Which spiders live in Utah homes? A quick field guide

Black widows

Glossy black, round abdomen, red hourglass underneath on adult females. Messy, tangled webs low in window wells, wood piles, meter boxes and garage corners. The one to treat with care: wear gloves and don't handle it.

Hobo spiders and funnel weavers

Brown, fast, long-legged spiders that build funnel webs at ground level and run across basement floors in late summer and fall. Hard to tell apart by eye. Mostly a nuisance.

USU Extension names the black widow as the major spider of medical concern in Utah and notes that the CDC does not list hobo spiders among spiders venomous to people. Hobo spiders are found in Utah homes most often from August through October, when males wander looking for mates, and the species is found throughout northern Utah. Salt Lake City's older housing adds to it: the median home was built in 1965, with basements and window wells that spiders love.

Cellar spiders

The very long-legged, small-bodied spiders in basement corners and ceilings, sometimes called daddy longlegs. Harmless, and they eat other spiders.

Wolf spiders

Large, hairy, fast ground spiders that hunt instead of building webs. They wander in from the yard, especially in fall, and are more alarming to see than they are dangerous.

Jumping spiders

Small, compact spiders with big front eyes that hop on windowsills and walls. Harmless and often curious.

• Keep window wells clear and covered
• Seal gaps under doors and around basement windows
• Cut down insects at porch lights
• Wear gloves in garages and wood piles

Sources

• extension.usu.edu
• point2homes.com