Like most states in the United States, West Virginia is the home of numerous species of spiders. These spiders can live in forests, meadows or homes. While most of these spiders are not dangerous, it is important to identify the ones that are in case you are bitten.
There are three types of orbweaver spiders that live in West Virginia: the marbled orbweaver, the shamrock orbweaver and cyclosa conica. These spiders get their name from the spiral-shaped webs they weave. Marbled and shamrock orbweavers can grow to be quite big, while cylcosa conica do not get very large. According to Penn State University, marbled orbweavers have large orange abdomens that can be spotted brown. They live in trees, weeds and grasses. Meanwhile the shamrock orbweaver has a white or brown abdomen. It spins webs in shrubs. The smaller cyclosa conica is usually brown, and is most often found in forests.
Another common small spider in West Virginia is the wolf spider. These are often found in houses, spinning webs in doorways, windows and garages. These spiders are not poisonous but people often confuse them with the dangerous brown recluse spider; however, brown recluses have a shape like a violin on their heads. Wolf spiders grow to about 2 inches in length and are brown and gray. These spiders can bite, which can cause irritation, but they are not poisonous.
The infamous black widow can be found in West Virginia, particularly near the Ohio border. It is considered part of the group of cobweb weaver spiders. Like wolf spiders, they are often found in buildings, particularly in dark places such as cellars and sheds. They weave a distinctive web that appears like a tangle, unlike the precise weavings of the orbweavers. According to Ohio State, the black window is not an aggressive spider and it is more likely to run from human contact than bite. However, if you are bitten by a black widow, it can be serious and you will likely require medical attention. Black widow spiders are black with red markings.
