Louisiana’s warm, humid climate creates ideal conditions for some impressively large arachnids. While you might expect to find massive spiders in tropical rainforests, the Bayou State harbors its own collection of giant eight-legged residents.
These spiders range from palm-sized tarantulas to water-walking fishing spiders with leg spans that can exceed your hand’s width. Understanding which giant spiders call Louisiana home helps you identify them correctly, appreciate their ecological roles, and know when caution is warranted versus when you’re simply encountering a harmless (if intimidating) neighbor.
1. Texas Brown Tarantula
The Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) ranks as Louisiana’s largest spider by sheer mass and presence. This impressive arachnid can achieve a leg span reaching 6 inches, making it unmistakable when encountered. Despite common fears about tarantulas, this species demonstrates relatively docile behavior toward humans.
You’ll find these tarantulas primarily in Louisiana’s western and northwestern regions, where they inhabit grasslands and semi-desert areas. They spend daylight hours concealed in deep, silk-lined burrows beneath rocks, fallen logs, or thick vegetation. Their substantial, hairy bodies display dark brown coloration on the abdomen, while the carapace shows lighter brown tones. Dense hairs covering the legs and body give them their characteristic fuzzy appearance.
Pro Tip: Female Texas brown tarantulas can live up to 20 years in the wild, while males typically survive only 10 years. This dramatic difference occurs because males often die shortly after mating.
These nocturnal hunters emerge after sunset to pursue insects and occasionally small vertebrates. Their hunting strategy relies on speed and powerful fangs rather than web-spinning. While their fangs can deliver a painful bite if you handle them, the venom poses minimal danger to humans. The bite typically causes localized swelling and discomfort similar to a bee sting. However, individuals with spider venom allergies should seek medical attention if bitten.
The tarantula’s burrowing behavior serves multiple purposes beyond shelter. These deep tunnels provide temperature regulation during extreme heat, protection from predators, and safe spaces for molting. According to research on tarantula ecology, their burrows can extend 12-18 inches underground, lined with silk that helps detect vibrations from approaching prey or threats.
2. Carolina Wolf Spider
The Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) holds the title of North America’s largest wolf spider, with females sporting leg spans up to 4 inches. This robust hunter stands out among Louisiana’s spider population for its impressive size and hunting prowess. Unlike web-building spiders, wolf spiders actively chase down their prey with remarkable speed and agility.
You can identify this species by its mottled brown and gray coloration, which provides excellent camouflage against ground surfaces. The peachy tint on the front of their mouthparts offers a distinctive identification clue. Males sometimes display orange coloration along their sides. Their most recognizable feature involves their eye arrangement: eight eyes positioned in three rows, with the bottom row containing four small eyes, a middle row of two large eyes, and a top row of two medium eyes.
These spiders thrive in various open environments throughout Louisiana, including grasslands, forests, scrublands, and even residential areas with abundant vegetation. They’re mostly nocturnal, spending daylight hours hidden in underground burrows or beneath debris, then emerging after dark to hunt. Their excellent eyesight, particularly from those prominent middle eyes, helps them track and capture prey in low-light conditions.
Important Note: Carolina wolf spiders are solitary creatures. Females carry their egg sacs attached to their spinnerets, and once the eggs hatch, tiny spiderlings climb onto their mother’s back where they remain for several weeks.
A bite from a Carolina wolf spider can be painful due to the spider’s size and fang length, but it’s not medically significant for most people. The bite typically produces symptoms similar to a bee or wasp sting: localized pain, redness, and swelling that resolves within a few days. These spiders are non-aggressive and prefer to flee when disturbed.
3. Rabid Wolf Spider
The rabid wolf spider (Rabidosa rabida) earns its dramatic name not from aggressive behavior or dangerous venom, but from its incredibly fast movements when hunting. This medium-to-large wolf spider measures 0.6 to 1 inch in body length, with a total leg span reaching 2-3 inches. Despite the smaller size compared to its Carolina cousin, this species is notably more active and frequently encountered.
You’ll recognize this species by its tan to brown body with darker brown stripes running down the carapace and abdomen. The legs display banding patterns in brown and tan, and the overall coloration helps them blend seamlessly with leaf litter and soil. Like all wolf spiders, they possess the characteristic three-row eye arrangement, with two large forward-facing eyes that give them exceptional hunting vision.
