Common Spiders of North America

Disciplines Sciences Organismal Biology Entomology

About the Book

This stunning field guide provides a comprehensive resource for identifying and appreciating nearly 500 species of spiders.

Arachnids are among the most diverse groups of terrestrial invertebrates, yet they are among the least studied and understood. This is the most comprehensive field guide to all 68 spider families in North America, with beautiful illustrations of 469 of the most commonly encountered species. Group keys enable accurate identification by web pattern, morphology, and other observable details, and species descriptions include tips to help everyday naturalists identify spiders, as well as their common names, typical habitat, geographic distribution, and behavioral notes. A concise illustrated introduction to spider biology and anatomy explains spider relationships. Featuring 82 gorgeous color plates, this book is an accessible and detailed resource for curious naturalists who want to understand this ubiquitous and ecologically critical component of our biosphere.

From Our Blog

Common Spiders in the Wild

by Richard A. Bradley, author of Common Spiders of North America I grew up chasing lizards and snakes in the barley and garbanzo bean fields, and sage-filled canyons, around my boyhood home …

About the Author

Richard Bradley is Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of New Mexico, studying the population biology of scorpions, and has been an active researcher and teacher since 1972, publishing on the behavior and ecology of birds, scorpions, and spiders.

Reviews

"Bradley’s admiration of and attention to these animals is evident. . . .The result is not only a remarkable compendium of information about conspicuous spiders in North America, but a gateway to their study and appreciation.”—American Entomologist

"A concise illustrated introduction to spider biology and anatomy explains spider relationships, this book is a critical resource for curious naturalists who want to understand this ubiquitous and ecologically critical component of our biosphere."—BioOne

"This is a fabulous book, worthy of a place on the bookshelves of any arachnological library."—British Arachnological Society Newsletter

“People with an interest in North American spiders should enjoy this book.”—The Guardian

"Every few years a field guide emerges with artwork so stunning the book is worth owning regardless of whether you plan to identify anything with it. Richard Bradley’s Common Spiders of North America is just such a book. Buy it. You won’t regret it. . . .an instant classic. Highly recommended."—Alex Wild, Myrmecos

“Common Spiders of North America is an exceptionally well-constructed and -illustrated guide that fills a large gap in America’s natural history guides. It will stimulate scientific research and public interest in one of the most diverse and abundant of all animal groups.”—Edward O. Wilson, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

“Bradley provides a very well written introduction to the biology, natural history, collection, and identification of spiders and provides stunningly beautiful illustrations of nearly 500 common species found in North America. This book is designed to be used by all arachnophiles (and brave arachnophobes) from young to old and from backyard naturalist to scientist. No other field guide on this subject provides such detailed information and illustrations about so many species. It is a must-have for anyone interested in nature and the animals with whom we share this planet.”—Paula E. Cushing, coauthor of Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FINDING, STUDYING, AND IDENTIFYING SPIDERS
SPIDERS: AN INTRODUCTION
FINDING AND STUDYING SPIDERS
IDENTIFYING SPIDERS
KEYS TO FAMILIES WITHIN GROUPS
UNDER DEBRIS GROUP
SPACE-FILLING WEB GROUP
SHEET WEAVERS GROUP
ORB-SHAPED WEB GROUP
FUNNEL-SHAPED WEB GROUP
SIX-EYED SPIDERS GROUP
JUMPING SPIDERS GROUP
CRABLIKE SPIDERS GROUP
SURFACE HUNTERS GROUP
GROUND HUNTERS GROUP
FOLIAGE HUNTERS GROUP
MYGALOMORPH GROUP
TINY SPIDERS GROUP

