Les Jones

I also live in Tenn.(Knoxville),and I've seen this spider twice. Both times, they retreated to a trap door. I wish I knew how these spiders got to eastern United states, but I don't. I stumbled upon your site by trying to find some information on the flower "cannies". If you have any information on this flower(botanical name!)please let me know. Thanks, Scott

Yes, it is a trapdoor spider, species Myrmekiaphila fluviatilis. They're quite common in TN, usually found most often in the fall when they search for females or get washed out with heavy rains.
Brian Stewart
University of Tennessee
Agriculture Ext. Service
crazycritterguy@hotmail.com

I found a small spider in my house. It has a reddish brown body with black on the back part of it and huge fangs. If you know what kind of spider this is please let me know. It bit my cat. I live in East Tennessee. I've never seen a spider like this before. Thanks

This looks simular to one i found in East Tennessee (Knoxville Area). I thought it looked like an trapdoor spider but did not think we had those in this area. WOW

I found one similar today in sevier county. cleaning up some fallen brush from a recent storm. I tried to capture to examine more closely but he got away, Id swear this guy could have carried me off!!!!!!! any information would be enjoyed

My husband and I saw one of these yesterday crossing the road in South Knoxville. Pretty neat!!

My husband and I saw one of these trapdoor spiders yesterday crossing the road in South Knoxville. Pretty neat!!

This looks like a spider my husband and I saw today in East TN (Chattanooga area.) Let me know if you find out what it is. It was in an area of marshy fields.

This is interesting - we found one of these today. We live on Norris Lake in Caryville. It was unfortuneately already overtaken by some ants, the kids grabbed it and brought it in for us to check out. It was BIG!!

I found one at a demolition site outside of Chattanooga. I picked it up to move it out of the way, and it raised its front legs in defense, struck at my finger, and its reddish colored fangs actually stuck into my leather gloves! Hope I never see another one...

I found one here in Memphis, TN. I'm sure it is a female trapdoor spider as it looks exactly as the picture above. It is very fat and healthy looking. It seems to be pretty docile but gets aggressive if you poke at it a bit. Is it dangerous? Jordan

I have a big brown spider with a black round spot on it's belly. It's back is spotted light brown back ground with darker spots. Can anyone identify. Live in East TN

I'm seeing a lot of black with a four yellow spots on the back and yellow along the sides amber and black legs ,quite large. Are they poisonious?

Hi I saw you were talking about your cat ;-)
I'm a black labrador called Sam, and im chairman of www.sempo-tahoe.com
(a search engine club for animals)

We have a major inequality problem with our species distribution and we would really like some cats to join.
We're having soooo much fun and we'd love it if your pets would join too!

Regards

Sam ~ Woof Woof!

Just found one in my office in Nashville. Crawled out from under my desk. It was sick from spraying, I put it outside my door and everyone is avoiding my end of the hall.

This is a trapdoor spider, but it does not belong to the genus Myrmekiaphila (Family Cyrtaucheniidae). It belongs to the genus Ummidia (Family Ctenizidae) -- I specialize in these spiders; this group is quite common from Arizona to the eastern USA, south into Central America. The spider you have is an adult male, having abandoned its burrow in search of females. Hope this helps! By the way, they are not dangerous!

Brent E Hendrixson
Spider Systematist
East Carolina University

I have found a big black spider in my house in the basement that when we kill it it curls up. HELP I need to know what it is. My sons room is in the basement. It was Big the size of my palm. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS. I live in Kansas if that helps.

I have found a big black spider in my house in the basement that when we kill it it curls up. HELP I need to know what it is. My sons room is in the basement. It was Big the size of my palm. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS. I live in Kansas if that helps.

I found a spider on my wall. It appears ro be a scorpion, without the long tail & stinger. The body is somewhat long , with long scorpion arms & claws & broad head. Can you tell me what this is?

I live in Illinois and in the family room which is a few steps below ground level, I found a fast moving spider that was a reddish color with a light tan body. Please help me identify.

Sherry,
Look into camel-spiders (be wary of the exaggerated photos/stories about Iraq) I have seen one in Texas, it was small and we were able to catch it and freeze it in order to ask someone what it was.

Today on my jog I found the exact same spider as the one in the picture. I live in western North Carolina near the mountains. This guy is massive! I was able to take my sock off and catch her, and it seems to resemble a female black window(not widow).

