Wolf spiders are some of the most common and largest spiders found in southern Indiana.
Spiders are found on every continent of the world except Antarctica. There are approximately 35,000 species of spiders in existence. They all have segmented bodies, eight legs and fangs that inject venom into their prey. Many spider species are native to a particular area of the world. There are several species of spiders that are most commonly found in the southern part of Indiana.
Wolf Spider
The wolf spider is large and hairy making it appear dangerous. However, it poses little threat to humans as they are rarely found indoors. The bite of a wolf spider is poisonous, but not deadly. Symptoms include itching and swelling. Wolf spiders are some of the most common and largest spiders found in southern Indiana. The body of an adult wolf spider typically measures ½ inch to 1 inch long. Its leg-span can reach up to 4 inches in length. They are mainly found outdoors, but sometimes stray indoors in search of prey. Wolf spiders are ground spiders that can easily stay hidden under rocks and shrubs due to their brown and dark grey coloring. They typically hunt for food during the warmer parts of the day.
Fishing Spider
Fishing spiders are similar in size to wolf spiders. They are common in wet areas such as streams and ponds. However, they can also be found in and around plant life and sometimes stray indoors. Their bodies can grow up to 1 inch long and with their legs outstretched, they can measure up to 4 inches across. Fishing spiders are typically brown or grey in color with white markings. They do not spin webs, but hunt on the surface of the water. They float with their legs outstretched on the water's surface in order to feel the vibrations of nearby prey. They are able plunge into the water to catch small fish, tadpoles and insects.
Brown Recluse
Adult brown recluse spiders are approximately 1 inch in length. They are typically brown, grey or yellow in color with a darker spot behind the head that is in the shape of a violin or fiddle. Brown recluses are native to southern Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio. They are typically found in undisturbed places such as behind wood, in sheds, cellars, under furniture, in closets and inside cardboard boxes. The bite of a brown recluse is venomous. However, bites are rare as recluses are rather shy and tend to stay hidden. When a bite does occur, it is usually when the brown recluse is accidently disturbed. Most bites are mild, but in some cases the venom of a brown recluse can cause lesions and death of skin tissue. In extremely rare cases the venom can lead to damage of organs and eventually death.
Black Widow
Black widow spiders have a bad reputation as they are known for their poisonous bite. They get their name from situations where the female black widow will eat her mate after breeding. However, this situation rarely occurs. Adult female black widows grow up to be 1 ½ inches in length. The males are much smaller at a quarter of the size of females. Female black widows are black with a red hourglass shape on their abdomen. The males are typically white with brown markings and a faint hourglass shape on the abdomen. Black widow spiders are typically found in dark places near the ground. They build their webs in wood piles, dark corners, holes, under furniture and in basements. The bite of a black widow female is more venomous than a male's due to her larger body and fang size. Bites can cause muscle aches and respiratory system failure.
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