Spiders in Jacksonville, St. Augustine & St. Johns
Spiders are one of the most feared pests in any home, even though the vast majority of species in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns are completely harmless. Most of the spiders you find in your house or yard are actually beneficial because they feed on mosquitoes, flies, ants, and other insects. That said, we do have a few species in our area that are medically significant, and knowing the difference between a harmless house spider and a southern black widow matters. This guide covers the spider species you are most likely to encounter locally, which ones to watch out for, and when it makes sense to call a professional.
Spider reduction included in our general pest program.
Learn About Our ServiceSpider Species in Jacksonville, St. Augustine & St. Johns
From harmless house spiders to venomous black widows, here is what you will find locally.
Southern Black Widow
The southern black widow is the most medically significant spider in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns. Females are glossy black with the distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of their rounded abdomen. They are about 8 to 13 millimeters in body length, not counting legs. Black widows prefer dark, undisturbed areas. You will find them in garages, sheds, meter boxes, under deck stairs, in woodpiles, and behind outdoor furniture that does not get moved often. Their webs are messy and irregular, built low to the ground. Black widows are not aggressive. Bites typically occur when someone reaches into a dark space and accidentally presses the spider against their skin. Their venom is a neurotoxin that causes muscle pain, cramping, and in rare cases, more serious symptoms. Medical attention is recommended for any suspected black widow bite.
- Size:
- 8 to 13 mm (body)
- Color:
- Glossy black with red hourglass
- Habitat:
- Garages, sheds, meter boxes, woodpiles
- Risk:
- Venomous — seek medical attention if bitten
Brown Recluse
The brown recluse is not considered established in Florida, and its natural range is the south-central United States, primarily from Texas to Georgia and north to Illinois. However, individual brown recluses are occasionally found in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, almost always transported in boxes, furniture, or belongings from states where they are common. They are light to medium brown, about 6 to 20 millimeters in body length, with a distinctive dark violin-shaped marking on their back. Brown recluses are true to their name. They hide in undisturbed areas like storage boxes, closets, and behind furniture. Their bite can cause a necrotic wound that requires medical treatment. If you suspect you have found a brown recluse, do not handle it. Contact a pest professional for identification.
- Size:
- 6 to 20 mm (body)
- Color:
- Light brown with dark violin marking
- Habitat:
- Boxes, closets, undisturbed storage areas
- Risk:
- Venomous — necrotic bite, seek medical attention
Golden Silk Orbweaver (Banana Spider)
The golden silk orbweaver, commonly called a banana spider in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, is one of the most visually striking spiders in our area. Females are large, with a body length of 25 to 40 millimeters and a leg span that can reach 5 inches. They have an elongated, cylindrical body that is yellow-green with white spots, and their legs have distinctive tufts of dark hair. They build enormous, golden-colored webs between trees, along fence lines, and across walking paths, particularly from late summer through November. Despite their intimidating size, banana spiders are not dangerous to humans. Their bite is comparable to a bee sting and they rarely bite unless handled directly. They are actually beneficial, catching large numbers of mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects.
- Size:
- 25 to 40 mm (body), up to 5-inch leg span
- Color:
- Yellow-green with white spots
- Habitat:
- Trees, fence lines, garden paths
- Risk:
- Harmless — beneficial pest predator
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are among the most common spiders found inside homes in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns. They are large, hairy, and fast, which makes them one of the most alarming spiders to encounter, even though they are essentially harmless. They range from 10 to 35 millimeters in body length and are typically brown or gray with darker markings. Unlike most spiders, wolf spiders do not build webs. They are ground hunters that chase down their prey. They are most commonly found on floors, in garages, and along baseboards, especially during cooler months when they move indoors. Wolf spiders can bite if handled, but their bite is not medically significant for most people. It is comparable to a bee sting.
