Oregon and Washington have helped me overcome the fear of creepy creatures since I have lived in each state for ten years due to my nomadic job type. I have come across different spider types and other crawling bugs during the rainy season.
White spiders were more frightening than other types of spiders. The appearance made me wonder if they were harmful or harmless. The situation forced me to research more about different types of white spiders.
I wrote this article to share descriptions and pictures of different white spider types. I have also shared facts and tips for identifying white spiders. Take the time to read through the guide and learn to identify the white spider species in your vicinity.
White Spiders Overview
Many homeowners in the Pacific Northwest states find it challenging to identify white spider species. But there is no need to worry if you see white spiders in the house since this spider identification chart will sort out that.
The crab spiders are the most common white spider species due to their translucent segmented pale white legs and bulbous creamy white abdomens. But you will come across many other big or tiny white spiders in the garden, woodlands, and grasslands.
A yellow sac spider has a whitish egg-shaped body, distinctive amber cephalothorax, and long white legs with black tips. White spiders in the house are harmless since their bites do not require any medical attention.
I recommend watching out for black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders in the house since their bites require immediate medical attention. These venomous spiders should not be allowed to crawl into the home.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Identification Feature |
| Goldenrod Crab Spider | Misumena vatia | Has a large egg-shaped body, eight eyes, and walks sideways |
| Caribbean Crab Spider | Misumessus | Has a white abdomen with gray brownish speckled patterns, greenish-white translucent legs, and a pointed head with two rows of black eyes. |
| White Crab Spider | Thomisus spectabilis | Has translucent legs, pale white cephalothorax, and a white abdomen. |
| Yellow Sac Spiders | Cheiracanthium | Cream to the light yellow body with green tinges. |
| Dancing White Lady Spider | Leucorchestris arenicola | Has an egg-shaped body and white legs with black spines. |
| Short-bodied Cellar Spider | Spermophora senoculata | Has pale white translucent cephalothorax and legs, pale tan spiny ball-like abdomen, and two pronounced simple eyes. |
| White Widow Spider | Latrodectus pallidus | Has a large, bulging, bulbous white abdomen with a pale tan-colored cephalothorax and legs. |
| Colonus Puerperus | Colonus puerperus | Has whitish striped furry abdomen, spiny tan legs, the pale brown cephalothorax, and eight eyes. |
| Ghost Spider | Anyphaenidae | Pointed abdomen, pale tan legs with black spines, and two rows of four eyes. |
| Yellow Ghost Spider | Hibana Velox | Has creamy-white pointed abdomen with pale tan markings |
| Garden Ghost Spider | Hibana gracilis | Pale tan whitish body and legs with dark brown spotted markings on its abdomen |
| Candy-Striped Spider | Enoplognatha ovata | White or creamy colored globular abdomen with translucent legs and red or greenish bands on its back. |
| White Florida Crab Spider | Gasteracantha cancrisformis | Has white abdomen covered with black spots and six triangular red or black spines |
How to Identify White Spiders
White spiders belong to the Arachnida class like other spider species. This spider has eight legs, six eyes, mouthparts, a white-colored abdomen, and a cephalothorax (head).
The bulbous creamy white bodies make white spiders stand out from other species. Some white spiders have white bodies with beautiful markings, black spots, and spiny legs.
Besides that, white spiders have no antennae and wings. These spider species have simple eyes and spin messy webs. Other spider species spin circular or funnel shape webs for laying eggs.
Different Types of White Spiders with Pictures
Goldenrod Crab Spider
Goldenrod crab spiders are white spider species found in the garden. The female spider has an enlarged, bulbous abdomen, a small head, and crab-like legs.
A female is a tiny white spider that measures around 10mm, and the male counterparts measure half the size. These spider species tend to camouflage the surroundings to hide from predators.
Immature spiders are white, but they can turn into different colors depending on the habitat. The sideways walking style makes goldenrod crab spiders stand out from other species.
Caribbean White Spider
The species has a flattened tear-shaped body, tiny mouthparts, translucent greenish-white head, and legs. The minuscule white spider measures around 4-6mm long.
The female Caribbean white spiders are larger than their male counterparts. These spider species are common in gardens, parks, and woodlands.
Florida is the native homeland of these unusual spider species. They have four long forelegs and short hind legs with gray-brownish speckled patterns that make this spider unique.
White Crab Spider
It is also known as the Australian crab spider due to its white body with translucent pale white legs and reddish or black spines. The tiny white spider can change its color from white to yellow.
These tiny white spiders measure about 10mm long with a leg span of 30mm. The white crab spiders are aggressive and cause venomous bites.
But this tiny white spider is not harmful to humans. The hunting white crab spider can cause a painful red mark and some swellings.
