Here you can find the main species we are observing in the SpiderSpotter App.
For each species, you can find a detailed description, size and habitat information and notes on similar species. An image gallery for each species can help with the spider identification. Let's spot some spiders!
Barn Funnel weaver (Tegenaria domestica)
Web: Typical funnel web with a funnel-shaped retreat.
Habitat: In and around buildings. Often outdoors, away from buildings, such as in hollowed out trees and caves.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 7,5-11,5mm
♂: 6-9mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: probably the entire year, but with peak in the second half.
Cardinal spider (Tegenaria parietina)
Web: Typical funnel web with a funnel-shaped retreat, often more “layered” than the web of the Cardinal spider and Barn funnel weaver.
Habitat: In and around buildings, sometimes in drier, less sheltered and sunny locations. Almost always close to buildings.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 11-20mm
♂: 10-17mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: August till October
Cellar spiders (Pisauridae)
Cellar spider (Pholcus phalangoides)
Web: an open, messy, 3D web.
Habitat: almost always in or close to buildings. Often in the corner of the ceiling in cellars or bathrooms, but also in the garage, the garden shed,…
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 8-10 mm
♂: 7-10 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Common crab spider (Xysticus cristatus)
Web: Crab spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their elongated first and second legs to overpower their prey. They are sit and wait predators, often well camouflaged and laying in an ambush to surprise passing prey.
Habitat: in many different environments such as grassland, on bushes and other low vegetation, rather in open habitats.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 9-11 mm
♂: 3-4 mm
When?
♀: April till August
♂: April till August
Common fox spider (Alopecosa pulverulenta)
Web: wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey.
Habitat: Occurs in open habitas such as gardens, grassland clearings in woodland,… . Can be frequent.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5-8 mm
♂: 6,5-11 mm
When?
♀: April till July
♂: April till July
Common stretch spider (Tetragnatha extensa)
Web: orb web with open centre (no threads).
Habitat: tall grasses (such as reeds) and low vegetation close to water. op hoge grassen (bijv. riet) en lage vegetatie in de buurt van water. More strongly bound to water than the Silver stretch spider.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to :
Size
♀: 10-12 mm
♂: 6-9 mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: May till July
Copper sun jumper (Heliophanus cupreus)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it using their short and powerful legs.
Habitat: on low to medium high vegetation or on the ground. Often on sunny places such as forest edges, but also in gardens.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 3,5-4mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: May till July
Latin name: Araneus diadematus
German name: Gartenkreuzspinne
Web: Large orb web
Habitat: Web is constructed in shrubs, tall grasses, lower part of trees. Often found in the garden and sometimes on windows, fences, etc.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size:
♀: 10-18mm
♂: 4-8mm
When?
♀: June till October
♂: June till September
Know more?
One of our most successful spiders because it can live in variety of habitats and catches prey in a particularly efficient way (can easily overpower wasps).
After hatching, young spiders stay together for a while. This is the time when you can spot the typical ball of spiders. When disturbed, the sphere seems to explode and the young spiders flee in all directions.
Eurasian green crab spider (Diaea dorsata)
German name: Grüne Krabbenspinne
Web: Crab spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their elongated first and second legs to overpower their prey. They are sit and wait predators, often well camouflaged and laying in an ambush to surprise passing prey.
Habitat: on leaves of bushes and trees.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5-7 mm
♂: 3-4 mm
When?
♀: May till June
♂: May till June
European sheetweb spider (Linyphia triangularis)
Web: Sheetweb with ascending threads above the sheet and stabilizing threads underneath.
Habitat: not selective at all. Can be found in many different habitats, as long as there is a possibility to construct a web. Usually in vegetation, such as higher grass, herbs and shrubs. Usually between 30 cm from the ground, ranging up to 2 m.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5-7mm
♂: 4,6-7mm
When?
♀: From middle of August till end of October, sometimes until December. Lives longer than male
♂: From middle of August till end of October
False black widow (Steatoda grossa)
Web: 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”).
Habitat: Mainly in dark places in buildings (preference for cellars, where webs are constructed close to the cellar window), but also outdoors near solid structures. The spider usually hides in crevices.
Hot to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 6,5-10mm
♂: 4-6mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: August till September
Hackled orbweavers (Uloboridae)
Feather-legged lace weaver (Uloborus plumipes)
Web: horizontal (!) orbweb of 15 to 30 cm.
Habitat: The Feather-legged lace weaver is originally a tropical species that was imported in Belgium through the Mediterranean. It is almost exclusively found in heated spaces such as greenhouses. In garden centres you can spot the typical webs, hung between cacti and succulents. This species has only once been found outdoors in Belgium.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
The very noticeable abdomen, together with the specific occurrence in heated spaces means that this species is easily recognized.
Size
♀: 4-5 mm
♂: 3-4 mm
When?
Can be found throughout the year.
Fencepost jumping spider (Marpissa muscosa)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and strong legs. The Fencepost jumping spider sometimes catches prey that are much bigger than itself, including other spiders.
Habitat: on logs, but also on fences, gates, garden sheds and walls. Often on sunny or partially shaded places.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 8-11 mm
♂: 6-8 mm
When?
