Spiders of Georgia - Identification, Risk & Range

Notable concerns

Southern black widow
Brown widow
Brown recluse (north)
Joro spider (statewide)

Medically significant species in Georgia

Species	Scientific	Significance	Range note
Brown Recluse	Loxosceles reclusa	Medically significant	Verified by Vetter (2008) county-level specimen review. Reports outside this range are almost always misidentifications; an estimated 80% of submitted 'brown recluses' from non-range states are other species.
Southern Black Widow	Latrodectus mactans	Medically significant	Southeastern United States, from southern New York to Florida, west through Texas and into
Brown Widow	Latrodectus geometricus	Moderate	First documented in Florida in 1935; major range expansion across the U.S. South began in the 2000s. Continues to displace L. mactans in southern California urban habitats.
Yellow Sac Spider	Cheiracanthium inclusum	Moderate	Throughout the continental United States and southern Canada.
Northern Black Widow	Latrodectus variolus	Medically significant	Eastern North America from southern Canada through New England and the Appalachian region

All documented species in this index

Species below are present in Georgia according to extension publications and the rangeStates records in our species index. Click through for full profiles.

Brown Recluse - Loxosceles reclusa (Medically significant)
Southern Black Widow - Latrodectus mactans (Medically significant)
Brown Widow - Latrodectus geometricus (Moderate)
Yellow Sac Spider - Cheiracanthium inclusum (Moderate)
Joro Spider - Trichonephila clavata (Not medically significant)
Northern Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus (Medically significant)
Common House Spider - Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Low)
Wolf Spider - Lycosidae (family overview) (Low)
Cellar Spider - Pholcus phalangioides (Not medically significant)
Bold Jumping Spider - Phidippus audax (Low)
Yellow Garden Spider - Argiope aurantia (Not medically significant)
Golden Silk Orb Weaver - Trichonephila clavipes (Low)
Grass Spider - Agelenopsis spp. (Not medically significant)
Southern House Spider - Kukulcania hibernalis (Low)

Seasonal activity in Georgia

Spider activity in Georgia follows the documented peak season of April–November. Indoor sightings often spike in late summer and early fall as males wander to find mates and as cooling outdoor temperatures push synanthropic species toward heated structures.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Highlighted months reflect the state extension peak-activity window. Individual species (especially indoor recluse populations) may be active outside this range.

Prevention checklist for Georgia homes

Seal exterior gaps wider than 1/8 inch around utility penetrations, dryer vents, and weep holes. Install door sweeps on garage and basement entries.
Reduce harborage by storing firewood, lumber, and seldom-used boxes off the ground and at least 18 inches from foundation walls.
In recluse-active areas, inspect stored clothing, bedding, and shoes before use. Sticky monitor traps placed along baseboards quantify indoor density.
For widow-active areas, wear gloves when handling outdoor electrical boxes, irrigation valves, and stacked materials. Widows favor undisturbed voids.
Vacuum webs, egg sacs, and spiders rather than spraying. Mechanical removal outperforms most over-the-counter residual sprays for synanthropic species.

If you are bitten

Nearby states in the Southeast region

Spiders of Alabama - peak activity april–october
Spiders of Arkansas - peak activity april–october
Spiders of Florida - peak activity year-round
Spiders of Kentucky - peak activity april–october
Spiders of Louisiana - peak activity year-round
Spiders of Mississippi - peak activity year-round
Spiders of North Carolina - peak activity april–october
Spiders of South Carolina - peak activity year-round

Sources

[1]Georgia spider identification - Georgia Cooperative Extension. Accessed 2026-06-14.
[2]Spiders and scorpions submitted as suspected brown recluse - Vetter RS, 2008. Accessed 2026-06-14.