Spiders That Live in Trees

Some spiders may weave webs to catch insects to consume, while others will hunt insects in their habitat. While it is not uncommon to find many types of spiders in your home or outbuildings, there are some species of tree spiders you may encounter. Many of these can be found in multiple habitats and even in your home.

The cross orbweaver spider (Araneus diadematus) builds its webs between tree branches. You can also find these spiders around the home in doorways and under the eaves of your home. They weave webs to catch flying insects, and the females lay eggs on the underside of the leaves of the trees.

The spiders are reddish-brown or reddish-orange in color and have a body that is 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch long. They can be identified by the white dots and lines on the body that form the shape of a cross. Males are smaller and have a more slender body compared to females.

If you have spiders on pine wood, it may be the bowl and doily weaver (Frontinella communis). Their habitat is not limited to pines; you may also see these spiders on other conifers, grasses and shrubs. These spiders live together in colonies, and their webs have a distinct bowl shape.

Their bodies are about 0.16 inches long. They are dark in color and have white markings. You will find them on the underside of the web.

In many climates, pantropical huntsman spiders (Heteropoda venatoria) are found in and around homes. They don't survive in cold weather, so they are primarily found in the Southern part of the country, and they will move into your house when temperatures drop. They are beneficial spiders, as they eat a variety of pests, including cockroaches, but their bite can be quite painful. In warmer, more tropical climates, you may find this spider in a tree, especially in avocado groves.

Huntsman spiders are large. Their body is about 1 inch long, and their legs can span as much as 5 inches. They are brown and hairy with black markings.

Joro spiders (Trichonephila clavata) are not native to the United States. Native to Japan, the spiders were introduced in the state of Georgia around 2014, likely arriving in shipping containers. Since the climate in the United States is comparable to their native region, it is expected that these spiders will continue to spread to other states. These spiders weave webs that stretch between tree branches, bushes or man-made objects, such as fence posts. The webs can stretch as far as 10 feet across.

Joro spiders are unique in their bright coloring. The spider's body is about 1 inch long and has bands of bright yellow and blue-gray. Their legs have a span of about 4 inches and are black in color with yellow bands. Young females have a similar yellow coloring but a different pattern on the body, while young males have dull coloring.

The joro spider is venomous; however, the spider's fangs are not usually large enough to puncture the skin of humans. When bites do occur, they don't generally need medical treatment.

Brown widow spiders (Latrodectus geometricus Koch) can be found in a variety of environments, including under loose tree bark and in hollow trees. They can also be found in other areas, such as in debris or under picnic tables. The species is primarily found in the Southeastern United States.

Males of the species have a body that measures 0.08 to 0.15 inches, while the females have a body that measures 0.27 to 0.4 inches long. The females have an hourglass that appears similar to the marking found on a black widow, but while the black widow has a bright red marking, the brown widow's hourglass is yellowish-orange or reddish-orange in color. The color of the body can vary greatly and seems to be influenced by the color of the surface where the spider molts.

Like black widow spiders, brown widows are venomous. However, their venom is less toxic and harmful compared to black widow venom. Brown widows are not aggressive, and bites in humans are not common.