They have green pedipalps and a white patterned abdomen that resembles a face. Adult jumping spiders are typically black in color and 1 inch (2.54 cm) in length. Ambush SpidersĬommon species of spiders that ambush their prey include jumping spiders, wolf-spiders, and the Missouri tarantula. The Missouri Tarantula ( Aphonopelma hentzi), also known as Texas Brown, is the only tarantula species inhabiting Missouri. Females with striking yellow, black, and blue coloration are easily spotted resting in the center of their giant web.ĭaring jumping spider ( Phidippus audax). The yellow garden spider is perhaps the largest and most beautiful orb weaver in the state. Crab spiders have a unique ability to change color like an octopus–camouflaging themselves to blend in with flower petals as they await their next meal. Often, they are seen hanging from loose strands of silk on the ceiling-waiting to catch a house fly. Cellar spiders have tiny tan bodies, long hair-like legs, and black-spotted knees. It feeds on flies, crickets, wood louse, and other household pests. While the common house spiders may look scary with a body shape similar to the infamous black widow, its grey coloration, white marbling and banded legs make it easy to distinguish. According to Lund University, 'Spiders eat more insects than people eat meat and fish.' Without these important biological control agents, pest numbers would increase exponentially.Ĭommon house spiders ( Parasteatoda tepidariorum), cellar spiders ( Pholcus spp.), crab spiders ( Xysticus spp.), and yellow garden spiders ( Argiope aurantia) are frequently seen in gardens or residential areas. A recent study estimated arachnids consume 400-800 million metric tons of prey each year and over 90% of that biomass is invertebrates.

Spiders are beneficial because they feed on many common insect pests including aphids, caterpillars, leafhoppers, grasshoppers, mosquitoes, and flies. They sometimes make 'web carpet' security systems with vibration alarm 'trip wires.' Sitting quietly on the silk–their body, covered in sensitive hairs, tells them when a potential meal is walking by. However, not all spiders build traditional webs, some are opportunistic ambush predators. Orb weavers build elaborate hanging webs with sticky silk. These eyes provide them with great depth perception since they combine multiple layers of vision into one–like 3D glasses. Most have a cluster of 6-8 eyes on the top of their head. They have 8 walking legs with tiny retractable claws on each foot. True spiders are members of the order Araneae. Only two species of spider in Missouri are considered medically significant: the brown recluse and female 'black widow.' Usually, this only results in temporary redness and itching. The majority of accidental bites occur when spiders in clothing or shoes are squished by the wearer. Spiders are very sensitive to vibration and their first instinct is typically to run and hide when disturbed. While many people have 'Arachnophobia' (an instinctive or learned fear of spiders), the vast majority of arachnids are actually harmless to us.

Long bodied cellar spider bite mark