11 Common Arizona Spiders: Appearance, Behavior & More

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Learn how to identify and where to find these arachnids

Co-authored by Samuel Ramsey, PhD and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: August 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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Types of Arizona Spiders

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Treating Spider Bites

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Preventing Spiders in Your Home

While many spiders call Arizona home, some are more common than others. In this article, we partnered with pest control experts to create a list of the most common types of spiders in the Grand Canyon State. We'll also cover what each species looks like, where to find them, how to treat spider bites and keep them from entering your home!

Most Common Spiders in Arizona

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An illustration of the most common spiders found in Arizona.

The most venomous Arizona spiders are the western black widow, the desert recluse, and the brown recluse. If you get bitten by one of these, symptoms can range from muscle cramping to lesions. Other common Arizona spiders that aren’t dangerous include tarantulas, wolf spiders, and orb-weaver spiders.

Section 1 of 3:

Types of Arizona Spiders

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Western Black Widow The western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) is classified as one of the most venomous and medically significant spiders in Arizona. Its bite feels like a sharp pinprick. Symptoms usually worsen the first day, then subside within 2 to 3 days. Pest control specialist Elmer Bensinger says that these spiders have a distinct red hourglass shape on their underbellies.^{[1]
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Elmer Bensinger
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Expert Interview} They measure between ¹⁄₄–¹⁄₃ inch (0.64–0.85 cm) long with males being slightly smaller.^{[2]
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- Appearance: Females have a red or orange hourglass shape on their abdomens, whereas males have an orange or yellow one.
- Behavior: They spin sticky mesh-like webs in dark areas.
- Where to find them: Room corners, garages, sheds, pipes, drains, and outdoor tables
- Bite symptoms: The black widow bite contains a neurotoxin that can cause muscle and chest pain, stomach cramping, nausea, and a burning sensation on the bottom of the feet.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Elmer Bensinger is a pest control specialist whose areas of expertise include integrated pest management and products.

Samuel Ramsey, PhD, is an entomologist who has extensive knowledge regarding insect disease spread, insect pest control, and more.

Brandon Runyon is an entomology and pest control expert who provides customized pest control solutions for his clients.

