Frequently Asked Questions

What types of spiders are found in the Midwest?



Too many to list, actually. The spiders most commonly encountered in house in the Midwest are the American house spider To find a picture and information click here, the cellar spider. The yellow sac spider ( picture above). Of these, only the yellow sac spider is of any concern. It is the spider commonly seen at the wall/ceiling juncture. They are yellow and construct silk shelters (sacks) to hide in; hence the name “yellow sac spider”.

More important are the spiders not found in the Midwest.

The two most dangerous spiders found in the US, the black widow and the brown recluse are not native to Michigan and when they are encountered it is individuals that have been imported from out of state. While this occurs, it is rare and that vast majority of sightings are misidentifications. Here is an excellent site giving details on brown recluse and how to properly identify them. Click here

Researcher, Rick Vetter (probably one of the more knowledgeable brown recluse experts in the country) is very interested in brown recluse diagnoses around the country. Click here

We have a close relative of the black widow here in the Midwest called the northern widow. Although they are venomous (all spiders are), they are far less dangerous than the southern version. The northern black widow looks just like the black widow but often has one or two red spots on the back of the abdomen as well. They are rarely encountered in the Midwest.

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