Tanya, I also found a big black spider in my bssement. It was all black except for about a dozen red dots on its back. I did kill it, then put it on a four inch square piece of cardboard and the whole card was covered. I'm still in shock and deniel about how big it truly was. I have since been searching to identify it. Its pincers were huge, and I don't want to find another. We also live in Kansas.

I've seen similar spiders in my house as the one in the picture. They have the same body shape but are dark black with a reddish-brown abdomen. Their legs are a polished shiny black. Their pincers are so long and fat that they look like another set of legs. I found one in my laundry (dead) and one crawling across the living room floor at night. These spiders are quite big (resembling small tarantulas). I live in Oklahoma. Anyone know???

I need some help with this one, I live in the eastern Mountains of TN and it has been raining a lot lately, think that may have something to do with the HUGE CREATURE I found in my home yesterday. It looked nothing like the trapdoor spider in the picture. It had a body the size of my palm, about 3 inches long, not including legs, which had to go about 2 inches out, so, really this spider was the size of my hand. He was still very skinny looking compared to the trapdoos picture. It was very light brown and hairy. I have NEVER seen a spider this big except for a tarangela. I am not kidding. Am wondering if anyone knows what kind it may be, If I need to look for more in the house, if it will kill me.. al that stuff, please help. Thank you, Becky

Becky: a wolf spider, maybe? They get pretty big and there are a variety of colors.

Does anyone know if trapdoor spiders can have blue markings on them. I am visiting paragould Arkansas and found a large, fat shiney black spider crawling very slowly on the ground. It had blue markings on the end of its legs and did not have any hair on it. There were several holes in the ground near it. Please let me know if you know anything about this type of spider. Thanks!

Thanks Les, we (craztcritterguy) and I have decided either a wolf spider or fishing spider. I killed it so I cant say which one exactly, but it looked like one of those from what I remember...Thanks for the help and lets hope I have no more strange large creatures invade my home...other than my boyfriend...

Lately, my family and I have been getting these huge solid black spiders that are up to two inches wide and around (including their legs.) They are extremely fast runners, jump fast and only come out at night. We have seen no spiderwebs for these, but what we have seen is them off and on for around 5 months. They're hard to catch and only come out when I am alone (I am terrified of spiders or any kind of bug.) I want to know what they are! Can anyone help me? This is the only description I have!

Wow! I'm so glad I was able to find out about this creature. He should be in the mammal catagory! My son and I seen one in our driveway yesterday am. We live in Fairview TN. and are used to spiders. In my 37 years I've never seen such a spider. I used to catch Black Widows in High School for extra credit. This guy was to fast and intimidating to catch. Thanks for the info. Wendy

when i finished my shower i found this little spider just on the door, its small and looks around in its spidy-teens, ive never seen it before its a light brown colour and its kind of misty clear around the end plus the chelicerae are REALLY small and i cant see them but im sure it has them because i saw it cleaning its legs with them. PLZ if u noe wat it is reply
Sarah

plus- i live in sydney if that helps

I live in Maryland. Most web sites indicate that this is not the geographical region for brown recluses. One site showed 28 reported and confirmed bites in the last year from Maryland. The spider I killed was not brown. The size and body shape fits a brown recluse or the wolf spider. It was at least 2 inches, black, hairy, slow, no web, liked a blanket, the body did not have an orb, and the legs were long. The head came to something of a point and was the highest point of it's stature. I believe it had three eye clusters, but it was black with black eyes. There were no stripes or spots.

I went to australia last month and while i was there i went to fraser island. While i was there i saw a spider and i was wondering what spider is it is and if its venomous?

url to picture is

http://www.myphotohost.com/uploads/d68e25752d.jpg

Please help

Chris

i found a spider up behind our house (in WV) and took some pics of it. it has a funny looking shell type thing with spikes protruding from it. i looked it up and found some spider native to Hawaii but the description doesn't match at all. i looked up the crab spider but it doesn't have a shell. anyone know what it could be??? pics at http://www.picturetrail.com/schooldictator

I saw one of these solid black spiders just yesterday. It was crawling along the edge of a private road. I was walking down this road in my trailer park where I live and saw it crawl out of some brush along side the road. We also have these here in Louisiana. I don't know what it is either. It's not aggesive unless fooled around with. I glad I didn't touch it,though; now that i know it will bite. Any body out there knows what it is please let us know.

