Field clues, explained

Spider identification guides

Search by the traits you can actually observe—color, pattern, body shape, web, behavior, and habitat. Each guide explains what a photo can support and where uncertainty remains.

Identify a spider from a photo

Start with appearance

High-intent identification guides

Color alone cannot identify a spider. These guides turn a broad color search into a more useful comparison of markings, proportions, movement, web style, and location.

Black spiders

Look for the body silhouette, relative leg length, visible spots or bands, web shape, and where the spider was found. A clear top view and a side view are more useful than a distant silhouette.

Black spiders

House spiders

Photograph the spider and its web before cleaning or moving anything. Record the room, web shape, body size, markings, movement, and broad geographic location.

House spiders

Brown spiders

Check for leg banding, abdomen pattern, hair or spines, body proportions, web type, and geographic range. Do not rely on a violin-shaped mark alone.

Brown spiders

Black-and-white spiders

Map the pale pattern: top or underside, spots or continuous stripe, abdomen or legs. Then record body shape, movement, web type, approximate size, and broad location.

Black-and-white spiders

Still comparing possibilities?

Add up to three clear photos and an optional broad location. The result explains supporting and conflicting evidence instead of hiding uncertainty.

Open the identifier