothorax
to end of dorsum (abdomen)
 
 
 
 



Oxyopidae (Lynx Spiders)

click image for larger view
click for larger image of Lynx spider
Oxyopes salticus, immature
This lovely gold striped spider hops instead of crawls.

click image for enlargement
Lynx spider - click image for a larger view
Oxyopes  scalaris, Lynx spider
on poison hemlock flower cluster.


 


Clubionidae (Sac Spiders) 

Castianeira occidensReddish-brown spider.
Castianeira occidens
 


click for extra images
Castianeira species - click to view more images
Castianeira occidens, female


click for larger views
click for larger viewChiracanthium  mildei - Yellow Sac Spiders
Sac Spiders
Very common in homes and 
gardens. White, cream, or
tawny, with dark chelicerae.
Often called "white house spiders."

click here for more information on yellow sac spiders



Heteropodidae (Giant Crab Spiders)

Olios giganteus
giant crab spider - click for more imagesclick the small images to view more images

bodychelicerae

The giant crab spider could be mistaken for a tan tarantula, but all the legs of this spider point forward. Most spiders' rear legs point backward.
 



Philodromidae (Crab Spiders I) 

click image for enlargement
immature male, grass spider; long slender spider
Tibellus chamberlini


 


Thomisidae (Crab Spiders II) 
 

click image for enlargement
Flower Spider - click to see a larger photo
Misumenoides formosipes
 
 
 
 
 
 

Salticidae (Jumping Spiders) 

Peckhamia - ant mimic, jumping spider
Peckhamia sp.

click image for enlargement
Salticidae, Phidippus clarus, male
Phidippus clarus
image from Tree of Life
Arizona State University
 

click images for enlargement
Salticidae, Phidippus johnsoni, maleface of female Phidippus johnsoni
*Phidippus johnsoni (Red-backed Jumping Spider) 
 
 

Australian venomous red-backed spider
** The red-backed spider (Latrodectus hasselti), 
endemic to Australia, is related to the Black Widow
but not found in the United States
 

click image for enlargement
click for larger imagefemale
Thiodina sp.
image from Tree of Life
Arizona State University

Images - I. Lindsey
To catch and preserve spiders for a collection::
  • Wearing gloves is a good idea.
  • Use a clear tall glass to completely cover the spider.
  • Slide a sheet of paper or cardboard under the glass, between the spider and the surface - gently nudging the spider to go on top of the paper.
  • Carefully turn the glass with the cover on it right-side up.
  • Tap the cover enough to cause the spider to fall to the bottom of the container and quickly place a heavier flat object over the top.
  • Place covered container in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
  • Be sure the spider is no longer active and pour a few inches of isopropyl alcohol over the spider. Recover container and wait a minute or two.
  • Document on a small piece of white paper using a lead pencil the place and date found and your name.
  • Transfer the spider and isopropyl alcohol into a smaller container with a tight fitting lid.
  • Place paper with your data in alcohol with the spider.
  • Fill container to the top with isopropyl alcohol.
  • Seal securely.
  • Store in a dark dry place.
To photograph spiders at home: (do this prior to the alcohol bath)
  • A second person is generally necessary to assist.
  • First - refrigerate the spider for 30-60 minutes to slow it down.
  • Set up your photo area using a velvet or other non-reflective surface.
  • Use a coin or pencil tip to give perpective.
  • Use two pionted objects, like long pencils, to reposition the legs.
  • Use supplimental lighting, such as a lamp or flashlight.
  • Photograph the specimen from all angles: top, bottom, front, and side.
  • When spider regains warmth, catch and replace in refrigerator for a few more minutes before your next photo session.          [top of page]
    • main    next insect F