I saw one of these solid black spiders just yesterday. It was crawling along the edge of a private road. I was walking down this road in my trailer park where I live and saw it crawl out of some brush along side the road. We also have these here in Louisiana. I don't know what it is either. It's not aggesive unless fooled around with. I glad I didn't touch it,though; now that i know it will bite. Any body out there knows what it is please let us know.

I saw one of these solid black spiders just yesterday. It was crawling along the edge of a private road. I was walking down this road in my trailer park where I live and saw it crawl out of some brush along side the road. We also have these here in Louisiana. I don't know what it is either. It's not aggesive unless fooled around with. I glad I didn't touch it,though; now that i know it will bite. Any body out there knows what it is please let us know.

To Joyce Burkett, This is probably a dangerous recluse spider. The bite is painless.An ulcer is noticed a few days later. This spiders causes tissue distruction, and can be life threatening. Please seek medical attention if you notice a sore that becomes ulcerated. These spiders are not to be taken lightly. One of my friends had multiple recluse bites on him. He got them when,as a prank, another person dropped several into his truck. Fortunately he showed me the bites and having known about this species of spider I told him what it was and to seek help immediately,which he did,thankfully.

re: To Joyce Burket: brown spider with dark mark on back. Is mark shaped like a fiddle? If so it is called a Brown Recluse spider. This is not a trapdoor spider but a very poisonous spider.

so pleased to find out more about the tennessee trap-door spider....my mother was happily gardening along whe she unearthed one. although it totally freaked her out and she killed it karate style....she did show it to me finally.

I live in Missouri and we found a huge 3" black hairy spider in our bathroom. I know it wasn't a black widow, because it was solid black. Can anyone tell me what kind of spider this was and do I need to worry about running across anymore?

hi i live in england. i saw a all black spider with very long and thin black legs and it was about the size of my palm can anyone tell me what it was!

I live in Maryland. Saw a large brown spider with black circle on it's underside. Had 2 small white spots inside of the black circle. Made a very large circular web. Anybody know what kind of spider it is? We've seen more of them before, but was able to get a good look this time because of the web location.

I found a black spider, perhaps 1/2 inch long, legs out to about the size of a quarter. I caught it, and was trying to see its back to figure out what kind it was when I brushed about a dozen or so babies off its back! YIKES! I killed it. It had been crawling on my couch. I'm in Maryland. Anyone have any idea what kind of spider it might be? I do have the jumping spiders, but I've only seen them about as big as a pencil eraser.

need more photoes and ps do you know anything about black spiders with yellow spots our school is cover with them!!! if so please post it!!! ;-)

need more photoes and ps do you know anything about black spiders with yellow spots our school is cover with them!!! if so please post it!!! ;-)

A before and after comment/question:
As a child raised in the Appalachians I was not arachnaphopic. I remember a furry, periwinkle and white spotted spider atop my foot in the back yard and also recall an authentic appreciation. Since then, however, I've become HORRIBLY afraid of these nasty creatures. Yesterday, as I cleaned my son's bathroom I literally felt eyes upon me and saw the largest monster God created...well, next to a whale that is. A furry, brown spider whose size, legs and all, was much larger than a pack of cigarettes. I"ll confess I poisoned his big butt and then I ran for the hills!!!!!!!!! What was it? What was the periwinkle and white spider? Anybody know? Peace to all, but spiders, Piper

I was cleaning the bathroom the other day, and there was this really weird spider on my wall. It was black and maybe about the size of a dime, (granted a couple of weeks ago there were several dot sized baby spiders, that I thought I killed all of), but the thing that I noticed most about it was it's crab like pinchers. I live in Tennessee, and everyone's always said that the only spiders that are poisonious in TN are the black widow and the brown recluse. My boyfriend in NY said that he has them up there too, but the last one he saw was quarter sized. When I killed it, there was like a clear goo left on the wall. I want to know, What kind of spider is this, and is it poisonious?
-Kali

We saw one of the large black trapdoor spiders in Huntersville, NC today. It was alongside a trail in a sloped wooded area. We were able to easily turn it over with a stick and it just laid there! It had several whitish yellow spots on its underside near its back legs. Thanks so much for the information and confirmation it was a trapdoor. Didn't think they'd be in the peidmont!

We found one of those trap door spiders in Rogersville, TN.

Today, 7/10/06, Channel 3 News reported that a Cordova family found a spider that looks alot like the one in the above picture. It was captured uninjured and has been sent off for identification by a professional. The home owner is hoping that this spider is not a Funnel Web Spider (very dangerous)that somehow made its way to the United States.

