Aug 26, 2022 | Pest Control
Spider sightings tend to increase when the weather cools off. While most spiders prefer to live outdoors, a few will make their way inside in search of food and water. Most spider species also mate in the fall, increasing the numbers we see as they go in search of their partner. Young spiders are born in the spring, taking the summer to grow and mature. By fall they are bigger, venturing out and starting to build their webs. All of these factors combine to increase the number of spider sightings we see near the end of the year.
There are many types of spiders common to this area, some venomous but most harmless. Here are 9 of the most common spiders in Georgia to look out for this fall.
Joro Spider
Joro spiders are a non-native species originating in Asia that were first spotted in Georgia in 2014. Since then they have started to expand their population throughout the southeastern United States. Joro spider eggs hatch in late spring, with sightings as early as May. They will build their webs anywhere they can find, including decks, porches, houses, plants, landscaping, etc. They are larger than most other spider species in the US. Females can measure up to 4″ in length with males only reaching about 1/4″ in size. Their colors vary – males are usually brown while females can be blue-gray or yellow with red markings on their abdomen and black legs with yellow bands. They are commonly found on the edges of woods and around homes. They are not usually seen indoors and their bites are rare. There is no research to show that Joro spiders are dangerous to humans.
Black Widow
The black widow is one of the few structure-invading species of spiders in our area. Their fangs are big enough to penetrate human skin and their venom is powerful enough to cause side effects in humans. In fact, they are the most venomous spider in North America. Antivenom for their bites does exist. Female black widows grow to lengths of 3/4″ while males are about half that size. They are one of the easiest types of spiders to spot with black bodies and distinctive red hourglass markings on the underside of their abdomen. They have very round body shapes. These spiders can be found indoors and outdoors, preferring protected, sheltered areas to live in. They are most active at night, spinning webs to catch their prey in. Outside they can be found around decks, in barns and outbuildings, under rocks, or in woodpiles. Inside they can usually be found in areas that aren’t disturbed or used frequently, such as garages, basements, closets, and crawlspaces.
Brown Widow
Brown widow spiders are another non-native species, although can now be found throughout the southern and western United States. Bites from the brown widow aren’t as potent as those from their black widow cousins and don’t cause nearly as bad of side effects. Only brown widow spiders bite. Brown widows also prefer undisturbed areas to live in but can often be found in garages and basements, gardens, on patio furniture, on mailboxes, on outdoor toys, and in storage closets. Female brown widows grow to about 1/2″ long while males are about half this size. Both males and females are brown in color with tan and black legs. They also have the hourglass marking like black widows, but theirs are orange in color.
Brown Recluse
Brown recluse spiders are commonly found in the southeastern and midwestern United States. They are also easily identifiable by the distinctive markings found on their bodies. These spiders are known for “secretive” behaviors, preferring to hide in warm, dark, dry habitats. They are commonly found in woodpiles, basements, and closets, especially in old shoes that aren’t worn often. They will bite, with symptoms taking up to 3 hours to show up afterwards. Brown recluses range from 1/4″ to 1/2″ in length. They are tan to dark brown in color with a dark fiddle-shaped marking on their back.
Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are another common species you may see this fall. These spiders don’t use webs to catch prey; instead they hunt their prey, utilizing their speed to catch them. There are over 100 species in the US and Canada. Female wolf spiders grow from 3/8″ to 1-3/8″ in length while males range from 1/4″ to 3/4″. They are usually dark brown or yellow with striped markings on their legs. They are also very hairy. Wolf spiders hunt at night and hide out during the day. Once inside, they usually stay at lower levels and are often spotted in the floor along walls and under furniture. Outside they are found in woodpiles, under rocks, and other sheltered areas of landscaping. They can be beneficial to have around because they eat other pests that can cause problems around your home. They can bite but it is extremely rare.
Common House Spider
The common house spider gets its name from the fact that it is commonly found inside homes. These spiders are commonly found worldwide. They don’t pose a threat to humans and are more of a nuisance pest. Their webs in your home are the biggest issue they cause. Female house spiders grow from 3/16″ to 5/16″ in length while males range from 1/8″ to 3/16″. They are yellowish-brown in color with dirty white abdomens and dark stripes that meet at an angle.
Orb Weaver
Orb weaver spiders are named for the orb-shaped webs they create. There are over 2800 species of these spiders worldwide. Adults range in size from 1/2″ to 1″. Their coloring varies greatly among species; they are mostly reddish-brown to gray but some varieties are a vibrant yellow color. Because there is such variation among species, the best way to identify an orb weaver is by it’s large, circular, wagon-wheel shaped web. Orb weavers don’t pose any threats to humans but their large webs can be problematic around your home.