- Size:
- 10 to 35 mm (body)
- Color:
- Brown or gray with darker markings
- Habitat:
- Ground level — floors, garages, baseboards
- Risk:
- Harmless — may bite if handled
Spiny Orbweaver
The spiny orbweaver is one of the most recognizable spiders in St. Augustine and Jacksonville yards. They are small, with a body width of about 10 to 13 millimeters, and they have a hard, crab-like shell with six distinctive red or black spines protruding from the edges. Their body is typically white or yellow with black spots. You will find their circular webs in shrubs, between trees, and along the eaves of homes. They are completely harmless and are actually one of the most beneficial spiders in our area, catching large numbers of small flying insects. Many homeowners mistake them for ticks or other pests because of their unusual shape.
- Size:
- 10 to 13 mm (body width)
- Color:
- White or yellow with black spots and red spines
- Habitat:
- Shrubs, trees, eaves of homes
- Risk:
- Harmless — beneficial pest predator
Southern House Spider
The southern house spider is extremely common in and around homes in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns. Males are often mistaken for brown recluses because they are brown with a similar body shape, but they lack the violin marking and have much larger, more prominent pedipalps (the small appendages near the mouth). Females are dark brown to charcoal and build messy, flat webs in corners, around windows, and in crevices on the exterior of buildings. They are frequently found around exterior light fixtures, shutters, and door frames. Southern house spiders are completely harmless and are one of the most commonly misidentified spiders in Florida.
- Size:
- 12 to 18 mm (body)
- Color:
- Brown (males), dark brown (females)
- Habitat:
- Corners, windows, exterior walls, light fixtures
- Risk:
- Harmless — commonly mistaken for brown recluse
Why Spiders Are Common in Jacksonville & St. Augustine Homes
Understanding why spiders show up helps you prevent them.
Spiders go where the food is. If you are finding spiders inside your home regularly, it almost always means you have an existing insect population that is attracting them. Ants, roaches, flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects are spider prey, and a home with an active insect problem is essentially an all-you-can-eat buffet for spiders. This is why the most effective spider control is actually comprehensive pest control that reduces the overall insect population in and around your home.
Our local environment also plays a role. Jacksonville and St. Augustine have warm temperatures, high humidity, and abundant vegetation, all of which support large insect and spider populations. Homes with exterior lighting attract flying insects at night, which in turn attract web-building spiders like orbweavers and southern house spiders to the areas around your doors, windows, and porch lights. Homes near wooded areas, retention ponds, or with heavy landscaping tend to see more spider activity because these environments support the insects that spiders feed on.
Seasonal patterns matter too. During the cooler months from November through February, ground-dwelling spiders like wolf spiders move indoors seeking warmth. During the summer and fall, orbweaver populations peak and their large webs become highly visible in yards and around homes. The result is that spider activity is noticeable year-round in our area, just with different species at different times.
⚠ When to Call a Professional
If you are finding black widows on your property, seeing spiders regularly inside your home, or noticing an increase in spider activity, it is worth having a professional assess the situation. Our technicians at TAYLOR'D Pest Services can identify the species, locate harborage areas, and implement a treatment plan that addresses both the spiders and the insects attracting them. Call (904) 484-7533 for a free inspection.
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Serving homeowners across Jacksonville, St. Augustine, St. Johns, and surrounding areas.
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Professional spider control across the greater Jacksonville and St. Augustine area
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about spiders in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns.
Yes. The southern black widow is found throughout Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas like garages, sheds, meter boxes, under decks, and in woodpiles. They are not aggressive and typically only bite when accidentally pressed against skin.
Brown recluse spiders are not established in most of Florida. Their natural range is the south-central United States. Individual brown recluses are occasionally found in our area, typically transported in boxes or furniture from other states. If you suspect you have found one, contact a pest professional for identification.
That is most likely a golden silk orbweaver, commonly called a banana spider. They are very common from late summer through fall. Despite their intimidating size (females can have a 5-inch leg span), they are not dangerous. Their bite is comparable to a bee sting and they rarely bite unless handled.
Most spiders in Jacksonville and St. Augustine homes are harmless and beneficial. If you are finding spiders regularly, it usually indicates a larger insect problem. Professional pest control that reduces the insect population will naturally reduce spider activity. For black widows or suspected brown recluses, call (904) 484-7533.
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