Rabid wolf spiders inhabit diverse environments across Louisiana, from woodlands and grasslands to suburban yards and gardens. They’re particularly common around human dwellings, where outdoor lighting attracts the insects they prey upon. These spiders don’t build webs; instead, they’re ground-dwelling hunters that actively pursue prey. Their hunting strategy involves rapid dashes across open ground to capture insects, which explains their “rabid” common name.
Key Insight: While male rabid wolf spiders mature in about one year, females can live for several years. During mating season, males perform elaborate courtship displays involving leg waving and body vibrations to avoid being mistaken for prey.
Unlike some wolf spiders that dig permanent burrows, rabid wolf spiders are more nomadic. They typically hide under rocks, boards, leaf litter, or other ground debris during the day. This adaptability makes them successful in both natural and disturbed habitats, which explains their abundance in Louisiana’s varied landscapes.
Female rabid wolf spiders exhibit fascinating maternal care. After mating, they construct a spherical egg sac containing 100-200 eggs, which they carry attached to their spinnerets. The mother guards these eggs vigilantly for several weeks. Once the spiderlings emerge, they climb onto their mother’s abdomen where they remain for 5-7 days before dispersing. This behavior helps protect vulnerable young spiders during their most vulnerable stage.
4. Dark Fishing Spider
The dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) represents the largest fishing spider species in Louisiana, with females achieving body lengths up to 1 inch and leg spans exceeding 3 inches. In southern states like Louisiana, these spiders often grow even larger than their northern counterparts. Their impressive size combined with their semi-aquatic lifestyle makes them among the most fascinating spiders in the region.
You’ll identify these spiders by their brownish-grey bodies adorned with lighter brown to black markings. Their legs display distinctive banding patterns in brown and black. The body appears robust and somewhat flattened, an adaptation for their aquatic hunting behavior. A lighter stripe often runs along each side of the body, though this can be subtle depending on the individual.
These spiders inhabit Louisiana’s abundant wetland areas, including swamps, marshes, pond edges, and stream banks. You’ll also find them on tree trunks near water and occasionally in drier wooded areas. Their preference for moisture-rich environments stems from their hunting strategy. According to research on fishing spider behavior, they can detect water surface vibrations to locate prey, making them formidable aquatic hunters.
What truly sets fishing spiders apart is their remarkable ability to run across water surfaces and even dive beneath to capture prey. They hunt aquatic insects, tadpoles, and small fish. When hunting, they typically rest with their front legs touching the water surface, detecting vibrations from potential prey. Once detected, they dash across the water at impressive speeds to capture their meal.
Common Mistake: People often confuse dark fishing spiders with wolf spiders due to similar coloration and size. However, fishing spiders have longer, thinner legs relative to body size and are always found near water, while wolf spiders prefer drier terrestrial habitats.
Despite their fierce hunting abilities and intimidating size, dark fishing spiders are skittish around humans. They typically flee at the slightest disturbance, preferring escape over confrontation. Bites are extremely rare and only occur when the spider is directly handled or trapped against skin. If bitten, you’ll experience pain and symptoms similar to a bee or wasp sting, with localized swelling and redness that typically resolves within 24-48 hours.
5. Six-Spotted Fishing Spider
The six-spotted fishing spider (Dolomedes triton) shares the semi-aquatic lifestyle of its dark fishing spider cousin but with distinctive markings that make identification straightforward. Females measure 0.6 to 1 inch in body length with leg spans reaching 3 inches, making them substantial spiders by any measure. The “six-spotted” name refers to the pattern of white or cream-colored spots on the sides of the abdomen.
This species displays a brown to tan base coloration with darker brown markings. The most distinctive features are the light-colored spots on the abdomen’s sides and a lighter stripe running down each side of the body. The legs show faint banding patterns less pronounced than those of the dark fishing spider. Their overall appearance is typically lighter and more patterned than the dark fishing spider, though considerable variation exists among individuals.
Six-spotted fishing spiders inhabit similar environments as dark fishing spiders: pond edges, slow-moving streams, marshes, and swamps throughout Louisiana. However, they show a slight preference for more vegetated areas with emergent plants like cattails and reeds. These spiders often rest on floating vegetation or the stems of aquatic plants, positioned to detect prey movements in the water below.
