What does a spider look like up close

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Spotting a spider in your immediate vicinity can be a little intense, especially if you have a major fear of the creepy crawlers. And, when one shows up in your home, it can be downright freaky. Unfortunately, you might start to notice more spiders inside your basement, attic, bathroom, and general living spaces now that it’s getting cooler out.

Before you panic, know this: It can actually be a good thing to have spiders around. “The majority of the spiders cause us no harm and are predators of pests,” says entomologist Roberto M. Pereira, PhD, an insect research scientist with the University of Florida. Translation: They get rid of other bugs—like roaches, flies, and millipedes—that you also do not want to deal with.

Still, some can be a little more problematic than others. Here are some of the most common house spiders you might see, how to identify them, and whether they’re potentially harmful (heads up: most aren’t).

What they look like: These spiders are on the smaller side—about the size of a nickel—and have a round abdomen. They’re also usually grey and will have some white markings, says Marc Potzler, a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager with Ehrlich Pest Control. “Their web often looks very tangled or messy,” he adds.

Where you’ll find them: They like to hang out in dark, concealed areas. “They hide in corners, underneath cabinets, in basements, sometimes in garages around the windows where flies may be active,” Potzler says.

Can they harm you? Nope.

What they look like: There are more than 200 species of wolf spiders found around the country, and they can range in size. “The largest species can be up to an inch and a half long,” says Potzler. They’re hairy and tend to be gray, black, or brown. They can also be confused with tarantulas. “These are nomadic spiders that don’t spin webs to catch their prey—they hunt them down,” says Howard Russell, an entomologist at Michigan State University.

Where you’ll find them: They usually show up in basements, sheds, or garages where insects are, Potzler says. Outside, they like to hide in or around debris, under boards and cinderblocks, or in naturally-occurring gaps in the house.

Can they harm you? No. “They would prefer to hide than bite,” says Russell.

What they look like: Black widows have a shiny black color and are known for their red hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of the abdomen, says Potzler. “They may also have red markings going up its back,” he adds.

Where you’ll find them: They can hide in mailboxes or garages, and they like corners, edges, and tall grass, Russell says.

Can they harm you? “This is one of the few species of spider that can be dangerous to people,” says Potzler. “There are approximately 2,200 bites reported each year, but there has not been a death related to a widow spider in the U.S. since 1983.” If you’re bitten by a black widow, you may have intense pain, muscle stiffness, possible nausea, and vomiting, usually within a few hours of the bite, Potzler says. If you or someone in your family is bitten by a black widow, you’ll want to head to the ER ASAP.

What they look like: The brown recluse is a brown spider with a distinct “violin-shaped marking” on the top of its head and down its back, Potzler says. Also, brown recluse spiders have six eyes, instead of the eight that many other spiders have.

Where you’ll find them: The brown recluse likes to hang out in undisturbed corners of homes, in sheds, and in basements or cellars. “Many bites occur because the spider is hiding in folded towels and sheets, underneath a pile of clothes on the floor, or in shoes in a closet,” Potzler says. “If you live in an area where brown recluse is common, it’s a good idea to shake out your clothes and shoes, or wear gloves if you are working in your shed or garage.”

Can they harm you? Yes. “The recluse can cause serious damage to people,” says Pereira. “Bite sites are a serious problem.” A brown recluse bite can cause necrotizing wounds (meaning, it kills the cells and tissues around it), so you’ll want to see a doctor immediately if you think you’ve been bitten by one, Russell says.

What they look like: You’re probably pretty familiar with this one, but just in case: It has one round body part and very thin, long legs coming off of it.

Where you’ll find them: They like to live outside, they can sometimes hide under siding or be found on and under decks. “For the most part, you’ll find them on the lawn or up in trees,” says Potzler.

Can they harm you? No. “Contrary to myths found on the Internet, daddy longlegs are not venomous enough to kill a horse,” says Potzler. “They do not have venom glands. They pose no harm to humans.”

What they look like: Hobo spiders are tannish-brown and the top of the spider may look mottled, with darker and lighter spots, Potzler says. They look pretty hairy and have spiny hairs coming off the legs.

Where you’ll find them: While they’re usually outside, they sometimes venture indoors. “It can hide in clothing, beds, and shoes,” Potzler says.

Can they harm you? Yes. “The hobo spider can inflict a painful bite that results in localized red swelling and some pain, but no necrotic lesion,” Potzler says. Usually, symptoms will get better within 24 hours with OTC painkillers and ice.

What they look like: There are more than 300 species of these, and they all look a little different. “Their colors can vary from solid black with distinctive markings, to striped like a zebra, and some have iridescent markings,” Potzler says. “They are most easily distinguished by their very large, front middle set of eyes, although most people probably don’t want to get close enough to look at their eyes.”

Where you’ll find them: They can be just about anywhere in your house. They don’t build webs, but they’re what Potzler calls “active daytime hunters” so you can spot them at any time. “You may see them both inside climbing walls or ceilings, or hanging out in attics, or outside scaling buildings and trees,” he says.

Can they harm you? Not really. While Russell says these spiders “may bite in defense,” it shouldn’t cause any issues for you.

What they look like: The spider will build a tent-like structure out of silk. “They hide in the sac during the day and then hunt at night,” Potzler says. They’re usually a pale beige or yellowish color and have a dark V shape on its body.

Where you’ll find them: Their webs are usually found at the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling or corner, Potzler says. He’s found them most often in living spaces, like living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.

Can they harm you? It’s not common for these spiders to bite “but there have been some reports of hospitalizations for individuals who have compromised immune systems or pre-existing health conditions,” Potzler says.

What they look like: These are the spiders that build huge webs that you can see in the morning covered in dew. “Orb weavers spin their web each day and then tear it down and rebuild the next day,” Potzler says. They can have spiny or smooth abdomens, and they’re usually brown or gray. However, there are tons of species and some can be difficult to distinguish from other spiders.

Where you’ll find them: They like to build their webs where they’re most likely to grab flying insects, Potzler says. They may build webs on decks or the exterior of your house, especially if you have outside lighting (which attracts the flying insects they like to eat).

Can they harm you? Not really. While they can bite, it won’t usually cause an issue for most people, Potzler says.

What they look like: It’s a “very ordinary-looking” brown spider, Potzler says. It can be confused with the brown recluse, but grass spiders have long spinnerets (finger-like appendages at the end of the abdomen), which the brown recluse does not have, he says.

Where you’ll find them: They tend to like to hang out around the foundations of homes, but Potzler says that sometimes males will find their way inside while looking for a mate.

Can they harm you? They can bite but “there are no reported cases of medical significance,” Potzler says.

Korin Miller Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more.

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