Yellow Sac Spiders
These spider species have a yellowish-white or tan body and long legs. The spindly legs make these white spiders in the house identifiable.
The oval body with white speckling and an oblong greenish mark on its back makes yellow sac spiders conspicuous. They have an average body size of 5-10mm.
Yellow sac spiders can give nasty bites resulting in pain, swelling, and blistering. The yellowish and white coloring helps differentiate them from the recluse spiders.
Dancing White Lady Spider
These are all white spiders that come out of hideouts at night. They have an egg-shaped body, large pointed mouthparts, and white legs with black spines.
The dancing white lady spider has two rows of four eyes and measures about 13cm long. It also has a leg span of 250mm with creamy white shading.
Namibia desert is the native homeland of dancing white lady spiders. These nocturnal white spiders live in the burrows. Spotting these giant white spiders is rare during daylight.
Short-Bodied Cellar Spider
It is a tiny white spider with a round body, thin white legs, and small cephalothorax. The globular white body with faint brown or dark markings makes it easy for the white spider.
The minuscule spider has an average body size of 2mm. These short-bodied cellar spiders hail from Asia, the Southern States of the USA, and the Mediterranean regions.
These white spiders live in caves, cellars, under stones, dark rooms, and damp environments. The two conspicuous simple eyes make this spider species unique.
White Widow Spider
The white widow spiders are among the rare white spider species. The black coloration with the red hourglass markings makes the widow spiders unique.
These tiny white spiders have an average size of 10mm. Besides that, they have nasty bites that cause health issues requiring immediate medical attention.
The white steppe spiders have bulbous white abdomen with a pale tan-colored cephalothorax and legs. These mild venomous spiders are common in desert regions.
Colonus Puerperus
These white spiders belong to the white hairy jumping spider species. The adult female spider has fuzzy pale tan body white hairy white stripes.
These tiny white spiders have several eyes with two conspicuous eyes above the jaws. These white spiders hail from Florida, Texas, and the Gulf Coast.
These white spiders become more whitish in grasslands during the summer season. They have an average body size of 5-7mm.
The stumpy spiny legs and white fuzz make these spiders resemble white tarantula. They are harmless to humans and pets.
Ghost Spiders
Ghost spiders have oblong, pointed abdomen and creamy-white bodies with a pale brownish triangular abdominal stripe. The black spines on the long legs are less visible.
The two extended pedipalps look like a pair of black boxing gloves making these ghost spiders easy to identify. These tiny white spiders have an average body size of 4-8mm.
The two central eyes on the bottom row are other crucial features to identify ghost spiders. They are among the popular white spiders in Florida.
Yellow Ghost Spider
It is a common house spider with a whitish-tan body and orangey-brown pattern on its abdomen. It also has a pointed abdomen with a conspicuous spinneret on its tail end.
This small pale-colored spider has an average body size of 4mm long. Yellow ghost spiders are found in gardens and homes throughout the United States.
These spiders appear whitish from a distance due to their pale-brown or light tan colorings. The coloring makes it challenging to distinguish yellow ghost spiders from brown recluse spiders.
Garden Ghost Spider
Adult female garden ghost spiders have bulbous creamy-white abdomen with dark-brown markings. The conspicuous features are spiny legs, two rows of simple eyes, and a beige head.
The garden ghost spiders have an average body size of 7mm long. These spider species hail from the Northeastern United States of America.
Garden ghost spiders have longitudinal dark stripes and dark spots on their bodies. The brown chelicerae make it easier to identify the garden ghost spiders.
Candy-Striped Spiders
These spiders have bulbous white abdomen with conspicuous V-shaped pale green stripes. They also have tiny black spots on their bodies with fine black hairs covering their long spindly legs.
The candy white striped spider has an average body size of 6mm with long legs that make them appear large. Some white spider species have cream or green colorations.
White Florida Crab Spider
The Florida crab spider is also known as the spiny-backed orb spider. The white Florida crab spider has a white abdomen with black dots and six prominent red or black spines.
The large and broad abdomen with a small head makes these spider species unique. They have an average body size of 10-13mm.
White and black or white and red spiders hail from North America in shrubby gardens and woodlands. The Florida crab spider constructs ornate webs to trap insects.
Related Questions
Are White Spiders Poisonous?
Yes. White spiders are venomous when hunting their prey. The poison is not harmful to human beings since these spiders inject a small amount.
The white widow spider is highly poisonous and hails from the Middle East. The white spider species are also rare since it spends most time in caves or sand.
Do White Spiders Bite?
Yes. White spiders have jaws with fangs or pincers. But these spider species bite when they feel threatened. The bite feels like a bee sting that starts painful and causes a burning sensation.
Yellow sac spiders are known for biting since they love hiding under stones, leaves, and debris. Most bites from white spiders happen in the garden during the summer season.
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