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Comments & ID Thoughts
I have no idea what this spider is but it gives me the spooks. Last summer it made a home right outside my door on my apartment building. Only comes out at night. I do not remember it ever making a circular or “normal” web. Now, yesterday was the first warm day of the year and they were all over the front of my apartment door and overhang. I’m spooked to get inside, and I don’t know if these spiders are dangerous. They tend to drop down when I approach so I feel they are territorial. All seem to be bigger than a quarter, some are the size of a half dollar. Plz help
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Apr 14, 2019
- Photographed: Apr 14, 2019
- Spider: Larinioides cornutus (Furrow Orb-weaver)
- Location: Danbury, Connecticut, United States
- Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
- Found in web?: Yes
- Attributes: Dorsal
Feb 12, 2020
Feb 12, 2020
North Georgia , 
Hi, please don’t worry. Your spider looks like a Furrow Orbweaver, Larinioides cornutus. The one that didn’t make a circular web might have been male. They spend their life mainly searching for females, they make webs that are like little bachelor cots. Young females make smaller versions of the circle web. I’m pretty sure you have a lot of females because nocturnal flying insects are attracted to artificial lighting. The entry may have exterior lights and light shining through windows. Orbweavers prey primarily on large flying insects – so this is an ideal scenario for them. They like using human… Read more »
Hi! Thank you so much for your reply. The other day there were about 20 to 30 of them both on the door and the overhang of my building. Is this a species I should be concerned about infesting the building? It’s an older building with thick wooden shingles for siding that can easily be used at a home for them. I’m not sure if I should make my landlord aware of the visible growth of the population, or even if he will do anything to help avoid them. Right about the lighting though! Last year the lightbulb broke and… Read more »
Hi, for the numbers, this is likely a hatching from last seasons parent. The spiderlings won’t infest anything. Usually, these will seek a high place and balloon away for a place of their own. Unless these spiders can find food, they won’t hang around long or become cannibalistic killing each other off. You may have a couple or few become resident, but these spiders are very harmless and of no concern, they are very unlikely to stray indoors, save for a wayward male looking for a mate. I have relocated similar spiders, persistently webbing across walkway to the door. Side… Read more »
I agree, relocate them if you want to. They aren’t a building hazard at all. The landlord, if like most that I’ve met, would probably kill them all with a pressure wash or toxic chemicals. Better to keep him uninformed.