Like their relatives, these spiders demonstrate impressive aquatic abilities. They can walk on water, dive beneath the surface when threatened, and remain submerged for extended periods by trapping air bubbles in their body hairs. This adaptation allows them to hide from predators or wait for prey underwater. Their diet consists primarily of aquatic insects, though they’ll also capture small fish and tadpoles when opportunities arise.
Pro Tip: Six-spotted fishing spiders are most active during warmer months from spring through fall. During winter, they enter a period of reduced activity, hiding in protected locations near their aquatic habitats.
Female six-spotted fishing spiders build distinctive nursery webs to protect their eggs. After mating, the female constructs a large, tent-like web in vegetation near water, where she deposits her egg sac. She guards this nursery until the spiderlings emerge, then disperses into the surrounding habitat. This maternal care increases offspring survival rates significantly.
These spiders are non-aggressive toward humans and prefer to flee when encountered. They’re often observed sunning themselves on logs or rocks near water. If you approach, they’ll quickly scurry to the water’s edge and either run across the surface or dive beneath it to escape. Bites are rare and cause only minor, temporary discomfort similar to other fishing spiders.
6. Nursery Web Spider
The nursery web spider (Pisaurina mira) earns its name from the distinctive tent-like web females construct to protect their developing eggs and newly hatched spiderlings. This species measures 0.5 to 1 inch in body length with a leg span reaching 2-3 inches. While not the largest spider in Louisiana, their size combined with their common presence in gardens and yards makes them frequently encountered.
You’ll recognize this species by its light brown to tan coloration with darker brown markings. A distinctive dark stripe runs down the center of the carapace, often bordered by lighter lines. The abdomen displays a pattern of brown and tan markings that varies considerably among individuals. Their long, slender legs give them a delicate appearance compared to the robust build of wolf spiders, though the two families are sometimes confused.
These spiders inhabit a variety of environments across Louisiana, including gardens, meadows, woodlands, and residential landscapes. They prefer areas with tall grasses, shrubs, and herbaceous plants where they can hunt and build their nursery webs. Unlike wolf spiders, nursery web spiders are more often found on vegetation rather than on the ground. They’re active hunters that don’t build webs for capturing prey.
The nursery web spider’s hunting strategy involves stalking prey through vegetation. They move slowly and deliberately through plants, using their excellent vision to spot potential meals. When prey is detected, they freeze momentarily before pouncing with surprising speed. Their diet consists primarily of insects, including flies, moths, small beetles, and other soft-bodied arthropods.
Key Insight: Nursery web spiders are sometimes called “fishing spiders” in some regions, but they’re not true fishing spiders and don’t hunt near water. This naming confusion can lead to misidentification.
The species’ most fascinating behavior occurs during reproduction. After mating, the female carries her large, spherical egg sac in her chelicerae (mouthparts) for about two weeks. As the eggs near hatching, she constructs an elaborate nursery web in vegetation—typically a tent-like structure of silk among plant stems. She deposits the egg sac inside this protective web and stands guard nearby. When the spiderlings emerge, they remain in the nursery web for several days before dispersing. This maternal investment helps protect the vulnerable young spiders from predators and adverse weather.
Nursery web spiders are harmless to humans and rarely bite even when handled. They’re non-aggressive and typically attempt to flee when disturbed. Their presence in gardens is beneficial as they help control insect populations. If you encounter a nursery web with a guardian female, observe from a respectful distance—she’s simply protecting her offspring and poses no threat to you.
7. Black and Yellow Garden Spider
The black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) stands as one of Louisiana’s most visually striking large spiders, known for its bold coloration and impressive web construction. Females measure 0.75 to 1.1 inches in body length with leg spans reaching 2-3 inches, while males are considerably smaller at about 0.25 inches. This dramatic size difference between sexes is common among orb-weaver spiders.
You’ll immediately recognize this species by its stunning coloration: a black body with bright yellow or orange markings arranged in bands or spots across the abdomen. The legs display black and yellow or orange banding, creating a striking appearance. The carapace is covered with fine silvery hairs that shimmer in sunlight. This bold pattern serves as a warning coloration, though the spider poses minimal threat to humans.
These spiders thrive in open, sunny areas across Louisiana where they can construct their large orb webs. You’ll commonly find them in gardens, meadows, field edges, and along woodland borders. They typically position their webs between tall plants, fence posts, or other support structures at heights ranging from 2 to 8 feet above ground. The spider usually sits head-down in the web’s center, waiting for prey to become ensnared.