I have seem two of the following kinds of spiders in my home. They are small, black with two pinchers in front like a crab. I cant figure it out; I have been looking and searching and still no luck. If you know what kind this is please email me at tonistephens27@hotmail.com. Thanx

i am trying to figure out what spider is in my home. We find them everywhere, in our beds mostly... can you help me? it is fairly a black color with white dots around his belly (on the top) kinda freaky looking.. help please... thanks.

allyson allen
Branch, Louisiana

I have a spider problem. Ive been looking online for something familiar it has a zig zag web in the middle. its connected to a bush its a slender spider thats white black and red dot underneath its. Its about 2 inchs long im gonig to try to get a picture posted. Ive seen alot of spiders but nothing like this im not an expert but I lived in the country a long time and all the pictures I ve seen on line has even look nearly like it. someone please email me.

I came eye to eye with a quarter size black spider with a yellow circular shape on the back. I have no idea what made me look up at that moment but that was too close to call. Was so glad he or she was busy with a fly. Does anyone have any idea what it was and if poisonous-was by the metal railing going into the house. I live in CT.

I found this spider hanging out in my back yard what is it. Im worried it might be deadly.
The body of it is black and yellow stripes kinda more yellow on the side and more black down the center. The start of its legs are orange then back to black.
It has a a white head. Its pretty big,it could probably cover half of a tennis ball.Its not fuzzy and its slender. On both side 2 legs point twards the back then 2 to the front. On its web is a very defiant zig zag pattern. Can someone help? PLEASE. I live in Woodlawn TN if that means anything.

I live in East Tennessee. I found this spider in my bathtub. It has a dark brown body and lighter brown stripes. Also its front two legs are thicker and appear to be longer than its other legs. It crawls backwards at times if that helps at all. Can anyone tell me if this is a wolf spider or something else? Please respond to my email. Flawedrose79@yahoo.com

I live in north central WV. I found a spider today that was dark brown/black with a bright yellow triangle on its back. Does anyone know what it was?

help i found a big (dime sized)black spider fat body thick legs and fangs with hairy legs crawling accross my bed i screamed and caught it in a clear plastic tub
it has a shiney body big but huge fangs what the heck is it????? it looks about a inch long
yuck

I was telling my kids about some spiders that I used to catch when I was a kid. These spiders were large about the size of a 5 year olds hand. They were brownish in color with thick legs. I used to catch them inside are garage were they would lay flat against the wall. They were so large in fact that wide mouth jars would often chop off the tips of there legs. Once I caught one of these in my grandmother's basement and this spider did something I haven't observed again. This spider would reach it's too front legs into the air and try and catch flies. Eventualy it would catch them this way after missing a lot. I live in St. louis and this was about 20 years ago. The spiders are no longer in these two locations after my parents renovated the garage about 5 years after we started cathing them. My grandmother moved so I don't have acsess to that basement. If someone knows what these are let me know.

JoBeth - I work in the National Forest in Arkansas and found one of those spiders with the neon yellow triangle on its back too, if anyone knows what it is I would like ot know too!

I have found a bunch of spiders around my front porch these are about the size of a quarter and are black with yellow strips and dots the back half looks like a bee the legs are half yellow and black the head is gray unless that was all the spray that I did I called everyone but no one knows what it is although I was told by my mother that she saw one like it in fla. and it is very deadly. a friend said that it look like a signiture spider but no it does not at least not to the one I found on line to try and ID it with.If any one can help ID this spider then PLEASE tell me

I live in SC and have several spider problems, one of the spiders has 2 yellow lines one on each side going from head to back and it is like a gray color, the other problem spider that just started coming around it a hairy black spider with 2 white dots on its lower back or butt I guess, can't find what they are would anyone by chance know? I have 2 young kids and am scared of spiders, please help

I have found a white furry spider with black legs in it's web in my back yard potted plant - do you have any ideawhat type of spider this is

I also found a spider in the bath tub. It is dark brown spider with tan or light brown stripes and hairy. Please help with ID. Thanks.

Today at work I saw the most terrifying thing ever. Although this spider was not big at all it was threatening in its own form. I came in contact with a furry white spider with black dots. I have lived in the country all my life and have never before came across such a thing. The weirdest part was the fact that the spider jumped (literally) about a foot and a half landing on a pole that was standing upright. If anyone has any information on this spider please inform me. I have researched on the web and have not came across any such thing.