Crevice Spider
The crevice spider, also known as the southern house spider, are commonly found in the southeastern United States. They are often mistaken for brown recluse spiders. They range in size from 1/2″ to 3/4″. Males are usually brown or amber in color while females are black or gray and resemble tarantulas. They prefer to build their webs at higher elevations and are usually found on the outside of houses, outbuildings, and barns. They are known to crawl across anything in their path, including humans! They do not pose a threat to humans, however.
Trapdoor Spider
The trapdoor spider is a large, hairy spider that can range in color from yellowish brown to reddish brown to black. They have powerful jaws and sharp fangs. Trapdoor spiders get their name from the burrows they construct with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation and silk. They spend most of their lives underground and usually hunt at night. Trapdoor spiders are not aggressive and, in fact, are often timid when confronted. They can bite but this is rare. They do not pose a significant threat to humans.
Once you’ve identified the spider(s) you have around your home, the next step is preventing them. You can prevent spiders by:
- Getting rid of webs as soon as you spot them.
- Decluttering your home to help eliminate hiding spaces.
- Sweeping and dusting frequently.
- Using natural spider repellents like peppermint oil and cinnamon.
- Keeping firewood away from your home.
- Shaking out clothes and shoes before wearing them.
- Storing unused or seldom used items in sealed bags or boxes.
- Contacting your local pest control company for a thorough evaluation, treatment, and prevention plan.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Fall Spider Identification Guide
American Cockroaches: How To Identify and Prevent
Are Mosquitoes Still Active in the Fall?
What Attracts Centipedes To Your Home?
7 Signs You Have Cockroaches
Mar 8, 2019 | Georgia Blogs, Pest Control
By Anna V., Editorial Lead — Pest Education · Last updated: May 2026
Georgia’s hot, humid climate is excellent for almost everything, including the dozens of spider species that live here. At Northwest, we run spider control calls year-round across our Georgia and Alabama service area, but they spike sharply from April through October as outdoor temperatures rise and spider populations boom. The good news for homeowners: the vast majority of the spiders in Georgia are harmless. Only a handful are medically significant, and even those are uncommon to encounter indoors.
Here are the 10 spiders you’re most likely to see around a Southeast home, how to identify each, which ones warrant caution, and what to do when you find one.
Most spiders in Georgia are outdoor garden spiders that quietly handle the local insect population.
Why Understanding Spiders in Georgia Matters
Spiders play an important role in controlling insect populations. The yellow garden spider you find in your shrubs eats hundreds of mosquitoes, gnats, and flies over a summer. The cellar spider in your basement is quietly catching the small flies you don’t want around. Most spiders in Georgia are doing free pest control on your behalf.
That said, two facts make spider identification matter for homeowners:
- A small number of species are medically significant. Three to four species in the Southeast can deliver bites that require medical attention. Identifying them quickly matters.
- Most “scary-looking” spiders are completely harmless. Wolf spiders, orb weavers, jumping spiders, and the famous Joro spider all look intimidating but pose no real threat. Knowing which is which prevents unnecessary panic and unnecessary pesticide use.
Georgia’s climate produces spider activity peaks in spring (April through May), late summer (August), and early fall (September through October). Most encounters are outdoors.
10 Common Spiders in Georgia
Two species require caution. The other eight are quiet helpers around Southeast homes.
1. Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
- Status: Venomous. Bite requires medical attention.
- Appearance: Glossy black body with the distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. Adult females are about 1/2 inch (legs spread to 1.5 inches). Males are much smaller and not medically significant.
- Habitat: Dark, undisturbed areas. Sheds, garages, crawl spaces, woodpiles, basement corners, under outdoor furniture. Common in rural and suburban Georgia.
- Action: If you find one in or around your home, call professional pest control. Do not attempt to capture or kill without protection. Bites cause severe muscle pain, abdominal cramping, and sometimes systemic reactions.
2. Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus)
- Status: Venomous, but less potent than the black widow
- Appearance: Tan to brown body with darker mottled markings. Distinctive orange hourglass marking on the underside (similar shape to black widow’s, but orange instead of red). Egg sacs have a spiky, golf-ball-like appearance.
- Habitat: Outdoor structures, under patio furniture, in eaves, around mailboxes, under flower pots. More common in suburban and urban Georgia than rural areas.
- Action: Bites are usually less severe than black widow bites but still warrant medical attention. Treat with the same caution and call professional control.
3. Wolf Spider
- Status: Non-venomous to humans (bite is mild, comparable to a bee sting at worst)
- Appearance: Large, hairy, brown to gray with darker markings. Body can be 1 to 2 inches with a 3-inch leg span. Eight eyes arranged in three rows.
- Habitat: Ground dwellers. They don’t build webs. They hunt. Often enter homes accidentally chasing prey. Common in basements, garages, and ground-floor rooms.
- Action: Harmless but startling. Trap with a cup and release outside.
