Spiders That Are Indigenous to Chattanooga, Tennessee

Spiders are arthropods that belong to the order arachnid. They breath air and most often have eight legs and three to four pairs of eyes. Spiders can range in body size from less than 1/4 inch to more than 3 inches, not counting leg span. Most spiders indigenous to Chattanooga, Tennessee are not dangerous to humans. However, the black widow and brown recluse, both of which are extremely venomous, are common.

  1. Black Widow

    • The black widow, or Latrodectus mactan, belongs to the family of widow spiders. It is typically the size of a quarter and has a yellow or red hourglass-shaped mark on the underside of its abdomen. Black widows appear shiny to the naked eye and do not usually bite humans unless provoked. Chattanooga residents are advised to shake clothes and shoes before putting them on to ensure that no spiders, especially black widows or brown recluses, have gone to rest inside them.

    Brown Recluse

    • The brown recluse, or Loxosceles reclusa, prefers dark and warm habitats. Its color ranges from light yellow brown to darker chocolate brown, with a characteristic violin-shaped mark on the back of its abdomen. The brown recluse has only three pairs of eyes. This spider is not aggressive to humans, and rarely bites unless provoked. However, they are venomous spiders and, like the black widow, their bites can cause illness and pain in humans.

    American House Spider

    • The American house spider is indigenous to Chattanooga and most of North America. Also referred to as Parasteatoda tepidariorum, this spider commonly lives in and near human dwellings. The house spider rarely presents a threat to humans and, although its venom is similar to that of the black widow, it is much less potent. Its color is light brown and, including outstretched legs, it may grow as long as 1 inch.

    Wolf Spider

    • Wolf spiders are extremely common in Chattanooga and throughout Tennessee and North America. Also referred to as Hogna aspersa, their body size may reach nearly an inch in length. Upon handling they are known to bite, but their venom is not especially dangerous to humans. They prefer to stay in dark, undisturbed places such as underneath logs, and they hunt at night. Males die after mating in the fall, while females overwinter and then lay eggs in the spring.