Pro Tip: Black and yellow garden spiders often build a distinctive zigzag pattern called a stabilimentum in the center of their webs. Researchers debate its purpose, with theories including prey attraction, predator warning, or web stabilization.
The spider’s orb web can span up to 2 feet in diameter, constructed with remarkable precision each evening. These spiders typically consume and rebuild their webs daily, a process that takes about an hour. The web’s sticky spiral threads capture flying insects including flies, bees, grasshoppers, and butterflies. When prey strikes the web, the spider quickly wraps it in silk before administering a venomous bite to immobilize it.
Black and yellow garden spiders are completely harmless to humans despite their intimidating size and appearance. They’re non-aggressive and will attempt to drop from their web when disturbed. Bites are extremely rare and only occur if the spider is directly handled or trapped against skin. According to medical reports on garden spider bites, symptoms are mild—comparable to a bee sting with slight redness and localized pain that resolves within hours.
Female garden spiders exhibit interesting reproductive behavior. After mating in late summer or fall, they produce 1-4 large, brown, papery egg sacs that each contain 400-1,400 eggs. The female guards these egg sacs in her web until the first frost, when she dies. The eggs overwinter in the protected sacs, and tiny spiderlings emerge the following spring to disperse and begin building their own webs.
8. Banded Garden Spider
The banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) closely resembles its black and yellow cousin but with distinctive banding patterns that give it its common name. Females measure 0.6 to 1 inch in body length with leg spans reaching 2-2.5 inches, making them slightly smaller than black and yellow garden spiders. Like other orb-weavers, males are much smaller and less conspicuous.
This species displays silver or white bands alternating with yellow or gold bands across the abdomen, creating a striped appearance. The legs show similar banding in black and light colors, though less vibrant than the black and yellow garden spider. The carapace is covered with silvery hairs that shimmer in light. Overall, the banded pattern appears more subdued and less contrasting than its more colorful relative, though individual variation exists.
Important Note: Both banded and black and yellow garden spiders can be found in the same habitats, sometimes constructing webs near each other. The banded pattern versus spotted pattern is the primary distinguishing feature.
Banded garden spiders inhabit similar environments as their close relatives: gardens, fields, meadows, and woodland edges throughout Louisiana. They prefer open, sunny locations with vegetation that provides web anchor points. You’ll often find them in areas with wildflowers, tall grasses, and cultivated gardens. Like other Argiope species, they construct their webs between upright plant stems or other vertical support structures.
Their orb webs measure 12-18 inches in diameter, smaller than those of black and yellow garden spiders but equally intricate. The web features the characteristic spiral design with a zigzag stabilimentum. Banded garden spiders typically construct new webs each evening, positioning themselves head-down in the web’s center to wait for prey. Their hunting strategy relies entirely on the web to capture flying insects.
These spiders feed on a variety of flying insects including grasshoppers, flies, bees, wasps, and moths. When prey becomes entangled in the sticky spiral threads, the spider quickly assesses the capture. For small prey, they bite and wrap immediately. For larger or potentially dangerous prey like wasps, they may initially use silk to immobilize the insect before approaching for the bite.
Banded garden spiders are completely harmless to humans and pets. They’re non-aggressive and prefer to avoid confrontation. When threatened, they may vibrate their web rapidly (a behavior called “web bouncing”) to appear larger and more intimidating, or they’ll simply drop from the web to escape. Bites are exceptionally rare and cause only minor, temporary discomfort similar to a mosquito bite.
9. Southern House Spider
The southern house spider (Kukulcania hibernalis) frequently causes alarm due to its large size and superficial resemblance to the dangerous brown recluse spider. Females reach body lengths of 0.75 inches with leg spans extending to 2 inches, while males are smaller and more slender. This common Louisiana spider often enters homes, leading to unnecessary concern despite being completely harmless to humans.
Female southern house spiders display dark brown to charcoal gray coloration with a velvety appearance due to fine hairs covering the body. Males differ dramatically in appearance: they’re lighter brown or tan with longer, thinner legs relative to body size. This sexual dimorphism often leads people to believe they’re encountering two different species. The body shape is relatively flat with a distinctive oval abdomen.