4. Cellar Spider / Daddy Long Legs (Pholcidae)
- Status: Harmless
- Appearance: Small slender body (under 1/2 inch) with extremely long thin legs. Light tan to gray.
- Habitat: Indoor ceiling corners, basements, garages, crawl spaces. Builds messy tangled webs.
- Action: Leave them alone if you can. They eat mosquitoes, fruit flies, and other indoor pests. For a deeper dive, see our cellar spider vs daddy long legs guide.
5. Orb Weaver Spiders
- Status: Venomous to prey, harmless to humans
- Appearance: Vary widely in color and size. Many species have rounded abdomens with bright patterns (yellow, black, brown, orange). Common Georgia species include the yellow garden spider, garden orb weaver, and the spinybacked orb weaver.
- Habitat: Outdoor gardens, shrubs, between fence posts, under eaves. Builds the classic large circular web.
- Action: Leave them alone. They’re significant outdoor pest controllers. For more on whether their venom matters, see our orb weaver spider guide.
6. Jumping Spiders
- Status: Harmless
- Appearance: Small (1/4 to 3/4 inch), compact, fuzzy body. Often striking patterns and large forward-facing eyes that give them an almost cute appearance. Move in distinct jumps rather than walking smoothly.
- Habitat: Active hunters that don’t build webs. Common indoors and outdoors. Often spotted on walls, window frames, and porches during the day.
- Action: Among the most charming spiders you’ll meet. Harmless and useful.
7. Yellow Sac Spider
- Status: Mildly venomous. Bites possible but rarely serious.
- Appearance: Pale yellow to cream-colored, small (1/4 inch body). Slim legs.
- Habitat: Corners of ceilings, window sills, under loose bark, in folded leaves outdoors. Builds small silken retreats rather than full webs.
- Action: One of the few spiders that may bite without obvious provocation. Bites cause localized pain, redness, and itching that resolves in a few days. Vacuum sightings; call professionals for recurring activity.
8. Crab Spiders
- Status: Non-venomous to humans
- Appearance: Crab-like stance (front legs held out to the sides). Often brightly colored to match flowers (white, yellow, pink). Small body, usually under 1/2 inch.
- Habitat: Gardens, flowers, and shrubs. Ambush predators that wait on blooms to catch pollinators.
- Action: Beneficial outdoors. Leave them alone.
9. Hobo Spider
- Status: Low-risk venom (medical significance has been re-evaluated and downgraded in recent CDC guidance)
- Appearance: Medium-sized brown body with chevron patterns on the abdomen. Long legs. Often confused with wolf spiders.
- Habitat: Basements, dark corners, ground-level spaces. Builds funnel-shaped webs.
- Action: Less common in Georgia than in the Pacific Northwest. Treat as you would a wolf spider: trap and release, or call professionals for recurring activity.
10. Joro Spider (Trichonephila clavata) — The New Arrival
- Status: Harmless to humans and pets
- Appearance: Large, striking. Females have bright yellow and gray-blue striped legs with a yellow abdomen marked with grayish-blue lines and red markings underneath. Leg span up to 4 inches.
- Habitat: Introduced from East Asia, first confirmed in Georgia in 2014. Now established statewide. Builds huge multi-layered golden webs in trees, between buildings, on power lines, across porches.
- Action: Despite their alarming size, Joros are docile and rarely bite. Their fangs are too small to penetrate most human skin. They’re effective predators of other pest insects. Most Georgia residents have started simply leaving them alone.
Venomous vs Harmless Spiders in Georgia
Of the 10 species above, only two are considered medically significant in the Southeast:
- Southern Black Widow: severe neurotoxic venom. Bites require medical attention.
- Brown Widow: less potent than black widow but still warrants medical attention.
Two more deliver bites that can cause discomfort but rarely require medical care:
- Yellow Sac Spider: mild localized reaction.
- Hobo Spider: low-risk; previously thought to be more medically significant.
The other six species are functionally harmless to humans.
What to Do If You’re Bitten
For any suspected spider bite:
- Wash the bite area with soap and warm water.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
- Watch for severe symptoms: rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, fever, muscle cramping, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or any systemic reaction.
- Seek medical attention immediately for any severe symptoms or for any bite from a confirmed widow species.
If possible (and only if safe), capture or photograph the spider for identification. Medical providers handle treatment differently depending on the species.
Spider Identification Tips
Three quick markers help with on-the-spot identification:
- Size and color: Note the body size (excluding legs), overall color, and any distinctive markings (hourglasses, stripes, bright patches).
- Web type: A circular symmetrical web means orb weaver. A messy tangled corner web means cellar spider. A funnel-shaped web means hobo spider or grass spider. No web at all (spider on the floor or wall) often means wolf spider, jumping spider, or one of the widow species (which build messy three-dimensional cobwebs in hidden spots).
