Common Spiders of Missouri: ID Guide, Danger Level, and Control

Missouri is home to thousands of spiders, but only two are genuinely worth worrying about: the brown recluse and the black widow. The other common spiders you will meet, including daddy-long-legs, ambush (jumping) spiders, wolf spiders, orbweavers, and the Texas brown tarantula, are essentially harmless and actually help by eating mosquitoes, flies, and other pests. Most spiders flee when disturbed, since they are highly sensitive to vibration.

This guide covers the seven spiders you are most likely to find in and around a Missouri home, how to identify each one, whether it is dangerous, and how to get rid of it. Start with the quick-reference table below, then jump to the species you are trying to identify.

Common Missouri Spiders at a Glance

Spider	Size (body)	Color / key mark	Dangerous?
Daddy-long-legs (harvestman)	Up to about 0.9 in legs	Cream, gray, brown; tiny body, very long legs	No, no venom or fangs
Ambush / jumping spider	Up to 1 in	Often black with a white abdomen pattern	No
Brown recluse	0.25 to 0.5 in	Tan to brown, violin mark, 6 eyes	Yes, necrotic venom
Black widow	0.12 to 0.4 in	Shiny black, red hourglass underneath	Yes, venomous
Wolf spider	0.25 to 1 in	Gray, brown, or tan with dark markings	No, bite is minor
Orbweaver	About 0.25 in	Gray to reddish-brown, large round abdomen	No
Texas brown tarantula	Up to about 2 in (4 in leg span)	Chocolate brown, hairy, stocky	No, bite is minor

Only the brown recluse and black widow have venom that matters medically. If you are bitten by either and develop spreading pain, an ulcer, muscle cramps, or trouble breathing, seek medical care. For the rest, the goal is simply removal and prevention.

Spider Anatomy

Spiders share several features with other arachnids. The main ones are:

• A fused head and thorax (the cephalothorax, or prosoma)
• A body divided into two sections
• Eight jointed legs
• No wings or antennae
• Chelicerae (jaws) and pedipalps
• An exoskeleton

Spiders are not insects, even though people often lump them together. If you are curious why, see our explainer on whether spiders are insects.

7 Common Spiders of Missouri

Daddy-Long-Legs (Harvestman)

Daddy-long-legs, also called harvestmen, are among the most easily recognized arachnids in Missouri, with their very long, thin legs and small, compact bodies. Despite the popular myth, they have no fangs and no venom, and they cannot spin silk. Strictly speaking they are not true spiders: they have a single body segment rather than the two that spiders have. They are omnivores that eat rotting organic matter and small insects, and they are completely harmless to hold.

• Size: Tiny body; legs span up to about 0.9 inch
• Color: Cream, gray, and brown
• Lifespan: About 1 year (males), up to 3 years (females)
• Habitat: Damp areas near water indoors and out, including ceiling corners, garages, sheds, and under decks and furniture
• Diet: Aphids, dead insects, mushrooms, and rotting fruit
• Threat: None

For more on the myths around them, see whether daddy-long-legs are dangerous.

How to Get Rid of Daddy-Long-Legs

Because they are harmless, the easiest approach is simply to remove the few you see and seal them out:

• Sticky traps. Place spider sticky traps  where they walk, such as along door frames, to stop them entering.
• Boric acid. Sprinkle boric acid  into crawl spaces, voids, and along edges. It kills them after they walk through and ingest it. Wear gloves and a mask, keep it away from kids, pets, and food-prep areas. See how boric acid works on other pests.
• Vacuum. They are slow and light, so a vacuum picks them up easily.
• DIY repellent. Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1/2 cup vanilla extract in a spray bottle and spray the cracks and edges where they gather. For more options, see getting rid of spiders naturally.
• Pesticides. A labeled spider pesticide  works if you prefer a spray. Read the label for safe use.
• Prevention and pros. Trim plants, clear debris, and seal cracks in the foundation, doors, windows, and screens. For a heavy or recurring problem, a pest control professional can help.

Ambush (Jumping) Spiders

Ambush spiders are hunters that stalk and pounce on prey rather than building webs to catch it, and the group includes the jumping spiders you often see on walls and fences. Many are black with a white pattern on the abdomen and can leap many times their own body length. They are harmless to people.

• Size: Up to about 1 inch
• Color: Often black with a white pattern, sometimes brown
• Habitat: Dry, open ground, grassland, and sometimes trees or structures
• Diet: Cockroaches, crickets, mealworms, and other insects
• Threat: None to speak of

If one does nip you, see whether jumping spider bites are dangerous (they are not, for most people).

How to Get Rid of Ambush Spiders

Vacuum the ones you see and seal the wall cracks they use to get in. A labeled pesticide spray  applied directly works for stubborn cases, though these beneficial hunters rarely need it.

Brown Recluse

The brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) is common across Missouri and is one of only two medically significant spiders in the state. It carries a violin-shaped mark on the carapace, but that mark alone is not proof, since several harmless spiders have one too. The reliable tell is the eyes: a brown recluse has six eyes arranged in three pairs, while most spiders have eight. Its venom can cause a slow-healing, necrotic wound, but bites are rare, and most heal on their own; only a minority become medically serious.

• Size: 0.25 to 0.5 inch
• Color: Tan to dark brown, with a violin mark and six eyes
• Lifespan: 1 to 2 years
• Habitat: Dry, dark, undisturbed spots: basements, closets, boxes, shoes, garages, and woodpiles
• Diet: Cockroaches, crickets, moths, and flies
• Threat: Necrotic venom, handle with caution

How to Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders

For a real infestation, call a professional. For a small problem you can try a careful DIY approach, but inspect first while wearing long sleeves, boots, and gloves to protect your skin.

