Oregon Spiders

About Oregon spiders

• Oregon has at least 500 species of spiders.
• Black widow spiders may be the only potentially harmful spider in Oregon.
• Spider bites are not common.
• Spiders help people by eating the insects that eat our food, invade our homes, and are vectors for disease.
• The most common spiders submitted for identification at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) are the hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis) and giant house spider (Eratigena atrica).
• Review the information below before submitting a request to identify a spider.

Do not send photos of suspected injuries (bites and stings), biological samples, or other materials for insect identification or diagnosis. Our entomologists are not health care professionals. Oregon Department of Agriculture cannot identify an insect or spider from descriptions of symptoms or pictures of insect bites or stings. They will not offer any advice regarding injury diagnosis or health care. For information about insect bite treatment or other health concerns, please consult a health care professional.

• Guide to Common Household Insects and Spiders of Oregon
• How To Identify (and Misidentify) Brown Widow Spiders. UC Riverside's online guide to identifying brown widow spiders
• How to reduce contact with spiders in your home. Tips for reducing spiders in your home
• Myths, misconceptions, and superstitions about spiders
• Oregon Spiders: Facts and Fiction Handout Handout with basic information on Oregon spiders (including the hobo) with photos.
• Oregon Spiders: Hobo, Giant House, Black Widow, and Yellow Sac Spiders Information on these four Oregon spiders (with photos). More about Oregon spiders handout
• University of California IPM Online - How to manage pests: Hobo spider. Hobo spider identification, medical aspects, management. Hobo spider guideline