Do You Know Your Florida Spiders?

October 2024

As a Florida state licensed home inspector it is a daily occurrence for us to come across one or more of the many species of spiders here in Southwest Florida, whether it be while inspecting the exterior perimeter of a structure or crawling through the homes attic space. It is very important for all of us who reside here full or part time to understand which spiders may be venomous as well as their daily routines outside and, yes, inside our home.

In Southwest Florida, of the many varieties of Arachnofeds there are only two types of venomous spiders, Widows and Recluse. The Black Widow, pictured here, is part of a venomous family that also includes the Brown Widow and the Red Widow Spider. The Widow family of spiders are generally very timid and only will bite in self defense when coming in contact with human skin. They are generally medium in size, dark in color with distinct red markings on their abdomen. Living areas can include storage boxes, unused clothing, covered BBQ grills and other rarely used household items.

Recluse Spider

Another venomous family of spiders is the Recluse Spiders, pictured above, including most commonly the Brown Recluse and the Mediterranean Recluse. The Recluse spiders are medium in size and have a distinctive violin-shaped marking toward the front of their head. They can be abundant in resident structures, taking up residence in unused parts of home, similar to the Widow family.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite

If you would like to learn more about Florida spiders, our company invites you to click on the link below to literally find every species here in the sunny south!

Spiders in Florida - USA Spiders

This page provides an overview of the most common spiders in Florida. Just click on any of the images or links to learn more about the spider. If you have found a spider in Florida that is not on our list, make sure to send us a picture via email ...

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Always be aware of your surroundings when gardening, spring cleaning or moving around unused items in your home. It can be a good habit to wear gloves when rearranging or cleaning out stored furnishings, cutting down your chances of getting a venomous spider bite which very well could land you in the emergency room of your local hospital. Teach your children as well about the local critters that pose a danger to those involved. Remember,

Your Family. Your Home. Our Priority.

Sincerely,

John P. Brooks

President/Licensed Home Inspector

Lee County Inspection Services Home Inspections and Environmental Testing

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InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector

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Florida State Lic # CHI-637

Call Today at

239.246.9534

Or email us at

leeinspector@hotmail.com