• Dust, vacuum, and trap. Clean thoroughly, vacuum the floor, and set sticky traps  in basements, attics, garages, and closets where they hide.
• Home remedies. A 1:1 water and apple cider vinegar spray can knock down individuals, and food-grade diatomaceous earth  dehydrates and kills them on contact.
• Insecticides. The most dependable option is a ready-to-spray insecticide  worked into cracks and crevices. Read the label and keep your family safe.

For the full process, see our detailed guide on how to get rid of brown recluse spiders.

Black Widow

The black widow is the most venomous spider in North America. A female is easy to identify: a shiny black body with a red hourglass mark on the underside of her round abdomen. Bites are very painful and need medical attention, but they are rarely life-threatening, and deaths are extremely uncommon thanks to modern treatment.

• Size: 0.12 to 0.4 inch (3 to 10 mm)
• Color: Shiny black with a red-to-yellow hourglass underneath
• Lifespan: 1 to 3 years
• Habitat: Woodpiles, holes, under stones, and dim corners of garages and sheds
• Diet: Mosquitoes, flies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles
• Threat: Venomous, treat with care

How to Get Rid of Black Widow Spiders

Never handle a black widow directly. A 1:1 vinegar and water spray can kill one on contact, and a vacuum lets you remove spiders and webs from a safe distance, after which you seal and throw out the bag. For anything beyond one or two, use an insecticide spray or call a professional. Always wear gloves and clear clutter and webbing from garages, sheds, and woodpiles where they nest.

Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) are large, fast ground hunters that people often fear because of their size, but they are mostly harmless and only bite if handled or cornered. A bite can break the skin and cause redness, pain, and swelling, similar to a bee sting, but it is not dangerously venomous.

• Size: 0.25 to 1 inch body length (much larger than a brown recluse)
• Color: Gray, brown, black, or tan with dark markings
• Lifespan: About 1 year
• Habitat: Ground level in gardens, leaf litter, and along foundations; they do not build webs to catch prey
• Diet: Crickets, ants, grasshoppers, other spiders, and small invertebrates
• Threat: Minor; the bite can cause a local reaction but is not poisonous

For more, see whether wolf spiders are poisonous.

How to Get Rid of Wolf Spiders

Clear clutter and mulch around the home to remove their hiding spots, then treat any you find with a labeled insecticide spray . Seal foundation cracks and gaps around doors and windows so they cannot get inside.

Orbweaver Spiders

Orbweavers (family Araneidae) are the spiders behind the big, classic circular webs you see across gardens and porches in late summer. They can look intimidating with their bright markings and large abdomens, but their venom is too weak to harm people or pets, and they are not aggressive.

• Size: About 0.25 inch (6 mm), females larger
• Color: Gray to reddish-brown, with a large rounded or triangular abdomen
• Lifespan: About 1 year
• Habitat: Fields, gardens, and forests, usually in their webs
• Diet: Moths, flies, beetles, mosquitoes, and wasps
• Threat: Harmless; venom is not medically significant

How to Get Rid of Orbweaver Spiders

Since orbweavers eat a lot of mosquitoes and flies, it is worth leaving them be when you can. If the webs are a nuisance, trim back bushes and clear dead branches and garden debris to reduce their cover, and they will usually move on. A spider spray handles a small number, and a professional can deal with a large outbreak.

Texas Brown Tarantula

The Texas brown tarantula is one of the most common tarantulas in the United States and the largest spider you are likely to see in Missouri. Despite the size, it is docile and its bite is no worse than a bee sting for most people.

• Size: Body up to about 2 inches, leg span up to 4 inches
• Color: Chocolate brown, with reddish hairs on the carapace
• Lifespan: About 10 years (males), over 30 years (females)
• Habitat: Grasslands and farmland, often in burrows under stones
• Diet: Crickets, grasshoppers, and other small invertebrates
• Threat: Minor; only a concern if you are allergic to the bite

How to Get Rid of Texas Brown Tarantula

Declutter and tidy the area first to remove shelter. If you need to treat one, a pyramid aerosol  sprayed directly will knock it down quickly. In most cases, though, the easiest option is to gently relocate this harmless spider outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most dangerous spiders in Missouri?

Only two: the brown recluse and the black widow. The recluse has a violin mark and six eyes and can cause a slow-healing wound, while the female black widow is shiny black with a red hourglass and delivers a painful, venomous bite. All the other common Missouri spiders are essentially harmless.

How can I tell a brown recluse from a wolf spider?

Size and hair are the giveaways. A wolf spider is larger, hairier, and often gray or tan with bold markings, while a brown recluse is small (0.25 to 0.5 inch), uniformly tan to brown, smooth-looking, and has the violin mark and six eyes. If it looks big and fuzzy, it is almost certainly not a recluse.

Are daddy-long-legs really spiders?

Not exactly. The common outdoor daddy-long-legs (harvestman) is an arachnid but not a true spider; it has one body segment, no venom, and no silk glands. The persistent claim that they are the most venomous spider but cannot bite is a myth, since they have no venom at all.

How do I keep spiders out of my house?

Reduce what draws them and seal the gaps they use. Cut down indoor and outdoor clutter, clear webs, fix moisture problems, swap bright white exterior bulbs for yellow ones to attract fewer insect prey, and seal cracks around the foundation, doors, windows, and screens.

List of Sources

Daddy Long Legs, UC Riverside Spider Research
Potter M. F., Brown Recluse Spider, University of Kentucky
Jacobs S., Bold Jumper Spider, PennState Extension
Wolf Spiders, Missouri Department of Conservation