- Behavior: Fast movement on the ground suggests wolf spider. Quick jumps suggest jumping spider. Sitting motionless on a flower suggests crab spider. Hanging upside down in a corner web suggests cellar spider.
For authoritative species identification, UGA Extension’s guide to insect and arthropod pests of southeastern neighborhoods covers the common spider species in our region in detail.
How to Prevent Spiders in Your Georgia Home
Spider prevention is straightforward and overlaps with prevention for the insects spiders eat (which is the underlying reason spiders show up in the first place).
Spider prevention is mostly about sealing entry points and reducing the indoor insect population that draws them.
- Sanitation. Remove indoor clutter, especially in basements, attics, garages, and storage spaces. Spiders need stable hiding places.
- Seal entry points. Caulk foundation cracks, install or replace door sweeps and weatherstripping, screen crawl space vents with 1/4-inch hardware cloth, seal gaps around utility line penetrations.
- Yard maintenance. Trim shrubs and tree branches back from the foundation. Remove leaf litter, woodpiles, and debris within 20 feet of the house. Outdoor harborages give spider populations a launching pad.
- Control outdoor lighting. Bright porch lights attract flying insects, which attract spiders. Switch to yellow-tone or warm-LED bulbs to reduce insect attraction.
- Humidity control. Many indoor spiders prefer slightly damp environments. Run dehumidifiers in basements; fix leaks promptly.
For active spider prevention strategies including DIY natural methods, see our natural spider repellent guide.
When to Call Professional Spider Control
Most spider sightings in a Georgia home don’t warrant professional intervention. Call Northwest if:
- You’ve found a confirmed black widow or brown widow on the property.
- You’re seeing recurring spider sightings in living spaces (bedrooms, kitchens, kids’ rooms).
- Population appears large (visible webs in multiple rooms, multiple sightings per week).
- You’re noticing other pest activity at the same time. Spiders are usually a downstream effect of an indoor insect problem.
- Anxiety or safety concerns make a professional inspection worth the peace of mind.
Professional spider control typically combines targeted treatment at active harborage spots, exclusion work to seal entry points, and addressing the underlying insect issue that drew the spiders indoors.
(Spider activity beyond what you want to handle yourself? Schedule a free Northwest spider inspection and we’ll identify what’s around, find the entry points, and lay out a treatment plan.)
Frequently Asked Questions About Spiders in Georgia
Are spiders in Georgia dangerous?
Most are harmless. Only two species in the Southeast pose real medical risk: the Southern black widow and the brown widow. The yellow sac spider and hobo spider can deliver uncomfortable bites but rarely require medical attention. The other common spiders in Georgia (wolf, cellar, orb weaver, jumping, crab, fishing, Joro) are functionally harmless to humans.
What do spider bites look like?
Symptoms vary by species. Most bites cause mild localized redness, swelling, and itching that resolves in a few days. Black widow bites cause severe muscle pain, abdominal cramping, sweating, and sometimes systemic reactions. Brown recluse bites (uncommon in Georgia) can cause a slow-healing necrotic wound. Any bite with severe pain, rapidly spreading redness, or systemic symptoms warrants medical attention.
How common are venomous spiders in Georgia?
Black widows are present statewide but uncommon to encounter indoors. Brown widows are more common around buildings, especially in coastal and urban areas. Brown recluse spiders are rare in Georgia but not impossible (they’re more common further west). Most homeowners go years between spotting a medically significant spider.
Do spiders help control other pests?
Yes, significantly. Spiders are predators of flies, mosquitoes, gnats, moths, and other household insects. A small spider presence indoors is functionally free pest control. This is one reason most pest professionals (including ours) encourage homeowners to leave individual spiders alone when possible.
What’s the Joro spider and should I worry about it?
The Joro spider (Trichonephila clavata) is an invasive species first confirmed in Georgia in 2014. It’s now established statewide and continues to spread. Despite their alarming size (leg span up to 4 inches) and bright coloring, Joros are docile and rarely bite. Their fangs are typically too small to penetrate human skin. They’re effective predators of pest insects and aren’t considered dangerous.
Most spider problems get solved by sealing entry points and treating the insects they’re feeding on.
Ready for a Professional Spider Inspection?
If you’ve spotted a widow species, you’re seeing recurring indoor sightings, or you just want a professional to identify what’s around your home, Northwest’s team handles the full spider control workflow: species identification, exclusion, targeted treatment, and addressing the underlying insect issues that draw spiders indoors. Most spider problems clear up faster than homeowners expect.
About the Author
Anna V., Editorial Lead — Pest Education leads pest education content for Northwest Exterminating, working with senior technicians and service center managers across our Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina service areas to translate field expertise into homeowner-friendly guides. The focus: accurate, regionally-specific answers to the pest questions Southeast homeowners are actually searching for.
