Meet the Spiders of Eastern Wisconsin: A Guide to Local Species
From dense forests to backyard gardens and city basements, eastern Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of spider species. These eight-legged creatures might not be everyone's favorite houseguest, but they play a big role in keeping insect populations in check. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the most common spiders you're likely to encounter in the region—what they look like, where they live, and why they matter.
🕷 1. Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)
Found in: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee, Door
This is the spider most people spot in corners of the ceiling or tucked away behind furniture. They're small, brown, and build messy webs in quiet areas. While they may not win any beauty contests, these spiders are harmless and actually help out by catching flies and other indoor pests.
🕷 2. Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae family)
Found in: Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Winnebago, Outagamie
Fast-moving and bold, wolf spiders don’t spin webs to catch their meals—they chase them down. You might see one darting across the floor or hanging out in your garage. They're a bit intimidating in size, but they aren’t aggressive and generally stick to themselves.
🕷 3. Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)
Found in: Manitowoc, Door, Kewaunee, Winnebago, Outagamie, Sheboygan
Easily one of the most eye-catching spiders around, these large black-and-yellow beauties build intricate orb webs out in the garden. You’ll often find a zigzag pattern in the middle of their web—a signature touch. Despite their appearance, they’re harmless and incredibly helpful in the yard.
🕷 4. Jumping Spiders (Salticidae family)
Found in: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago
These tiny spiders are hard not to notice. With compact bodies, bright coloring, and a curious habit of turning to look at you, jumping spiders are like the little acrobats of the spider world. They’re harmless and often entertaining to watch as they stalk their prey.
🕷 5. Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes spp.)
Found in: Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Green Lake
If you’re near a lake, river, or marshy area, you might run into these big, water-loving spiders. Fishing spiders are skilled hunters that can walk on water and even catch small fish or tadpoles. Don’t worry—they’d rather catch bugs than bother people.
🕷 6. Cellar Spiders (Pholcidae family)
Found in: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Brown
Also known as “Daddy Longlegs,” these spiders thrive in cool, damp places like basements and crawlspaces. Their long, delicate legs and small bodies make them easy to recognize. Despite common myths, they're not dangerous and actually help control other spider populations.
🕷 7. Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneidae family)
Found in: Door, Kewaunee, Calumet, Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac
If you’ve ever walked face-first into a web on a trail or in your garden, you probably met one of these. Orb-weavers build perfect, circular webs and come in a variety of colors and patterns. One standout is the Marbled Orb-Weaver, known for its bright, swirled markings.
🕷 8. Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus spp.)
Rarely reported in: Door, Brown, Manitowoc
Though very rare in Wisconsin, the Northern Black Widow occasionally shows up in quiet, undisturbed places. They’re shiny black with a distinctive red hourglass mark. While their venom is potent, bites are extremely rare and these spiders prefer to avoid people entirely.
