Entomology

University of Wyoming Extension

Spiders in the Home

Spiders are predatory arthropods of insects. Unlike the horror movies, spiders do not attack humans unless provoked to bite by handling, whether intentionally or not. All spiders have 2 body regions like ticks: an unsegmented abdomen and a cephalothorax. Unlike ticks, a spider's abdomen is constricted at the base, but, like ticks, spiders have 8 legs and no antennae. So, if your bug has 8 legs and a constricted abdomen, it's a spider.

Spiders of Little Concern

These spiders pose no serious health risk to people, although a few people do have an allergic reaction to their accidental bites. 

wolf spider

Wolf Spider


Spiders of Human Concern

These are the main spiders of health concern to citizens of Wyoming.

Minor Concern

hobo spider

Hobo Spider


Major Concern

Black Widow Spider           Brown Recluse Spider

Black Widow                                           Brown Recluse

Contact Us

Scott Schell

Room #9, Agriculture Bldg.

Phone: (307) 766-2508

Email: insectid@uwyo.edu

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