Surveys often reveal that spiders are among the most feared land creatures in America. Very often they’re rated number one. Even in studies where snakes rank higher, spiders are a close second. 

Although these rankings aren’t a big surprise, they’re kind of unfair. Let’s be honest… spiders have long suffered from a certain amount of bad press. For over a century they’ve played an important albeit negative role in horror movies, often setting the scene for startling events. Before motion pictures came along, they were negative subjects of many wives’ tales and urban legends.

The truth is spiders aren’t the monsters they’re often made out to be. They might hurt a fly, but they wouldn’t hurt you!  Known for their natural pest control abilities, spiders are some of the most beneficial creatures in our environment. They pose little risk to people or pets. Spider bites are relatively uncommon; even when they occur the injected toxin isn’t strong enough to cause damage or significant illness. 

You’re probably aware that spiders are not classified as insects but arachnids. (Fun fact: mites, ticks, and scorpions are also arachnids.) Counting legs is the easiest way to tell the difference. Insects feature six legs while arachnids, including spiders, have eight. Other differences include body segments: insect bodies consist of three parts, arachnids just two; and antennae…spiders don’t have any!

Now that we’ve covered some basics, let’s talk about spider habitats and review some common spiders found in our state.

Where You May See Them –

Spiders live just about anywhere that people do but prefer seclusion. They reside inside houses, on porches, in sheds, and around gardens, landscaping, and fields. You may see them inside the cabins of cars, trucks, planes, trains, and ships. On your property, attics and cellars are particular favorites.

Indoors, they often migrate to gaps around boxes, into room corners, inside cabinets, and underneath furniture. Outdoors they hide on plant stalks, lurk in the forks of trees, and burrow into leaf piles and other organic refuse.

Most spiders spin webs, but some do not. For instance, orb weavers build large outdoor webs to trap prey. Their webs can measure more than three feet across…not counting anchor lines! In contrast, wolf spiders don’t spin webs at all, preferring to track and attack prey like the canine hunters they’re named for.

Spiders are naturally drawn to places offering abundant food. Houses infested with insects are a prime target. The same is true for yards where bugs abound. Keeping your place free of organic and man-made debris will discourage infestations of insects and other vermin, which in turn will make your place less attractive to spiders.

Are Spiders Good for Your Property?

The short answer is “yes”. Although you don’t want to be overwhelmed, an appropriate representation can be of real help. Spiders’ propensity for killing flying and crawling insects, ants, mites, and other pests is good reason for encouraging them to stick around…within reason, of course.

Beneficial Oklahoma Spiders

Wolf Spiders –

• Large, fast-moving nocturnal hunters that do not build webs, they stalk and ambush prey at an opportune time.
• Their black and brown coloring acts as camouflage. Size ranges from 1/2” to 2”, with a leg span almost twice that large.
• A typical diet includes crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers and other insects. Larger species will attack lizards and small frogs. 
• Wolf spiders are generally harmless unless handled so keep your distance. Don’t worry if bitten: their venom will cause irritation but is not fatal to people.

Jumping Spiders –

• Over 7,000 species fall into this category…the largest of any spider group!
• These small and curious spiders have excellent eyesight and rarely bite. Even when they do bite their venom is mild, causing only light reaction in humans.
• Some species, such as the regal jumping spider and the bold jumping spider, have become popular pets due to their expressive faces and engaging behavior.
• Unlike wolf spiders, they hunt during daylight hours. Flies, mosquitoes, and other nuisance insects are typical targets.

Garden Spiders (including orb weavers) –

• Known for large circular outdoor webs constructed where insects abound. (Only females spin webs.) Gardens are a favorite habitat because of a typical abundance of bugs, but these spiders can be seen anywhere food is available.
• Females are large and colorful. Their bodies can grow to 1” long with a 3” leg span. They often feature a contrasting yellow and black design. Males only grow to 1/4” with drab coloration.
• Both sexes protect flowers and vegetables by devouring insects caught in the web. The biggest garden spiders can capture and devour small birds.
• Despite their large size and imposing appearance, they’re not aggressive toward humans.

Cellar Spiders –

• Commonly called “daddy long-legs”, members of this species often reside in basements, garages, and ceiling corners.
• Appearance: Small pinkish or yellowish abdomen (about 1/4”) with long, spindly legs.
• They spin loose, messy webs to trap and eat prey such as flies and mosquitoes. Cellar spiders will attack and eat other spiders…including black widows! (A good reason to have some around!)
• Cellar spiders can live three years in the right conditions and are harmless to people.

Harmful Spiders Found in Oklahoma

Brown Recluse –

• Often called fiddlebacks, these light to dark brown spiders feature a violin-shaped marking on top of their abdomen. 
• Including legs, mature adults are about the size of a quarter.
• Brown recluse spiders inhabit dark, infrequently accessed areas (hence their formal name.) Favorite hideouts include closets, attics, storage boxes, storm shelters, and wood piles.
• Contrary to common belief, these spiders aren’t aggressive and will only bite people when they contact human skin. Bites are not usually fatal but often require medical attention to care for open wounds that can develop. Avoid handling these spiders as although they may not kill you, their venom can make you ill. 
• Contact a pest control professional if you see more than one in an area.

Black Widow –

• The most dangerous species of spiders native to Oklahoma, these shiny black creatures can be identified by a red hourglass on the underside of their bodies.
• They often hide in sheds, garages, crawl spaces, and outdoor furniture, where they spin loose, disorganized webs to catch prey. Exercise caution when in any of these areas.
• Though not usually aggressive, black widows will bite if they feel threatened.
• Both sexes are venomous, but females pose a greater risk to humans as their venom sacs are much larger. Female bites rarely prove fatal to healthy adult humans, but extreme sickness almost always follows. Children and elderly people are at greater risk of dying than typical adults. Regardless of age, anyone who’s been bitten should seek immediate medical care.

The Bottom Line

While a lot of people consider spiders spooky and creepy, they have a lot of redeeming qualities and aren’t the threat many folks think they are. In proper numbers, spiders are useful members of a functioning, healthy outdoor environment. That said, you’ll want to consider professional pest control if their numbers get out of hand, and especially if dangerous species (e.g. black widows and brown recluses) are found