♀: April till September
♂: April till September
Fleecy jumping spider (Pseudeuophrys lanigera)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and strong legs.
Habitat: almost exclusively on buildings: on walls, roofs, fences, is frequently found inside.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 4-5 mm
When?
♀: indoor: throughout the year, outdoor: peak May till July
♂: indoor: throughout the year, outdoor: peak May till July
Latin name: Araneus quadratus
German name: Vierfleckkreuzspinne
Web: Large orb web
Habitat: Makes a web quite low to the ground (under 50 cm) between grasses and herbs, often in more humid places.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size:
♀: 9-20 mm
♂: 6-8 mm
When?
♀: July till October
♂: June till September
Giant housespider (Eratigena atrica)
Web: Typical funnel web with a funnel-shaped retreat.
Habitat: In and around buildings, with a preference for sheltered, not too dry places. Often outdoors, far away from buildings, i.e. in hollow trees or on rocks.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 11-18mm
♂: 10-15mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: August till October
Goldenrod spider (Misumena vatia)
Web: Crab spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their elongated first and second legs to overpower their prey. They are sit and wait predators, often well camouflaged and laying in an ambush to surprise passing prey.
Habitat: in sunny environments such as grassland, forest edges, but also gardens. Is very often found on flowers.
How to recognize?
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 9-11 mm
♂: 3-4 mm
When?
♀: May till August
♂: May till August
Ground wolf spider (Trochosa terricola)
Web: Wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey. The Ground wolf spider hunts predominantly during the night.
Habitat: underneath rocks, litter, moss, in humid areas.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 7-14 mm
♂: 7-9 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Herb hammock spider (Neriene clathrata)
Web: Relatively thin sheetweb.
Habitat: Many different habitats, such as roadsides, brushwood, parcs and gardens. Most often low to the ground. Adult males can often be found in litter.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 3,7-5,5 mm
♂: 3,4-4,8 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: March till June
Hypositticus pubescens
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and powerful legs.
Habitat: often near buildings: on walls, roofs, fences, but also on rocks and logs.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 4-5 mm
When?
♀: May till August
♂: May till August
Lesser garden spider (Metellina segmentata)
Web: small orb web that is suspended under an angle in grasses, herbs and low bushes.
Habitat: on vegetation in a lot of different habitats such as roadside, grassland, gardens, woodland. Often in large numbers.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 6,5-9 mm
♂: 7-7,5 mm
When?
♀: August till October, but in mild winters, sometimes till early spring
♂: August till October
Linyphia hortensis
Web: Sheetweb with ascending threads above the sheet and stabilizing threads underneath. Hangmatweb (thinner and smaller compared tot he European sheetweb spider)
Habitat: Parcs and gardens, often in higher grass, herbs and shrubs. Usually between 30 cm from ground level, ranging up to 2 m.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4-6mm
♂: 3-5mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: April till June
Cellar spiders (Pholcidae)
Marbled cellar spider (Holocnemus pluchei)
Web: an open, messy, 3D web, often with a dome like structure.
Habitat: almost always in (non)heated industrial buildings such as warehouses, hangars or garden centres. Often in corners.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5-7,5 mm
♂: 5-7 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Nursery web spiders (Pisauridae)
Nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
Web: the Nursery web spider doesn’t make a catching web, but is an active hunter, by using fangs and legs to immobilize prey.
Habitat: often in open habitats with rather high vegetation such as roadsides, grasslands, forest edges. Also in the garden on taller grass.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 11-15 mm
♂: 10-13 mm
When?
♀: May till August
♂: May till July
Ozyptila praticola
Web: Crab spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their elongated first and second legs to overpower their prey. They are sit and wait predators, often well camouflaged and laying in an ambush to surprise passing prey.
Habitat: on the ground, in leaf litter or sometimes on low vegetation in gardens, parcs, forest,…
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 3-5 mm
♂: 2,5-3 mm
When?
♀: April till September
♂: April till September
Pirate otter spider (Pirata piraticus)
Web: wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey.
Habitat: occur in water-rich habitats such as around stagnant water (ponds, small lakes) and slow-running water (streams,… ) or at least in a moist environment (eg wet meadows).
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4,5-9 mm
♂: 4-6,5 mm
When?
♀: May till August/September
♂: May till August/September
Platform hammock spider (Neriene peltata)
Web: Relatively thin sheetweb.
Habitat: Parcs and gardens, mainly in bushes.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 3-5mm
♂: 2,2-3,5mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: April till June
Rabbit hutch spider (Steatoda bipunctata)
Web: 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”). The web sometimes has a matlike appearance.
Habitat: Mostly close to or in buildings, but also regularly outdoor in hollow trees, away from buildings. The spider often hides in a crevice.
Herkennen aan:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4,5-7mm
♂: 4-5,5mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: April till November
Silver stretch spider (Tetragnatha montana)
Web: orb web with open centre (no threads).