Paragon Pest Control is a pest control company that treats and prevents pest issues involving spiders and more.
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Desert Recluse The desert recluse (Loxosceles deserta), also nicknamed the Arizona recluse, is another spider with a bite that can be dangerous. It’s recommended to seek medical attention right away if you think you’ve been bitten by one. This spider can grow to ¹⁄₄–¹⁄₂ inch (0.64–1.27 cm) long and is tan or dark brown in color. These arachnids typically prefer to nest outside and are rarely found indoors.^{[3]
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- Appearance: They have a violin-shaped marking on their back and six eyes instead of eight.
- Behavior: They spin irregularly shaped webs and feed on small live insects.
- Where to find them: Vegetation and pack rat dens
- Bite symptoms: Their bite can turn into a necrotic ulcer that takes weeks to heal.
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Brown Recluse Entomologist Samuel Ramsey, PhD, explains that the brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) comes in varying shades of brown and can grow to the size of a quarter or penny. He says that while its bite can cause tissue damage, it rarely bites humans. It tends to stay away from people, he continues, and may only bite you if it accidentally gets caught on you.^{[4]
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Samuel Ramsey, PhD
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- Appearance: Dr. Ramsey says they have a distinct violin-shaped marking on their cephalothorax.^{[5]
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- Behavior: Instead of spinning webs to capture food, it hunts at night.^{[6]
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- Where to find them: According to Dr. Ramsey, you can find them in cracks, crevices, and corners.^{[7]
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- Bite symptoms: Dr. Ramsey explains that the bite of a brown recluse “has a type of necrotoxin that actually breaks down healthy human skin and flesh.”^{[8]
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  Expert Interview} The bite is typically red and swollen and can turn into a blister or lesion.^{[9]
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Tarantula Tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) may look intimidating but are actually pretty harmless. They’re brown or black with a body that’s covered in fuzzy hair. Their body measures about 2 inches (5.1 cm) in length, and their legs are around 6 inches (15 cm) long. They’re usually most active between June and October.^{[10]
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- Appearance: They have a rounded body that’s covered in needle-like hairs, especially around their abdomens.
- Behavior: Tarantulas feed on crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles. Females are nocturnal.
- Where to find them: In holes in the ground, abandoned rodent tunnels, and burrows
- Bite symptoms: Their bite is similar to that of a bee sting. Sometimes a tarantula’s body hair triggers a hypersensitivity reaction in some people.
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Wolf Spider Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are brown or gray with various markings on their bodies. The can grow between ¹⁄₂–2 inches (1.3–5.1 cm) long. While often mistaken for being a brown recluse, wolf spiders don’t have the violin-shaped marking on their backs.^{[11]
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- Appearance: They’re hairy and brown or gray-colored with markings.
- Behavior: They’re shy and run away when disturbed.
- Where to find them: Around doors, windows, houseplants, basements, and garages
- Bite symptoms: Their bite isn’t poisonous and only causes a reaction in some people.
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Orb-Weaver Spider Orb-weaver spiders (Tetragnathidae) typically have large, stout abdomens and are colorful. They measure about ¹⁄₄–1 inch (0.64–2.54 cm) in length. They get their name from the symmetrical, orb-shaped webs they spin to catch their prey. They’re usually spotted during late summer and early fall.^{[12]
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- Appearance: They have a big, bulbous abdomen and can range in color.
- Behavior: These spiders die out every year and leave their egg sacs behind.
- Where to find them: Around porches, entryways, planters, and exterior lighting
- Bite symptoms: Their bite is not harmful.
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House Spider The common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) is no stranger in homes. They’re usually a yellowish-brown color with off-white to brown abdomens. Their legs are yellow and have a dark ring at the end of each one. They grow to about 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long.^{[13]
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- Appearance: They’re yellowish-brown, and some may have a triangular black spot on their abdomen.
- Behavior: House spiders frequently abandon webs to build new ones and can create many in a short span of time.
- Where to find them: Crawl spaces, wall corners, floor joists, and windows
- Bite symptoms: Their bites aren’t dangerous, but some verified recordings report redness and pain lasting between 4 and 24 hours.
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Jumping Spider The jumping spider (Salticidae) is small, usually growing no more than 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long. It’s brightly colored and can come in shades of red, white, or metallic green. Entomology and pest control expert Brandon Runyon says these spiders are active hunters with huge eyes. If you can get close enough to one and move your hand, he continues, they can track your movements and follow your hand.^{[14]
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Brandon Runyon
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- Appearance: They’re tiny, have eight eyes, and are brightly colored.
- Behavior: They hunt and don’t construct webs for catching prey. Instead, they may use webs to climb down surfaces.^{[15]
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- Where to find them: Outdoors in gardens, plants, and trees
- Bite symptoms: Their bites can be asymptomatic or cause small welts that resemble a mosquito bite.
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Cellar Spider The cellar spider (Pholcidae) is often called a daddy longlegs, but the two are different species. They do have long legs and a small, elongated or rounded body. They can be light tan or yellow with a gray mark in the middle of their carapace. They typically measure less than ¹⁄₃ inch (0.85 cm) in length.^{[16]
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- Appearance: They have long legs and can be pale tan or yellow.
- Behavior: They spin irregular cobwebs near windows, the ceiling, and wall corners, and eat insects and other arachnids.
- Where to find them: Basements, crawlspaces, behind HVAC units, and around furniture and seldom-used objects
- Bite symptoms: They’re not considered a health hazard because their mouthparts are too small and weak to bite a person.^{[17]
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Crab Spider The crab spider (family Thomisidae) looks and moves like a crab. Runyon says their front legs come out similar to a crab’s legs and resemble elongated claws.^{[18]
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Brandon Runyon
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Expert Interview} They have a wide, flat body and grow to around 0.1–0.5 inches (0.25–1.27 cm) long. They hunt their prey, so they don’t spin webs. They have a lifespan of about one year and are most active during the summer.^{[19]
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- Appearance: Runyon explains that they resemble a crab with long, claw-like legs.^{[20]
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- Behavior: They stalk their prey and feed on pest insects.
- Where to find them: In flowers, leaf debris, and grass
- Bite symptoms: They don’t bite and are harmless to humans and pets.^{[21]
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Camel Spider Camel spiders (order Solifugae) are commonly found in the desert regions of the United States, like Arizona. They also go by the names of wind scorpions and sun spiders. They measure between ³⁄₄–1.5 inches (1.9–3.8 cm) long. They’re a yellowish-brown color and have rounded bodies. While they have pincer-like jaws, they contain no venom. They resemble spiders, but technically aren’t actual arachnids.^{[22]
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- Appearance: They have a round abdomen and are colored yellowish-brown.
- Behavior: They don’t have the organs to spin webs and are most active at night.
- Where to find them: Under stones, in burrows, and on roads or paths
- Bite symptoms: They bite in self-defense or if mishandled, but they don’t have poison glands to cause a reaction.

Section 2 of 3:

Treating Spider Bites

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Clean the area with soap and water and apply an ice pack. Wash the spot where you were bitten with soap and warm water. Wrap an ice pack in a dish towel or grab a cool washcloth and place it on your skin to relieve the swelling. You can apply an antibiotic cream to the spider bite to prevent infection.^{[23]
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- You can also take an antihistamine for swelling and itching.
- If a spider bite causes pain or discomfort, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
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Seek professional medical attention. See a doctor or go to an emergency room if you’re experiencing complications from a spider bite. It’s especially important to get checked by a professional if you suspect or know that you were bitten by a black widow or brown recluse.^{[24]
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- For a black widow spider bite, a doctor may administer a medicine called antivenin for severe cases.
- An antivenin isn’t available for brown recluse spider bites, but a doctor may give you pain relievers, IV fluids, or other appropriate treatments.^{[25]
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Section 3 of 3:

Keeping Spiders Out of Your Home

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Remove the food source and clutter. According to Bensinger, spiders are drawn to places where they can find food and places to hide. Since spiders feed on insects, he recommends using pesticides around your home to eliminate this food source. He also says clearing up cluttered spaces and trimming vegetation gives spiders fewer spots to hide, making these areas undesirable to them.^{[26]
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Elmer Bensinger
Pest Control Specialist

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- According to pest control specialists at Paragon Pest Control, applying diatomaceous earth around your porch area can keep spiders from spinning their webs, ultimately deterring them from this space.^{[27]
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- To learn more, see our guide on getting rid of spiders in your home.
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Seal openings around your home. Use caulk to fill in any cracks and crevices in and around your house. This reduces the number of entry points spiders have to get inside. Also address any gaps around window frames and doorways and tears in window or door screens.^{[28]
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- See our guide for more tips on how to keep spiders out of your house.
If you’re dealing with a big spider problem, you may want to get professional help from a pest control company. They have specialized equipment to eliminate the problem. This is especially important if you’re having issues with more venomous species, like the black widow and brown recluse.^{[29]
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