Common Mistake: Southern house spiders are frequently misidentified as brown recluse spiders due to their brown coloration and similar size. However, brown recluse spiders have six eyes arranged in pairs, while southern house spiders have eight eyes in a tight cluster. Additionally, brown recluse spiders have the distinctive violin marking on their carapace, which southern house spiders lack.
You’ll find these spiders in and around structures throughout Louisiana, including homes, sheds, barns, garages, and other buildings. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas where they construct irregular sheet webs. Common locations include corners of rooms, behind furniture, in crawl spaces, under porches, and around outdoor lighting where prey insects are attracted. They’re particularly abundant in older buildings with many crevices and hiding spots.
Southern house spiders are nocturnal hunters that use their sheet webs as both shelter and hunting platforms. The web consists of a dense mat of silk extending from a tubular retreat where the spider hides during daylight. At night, they emerge to wait near the web’s edges, detecting vibrations from insects that walk onto the silk. Their diet includes various household insects such as cockroaches, silverfish, crickets, and other small arthropods.
These spiders are extremely beneficial as natural pest controllers in and around homes. They’re completely harmless to humans despite their intimidating size and appearance. Southern house spiders are non-aggressive and rarely bite even when handled directly. According to pest control experts, they’re among the most docile large spiders found in structures. If you encounter one, it’s best to leave it alone or gently relocate it outdoors—they’re helping control other pest populations in your home.
Female southern house spiders are long-lived, sometimes surviving several years in suitable locations. Males have shorter lifespans and are more often observed wandering in search of females during mating season. After mating, females produce several egg sacs containing 100-200 eggs each. The spiderlings emerge after several weeks and initially remain near the mother’s web before dispersing to establish their own territories.
10. Golden Silk Orb-Weaver
The golden silk orb-weaver (Trichonephila clavipes), commonly called the banana spider in Louisiana, ranks among the most impressive non-tarantula spiders in the United States. Females achieve body lengths of 1.5 to 2 inches with leg spans extending up to 5 inches, making them visually dominant in their habitats. Males measure only 0.25 inches in body length, creating one of the most extreme size differences between sexes among Louisiana spiders.
Females display striking coloration with elongated bodies combining yellow, black, and white patterns. Their long, slender legs show bright yellow color with hairy black bands and black tips. The carapace has a silvery appearance with a circular pattern of black spots. The abdomen is typically bright yellow or golden with black or brown markings and white speckles, though coloration varies among individuals. This vibrant appearance makes them unmistakable in Louisiana’s landscape.
Pro Tip: The “golden silk” name comes from the distinctive golden-yellow silk these spiders produce for their webs. This silk has exceptional strength—stronger than the silk of most other spiders—and has been studied for potential commercial applications.
These spiders inhabit forests, woodlands, and areas with dense vegetation throughout Louisiana. They typically attach their impressive webs to trees and shrubs in open wooded areas or along the edges of dense forests. The webs are positioned at various heights from ground level to high in the canopy, though they’re most commonly found at 4-10 feet above ground. You’ll often encounter their webs stretched across trails and pathways in wooded areas during summer and fall.
The orb webs constructed by golden silk orb-weavers can measure 3-6 feet in diameter, among the largest spider webs built by any species. The golden-colored silk creates a distinctive appearance, especially when backlit by sunlight. These permanent webs are maintained and repaired rather than rebuilt daily. The spider typically sits head-down in the web’s center, positioned to detect vibrations from captured prey. The web’s strength allows it to capture large flying insects including dragonflies, butterflies, moths, wasps, and even small birds occasionally.
Golden silk orb-weavers are non-aggressive toward humans and almost never bite. They’re unlikely to enter homes or offices, preferring natural outdoor habitats. If you walk through their web, they’ll typically drop to the ground and quickly retreat.
Bites are exceptionally rare and only occur when the spider is directly handled or trapped. According to medical literature on banana spider bites, symptoms are mild—temporary localized pain and redness comparable to a bee sting—and are significantly less serious than bee or wasp stings for most individuals.
These spiders serve important ecological roles in controlling flying insect populations. Their large webs capture significant numbers of insects daily during the active season. In Louisiana, golden silk orb-weavers are most abundant and visible from late summer through fall, when females reach their maximum size and web construction peaks. They die with the first hard frost, though egg sacs overwinter to produce the next generation in spring.
