The Missouri terrain allows room for many different species of spiders to flourish.
Missouri is a state in the central United States that encompasses several different landscapes, including the swampy terrain of the Bootheel, the gently rolling hills of the Ozarks and the forests and Great Plains area near Kansas. Missouri is home to over 300 species of spiders, ranging from the deadly black widow and brown recluse to the harmless jumping spider and the Missouri tarantula. Of these spiders, relatively few are likely to show up in a house, but some do occasionally invade human dwellings.
White Spotted Jumping Spider
The white spotted jumping spider (scientific name Phidippus audax) is distributed fairly evenly throughout the state of Missouri. They are often found on broad leafed plants, tree trunks, fence posts and house siding. In the colder, wetter months, they can make their way into a house. Jumping spiders are harmless to humans and can even keep pesky insect populations down. In fact, Ozark folklore says that keeping a jumping spider in your house can bring you good luck! The white spotted jumping spider is is usually black or reddish brown in color, with several lighter spots on the abdomen and one central spot that is larger than the rest. Females average lengths of 8 to15 mm, and males can grown up to 13 mm but are more often 6 to12 mm in length.
Wolf Spiders
Several different species of wolf spiders live in Missouri and they're distributed statewide. All wolf spiders are in the family Lycosidae, and are split between the geneses Lycosa and Pardosa. Wolf spiders vary greatly in size and can measure between 6 and 25 mm long. They're very adaptable and can be seen in a variety of habitats, from stream edges and woodlands to the occasional sightings inside rural homes. Wolf spiders are usually brown, gray, tan or black and have darker markings (usually stripes) on their abdomens. These spiders are usually shy, but female wolf spiders can exhibit aggressive behavior if they are carrying an egg sac.
Brown Recluse
The brown recluse spider (scientific name Loxosceles recluse) is one of two species of spider in Missouri that are venomous to humans, the other being the black widow. The black widow, however, is less likely to be found indoors. Female brown recluse spiders are slightly larger than males and average a length of about 9 mm. Brown recluse spiders can be recognized by their light gray, yellow and brown colors and the violin-shaped marking on the top of the carapace (the carapace is the part of the body that the spider's legs come from). However, the violin marking is rather small, and it is not recommended to try and get close enough to the spider to recognize this as a form of identification. Rather, the overall shape is a better way to recognize the brown recluse. Its color is lighter than several other spiders and while its shape is somewhat similar to a wolf spider, its legs are thinner in proportion to its body. Death from brown recluse bites is a very rare occurrence, but as the bites are prone to infection and can become gangrenous, the bitten person should still see a doctor.
Tags: black widow, brown recluse, brown recluse, different species, jumping spider, jumping spider