Habitat: occurs frequently on shaded banks, but also in bushes of gardens and parcs. Less bound to water compared to the Common stretch spider.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 7-13 mm
♂: 6-8 mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: May till July
Latin name: Zygiella x-notata
German name: Sektorspinne
Web: small to medium orb web with catching threads missing in one or two sectors (looks open). A signal thread runs from the centre through this sector to signal the spider when prey is stuck. If you follow this, you will find the spider!
Habitat: almost always associated with buildings: in the corner of window frames, balconies, gates, fences, under the gutter, ... Can occur in high numbers.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Body size
♀: 7-11 mm
♂: 4-7 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Cobweb spiders (Theridiidae)
Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Web: fairly large, 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”).
Habitat: The Southern black widow has not yet established permanent populations in Belgium. Observations are always the result of unintended hitchhiking from the original range (southern part of USA and Mexico). A lot of Southern black widow spiders are introduced by shipments of second-hand cars from USA in the Antwerp harbour.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 15 mm
♂: 6 mm
Zoropsid spiders (Zoropsidae)
Spiny false wolf spider (Zoropsis spinimana)
Web: The Spiny false wolf spiders doesn’t make a web, but is an active and visual hunter.
Habitat: Mainly in and around houses. In Southern-Europe underneath stones, bark. Hunts at night.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 10-19 mm
♂: 10-13 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Spitting spiders (Scytodidae)
Spitting spider (Scytodes thoracica)
Web: the Spitting spider doesn’t make a catching web, but stalks its prey (flies, mosquitoes) on walls and spits a mixture of sticky silk and poison in a zigzag pattern over the prey. The threadlike adhesive shrinks, pinning the prey to the surface.
Habitat: almost exclusively indoors. In summer sometimes on the outside of houses and one very strange find of a Spitting spider underneath a tussock in a field during winter (!).
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 3-5 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Spotted wolf spider (Pardosa amentata)
Web: wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey. The Spotted wolf spider hunts predominantly during the day.
Habitat: occurs in open habitat such as parcs, gardens, fields,… Mostly in rather humid conditions. Can be very frequent.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5,5-8 mm
♂: 5-6,5 mm
When?
♀: April till July
♂: April till July
Spring hammock spider (Neriene montana)
Web: Often fairly large and robust sheet web. Most related species can be found hanging underneath the sheet part of the web, however, the Spring hammock spider can most often be found in a retreat (crevice, behind bark,…). The silk is more dens, closer to the retreat.
Habitat: Shaded areas, often against “dense” structures (hollow log, pile of branches, wall), less in “green” vegetation.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5-8mm
♂: 4-7mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: April till June
Triangulate combfoot (Steatoda triangulosa)
Web: 3D web with messy threads and often vertical threads with glue on the lower part towards the substrate (“gum footed threads”). The web sometimes has a matlike appearance.
Habitat: Mainly in dark places in buildings, contrary to the False black widow also in dry places such as attics. Or in living rooms on the underside of furniture, where you can often find egg sacs. Regularly also outdoors near solid structures. The spider usually hides in crevices.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 3,5-7mm
♂: 3,5-5mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: June till October
Latin name: Nuctenea umbratica
German name: Spaltenkreuzspinne
Web: large orb web (up to 70 cm) with a large mesh size and not finely finished.
Habitat: hidden during the day under the bark of trees, between cracks and crevices in walls, fences, ... At night, you can find the spider in the middle of the web.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Body size:
♀: 11-15 mm
♂: 8-9 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: May to September
Latin name: Argiope bruennichi
German name: Wespenspinne
Web: Large orb web, often with threads in zigzag pattern (stabilimentum) originating from the centre going up and down.
Habitat: Often in grassland, with the web constructed low. Main diet are grasshoppers!
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size:
♀: 11-20 mm
♂: 4-4,5 mm
When?
♀: July till September/October
♂: June till August
Cell spiders (Dysderidae)
Woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata)
Web: the Woodlouse spider doesn’t make a catching web, but actively hunts its prey.
Habitat: Is found in a humid environment such as underneath stones, flower pots, bark, dead wood. In gardens and in parcs, but also in forests. Sometimes also indoors in humid cellars.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 11-15 mm
♂: 9-10 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year, but with a peak from May till July
♂: throughout the year, but with a peak from May till July
Eutichurid spiders (Cheiracanthiidae)
Yellow sac spider/Spiny false wolf spider (Cheiracanthium mildei)
Web: The Yellow sac spider doesn’t construct a web, but catches its prey through active, visual hunting.
Habitat: The Yellow sac spider can be found in a sac-like retreat in a curled up leaf or underneath stones and bark. In Belgium especially close to or in buildings (but recently also in a nature reserve, far removed from buildings.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Cheiracanthium virescens: this species lives mainly in heathland and will almost never occur near or in houses. Certain identification only through using a stereomicroscope.
Size:
♀: 6-11 mm
♂: 6-9 mm
When?
♀: May till December
♂: May till December
Zebra jumping spider (Salticus scenicus)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and strong legs.
Habitat: is very often found on walls and fences, sometimes in houses close to a window. Also on stones, rocks and logs.
How to recognize:
Looks similar to:
Size
♀: 5-7 mm
♂: 5-7mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: May till June