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Spiders Native to Central Alabama

More than 2,000 spider species are native to the United States and approximately 60 species are native to the state of Alabama. Most spider species are not considered toxic to humans and many of them never interact with people. The most common spiders in central Alabama are the black widow, the brown recluse, sac spiders and the parson spider. Most spiders are not poisonous, but some spider bites can be painful or result in a secondary infection if not treated.

  1. Brown Recluse

    • The brown recluse spider is native to Alabama and is one of the most poisonous spiders in the world. A brown recluse victim may not immediately notice the spider bite, but the pain will begin six to eight hours later. A brown recluse spider bite is potentially fatal. The tissue around the spider bite may become necrotic, or decayed, which can lead to a serious lesion that may take months to heal. The brown recluse is unique because it has only six eyes.

    Southern Black Widow

    • The southern black widow is one of the most recognized poisonous spiders. The female is marked with the red hourglass design on the bottom of its abdomen. The male black widow is not poisonous and does not bite. Black widows can be found in undisturbed places, such as wood piles, under wooden decks and porches or in dark corners in barns. A black widow spider rarely leave its web, and bites to humans usually occur when its web is disturbed.

    Wolf Spider

    • Wolf spiders are large, hairy spiders. Unlike typical spiders, they do not wait for prey to come to them. The wolf spiders gets it's name because it chases down prey and attacks it. Wolf spiders are fast and deadly to their prey, but they are usually not toxic to humans. Wolf spiders are curious and like to explore their environment. They can be found in any area of house, such as closets, hiding in clothes, behind boxes and under steps.

    Broad-Faced Sac Spider

    • Broad-faced sac spiders are poisonous and are found throughout Alabama. These spiders typically do not build webs, but roam around on the ground searching for prey. Sac spiders are small but cause a painful bite. Sometimes the bite will become infected. Female broad-faced sac spiders are only seven to 10 millimeters and males are smaller. Sac spiders are predatory hunters, not web weavers, when it comes to catching prey.

    Parson Spider

    • The parson spider is identified by the black, brown and ivory markings on its abdomen. Sometimes the marks are dark brown and pink in appearance. The parson spider does not build a web, but stalks prey on the ground. The bite may cause serious allergic reactions in people. The spider can grow up to 1/2 inch long and is covered with fine hairs. Watch out for parson spiders under rocks or in piles of lumber and bushes.

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