Common Spiders in Nevada

Black Widow

In the U.S., there are actually three different black widow species: northern, southern, and western. Black widows are shiny and black with a distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of their abdomen.

A black widow bite can cause serious issues, causing welts and pain. Some also experience trouble breathing, nausea, and sweating.

Cellar Spider

The term cellar spider or Phocidae is a broad term to describe a family of spiders, not a species. Cellar spiders get their name due to their habit of hanging upside down in cellars, garages, and other vacant areas. 

Other pests are commonly mistaken for cellar spiders. Those include the crane fly, which also looks like a giant mosquito, and harvestmen, commonly known as daddy long legs.

Desert Brown Recluse

The desert brown recluse is typically light to dark brown in color. It is a cousin to the well-known brown recluse, and although they are not aggressive, they will bite if disturbed or cornered. Desert brown recluses prefer to establish in quiet places like wood, dead cactus, and rodent dens. 

A bite from a desert brown recluse can result in severe tissue damage. So seek medical care if bitten.

Desert Tarantula

Female desert tarantulas have thick, bristly hairs and a tan, stocky body. In contrast, males are thinner and have black hair. Desert tarantulas hunt at night. They eat grasshoppers, crickets, scorpions, small lizards, and tiny spiders. They prefer to establish in undisturbed areas where they can burrow in. 

This spider species may seem scary, but they are usually calm and not aggressive towards people. However, like most other spiders, they will bite if provoked. Their venom is poisonous but not deadly, but it’s recommended to seek medical care in case of an allergic reaction.

Orbweaver

Orbweavers come in a variety of different colors and sizes and are named after the circular webs they build. You may find them in bushes, tree branches, or around your light fixtures. Orbweavers are calm and harmless spiders. They eat common insects. At night is when orbweavers are most active as they work to repair their web and hunt.

Wolf Spider

Wolf spiders are large, hairy, and typically brown or gray with dark markings. Wolf spiders stand out because they don’t wait for prey like other species. Instead, they roam around and hunt actively. They are also very fast! 

They also carry their egg sacs with them, and once their babies hatch, they will climb onto mom’s back until they’re fully developed. While wolf spiders won’t attack a human at first sight, they will react aggressively if cornered or picked up. They have large fangs, and a bite from a wolf spider can be painful.