COLOR PLATES SECTION BETWEEN PAGES 60 AND 61

SPIDER ACCOUNTS
FAMILY AGELENIDAE • FUNNEL WEAVERS
FAMILY AMAUROBIIDAE • HACKLEDMESH WEAVERS
FAMILY AMPHINECTIDAE • AMPHINECTIDS
FAMILY ANAPIDAE • GROUND ORBWEAVERS
FAMILY ANTRODIAETIDAE • FOLDINGDOOR TRAPDOOR SPIDERS
FAMILY ANYPHAENIDAE • GHOST SPIDERS
FAMILY ARANEIDAE • ORBWEAVERS
FAMILY ATYPIDAE • PURSEWEB SPIDERS
FAMILY CAPONIIDAE • BRIGHT LUNGLESS SPIDERS
FAMILY CLUBIONIDAE • SAC SPIDERS
FAMILY CORINNIDAE • ANTMIMIC SPIDERS
FAMILY CTENIDAE • WANDERING SPIDERS
FAMILY CTENIZIDAE • TRAPDOOR SPIDERS
FAMILY CYBAEIDAE • SOFT SPIDERS
FAMILY CYRTAUCHENIIDAE (NOW EUCTENIZIDAE) • WAFERLID TRAPDOOR SPIDERS
FAMILY DEINOPIDAE • OGREFACED SPIDERS
FAMILY DESIDAE • DESIDS
FAMILY DICTYNIDAE • MESHWEAVERS
FAMILY DIGUETIDAE • DESERTSHRUB SPIDERS
FAMILY DIPLURIDAE • FUNNELWEB SPIDERS
FAMILY DYSDERIDAE • WOODLOUSE SPIDERS
FAMILY FILISTATIDAE • CREVICE WEAVERS
FAMILY GNAPHOSIDAE • STEALTHY GROUND SPIDERS
FAMILY HAHNIIDAE • COMBTAILED SPIDERS
FAMILY HERSILIIDAE • LONGSPINNERET SPIDERS
FAMILY HOMALONYCHIDAE • DUSTY DESERT SPIDERS
FAMILY HYPOCHILIDAE • LAMPSHADE WEAVERS
FAMILY LEPTONETIDAE • MIDGET CAVE SPIDERS
FAMILY LINYPHIIDAE • SHEETWEB WEAVERS
FAMILY LIOCRANIDAE • SPINYLEGGED SAC SPIDERS
FAMILY LYCOSIDAE • WOLF SPIDERS
FAMILY MECICOBOTHRIIDAE • MIDGET FUNNELWEB TARANTULAS
FAMILY MIMETIDAE • PIRATE SPIDERS
FAMILY MITURGIDAE • PROWLING SPIDERS
FAMILY MYSMENIDAE • DWARF COBWEB WEAVERS
FAMILY NEMESIIDAE • WISHBONE SPIDERS
FAMILY NESTICIDAE • CAVE COBWEB SPIDERS
FAMILY OCHYROCERATIDAE • MIDGET GROUND WEAVERS
FAMILY OECOBIIDAE • FLATMESH WEAVERS
FAMILY OONOPIDAE • GOBLIN SPIDERS
FAMILY OXYOPIDAE • LYNX SPIDERS
FAMILY PHILODROMIDAE • RUNNING CRAB SPIDERS
FAMILY PHOLCIDAE • CELLAR SPIDERS
FAMILY PIMOIDAE • LARGE HAMMOCKWEB SPIDERS
FAMILY PISAURIDAE • NURSERY WEB SPIDERS
FAMILY PLECTREURIDAE • SPURLIPPED SPIDERS
FAMILY PRODIDOMIDAE • PRODIDOMIDS
FAMILY SALTICIDAE • JUMPING SPIDERS
FAMILY SCYTODIDAE • SPITTING SPIDERS
FAMILY SEGESTRIIDAE • TUBEWEB SPIDERS
FAMILY SELENOPIDAE • FLATTIES
FAMILY SICARIIDAE • SIXEYED BROWN SPIDERS
FAMILY SPARASSIDAE • HUNTSMAN SPIDERS
FAMILY SYMPHYTOGNATHIDAE • DWARF ORBWEAVERS
FAMILY TELEMIDAE • LONGLEGGED CAVE SPIDERS
FAMILY TENGELLIDAE • TENGELLIDS
FAMILY TETRAGNATHIDAE • LONGJAWED ORBWEAVERS
FAMILY THERAPHOSIDAE • TARANTULAS
FAMILY THERIDIIDAE • COBWEB WEAVERS
FAMILY THERIDIOSOMATIDAE • RAY ORBWEAVERS
FAMILY THOMISIDAE • CRAB SPIDERS
FAMILY TITANOECIDAE • ROCK WEAVERS
FAMILY TRECHALEIDAE • LONGLEGGED WATER SPIDERS
FAMILY ULOBORIDAE • HACKLED ORBWEAVERS
FAMILY ZODARIIDAE • ZODARIIDS
FAMILY ZORIDAE • ZORIDS
FAMILY ZOROCRATIDAE • ZOROCRATIDS
FAMILY ZOROPSIDAE • ZOROPSIDS