I have a spider problem in my garage. Every night I see several spiders run across the floor. They are similar to a recluse in the body shape, size and color, but there isn't a fiddle on the head. There is a light brown stripe down it's back and white dots on either side of the stripe. I have also found them in the tub from time to time. I am worried they are recluses. I live in South Central Kentucky. Please let me know what they are. Thanks

This morning I found a brown spider and it had a dark black circle on its back...it had a bubble like body and short legs any information on it would be very helpful!! Thanx.

I have been finding big (at least 2 inches long)spider and its black and gray striped and pretty mean looking. I live in massachusetts and I have never seen a spider that big here so I am hoping someone on here knows what it is and can let me know if its dangerous. Thank You.

I live in kansas and have been noticing more and more black spiders that have one large and one small red spot on its back. It has a bulky body and legs that seem hairy. I was trying to swat at it, it was watching me, every way I turned it turned.... ran very fast and jumps.

Sounds like a Black Widow ... they are pretty poisonous so watch out!

Tonight my wife was in the bathroom when she yelled for me to come quickly. Standing next to the doorway was a hairy black spider about the size of a silver dollar including the legs. It had a pretty big abdomen. Upon closer inspection there were brownish stripes on the legs but the spider itself was dark black. It reminded me of a miniature tarantula.

Central Kentucky area.

My wife killed one of these spiders in our living room floor tonight. We are used to seeing grass spiders here but I had no idea there were trapdoor spiders in Middle Tennessee. When she killed it, it curled it's legs up to it's body. I used two toothpicks to straighten them back out to identify it. The fangs kinda intimidated me. At first I thought it was a brown recluse, but after seeing the fangs, I knew it wasn't. After reading some of the posts, I'm 95% sure it was a male trapdoor spider searching for a female as it's early November. Thanks for the help!

Murfreesboro, Tn.

I had a spider that was outside my office window all last summer. He has a perfect round body about the size of a dime, short legs and I can't see a head. Tan color with tiny brown dots on stomach. Because he is on the window outside, I don't know what his back looks like. He was there for months last year and I was sad when it got cold. HE'S BACK! Very fat, so I think he may be a she. Do you know what kind of spider he is. I live in NY State but close to NJ/PA state lines. Thanks for your help.

I had a spider that was outside my office window all last summer. He has a perfect round body about the size of a dime, short legs and I can't see a head. Tan color with tiny brown dots on stomach. Because he is on the window outside, I don't know what his back looks like. He was there for months last year and I was sad when it got cold. HE'S BACK! Very fat, so I think he may be a she. Do you know what kind of spider he is. I live in NY State but close to NJ/PA state lines. Thanks for your help.

I have seen a spider in southeastern TN with a red abodomen that it keeps arched over its head. The legs are long and spindly and the front antennae are marked about 3/4 of the way from the tip with light gray/white coloring. Any idea what type of spider this is? Thanks.

Holy Cow!! A huge spider was in my kitchen. about 2-3 inchs long solid black FAT,,, it ran so fast i couldn't get it.. and i lost it.. later it ran into the den. i managed to get a shoe and smack it, but when i did lots (about 30) baby spiders ran from it. It looked like a creepy video game. the spider curled up when it died and i didnt keep it to identify it. Does this sound like a trap door spider? I have never heard of one in Knoxville, TN area, but your website seems to make me think it is possible. Thanks Becky

So i have w very low tolerance for spiders, actually i hate them . but recently there have been these tiny spiders, probably the size of a nickel, all over my house. i killed my tenth spider in two weeks today. They are small and black. but the top of their legs are and orangish color and then run back to black at the end. also, on the lower half of their body, they have two cream colored spots . they also have them on hte topand bottom of htere lower half. can someone please tell me what this spider is. and i live in eastern Washington

i have a big black spider with yellow spots on it's back in my back yard. i'm not going to kill it-yet. it may be a non-poisonous one. it's about an inch big. i live in la verne, ca. if that helps.

I Live in Pulaski TN. I keep seeing these ugly Big Brown spiders and they have black spots the head and bottom of them. I dont know what they are but they scare the crap out of me.I hate spiders and kill them every time I get the cahnce. I dont whats dangerous or not and the thaught of their harry 8 legs freak me out too. Any ways if you've seen this spider and know what it is please let me know.

my friend was bitten by black spider with bright yellow triangle on back Please advise what kind of spider and is it harmful?

my friend was bitten by black spider with bright yellow triangle on back Please advise what kind of spider and is it harmful?