Arboretum Spiders

dew on spider web

Spiders are a group of invertebrates that we all recognise but most of us don't really know a lot about them. They are incredibly diverse in their shape and hunting strategies and many have gorgeous colours and patterns.

Black-and-yellow Garden Spider
Black-and-yellow Garden Spider. Photo by Chris Earley

The Arboretum list has 159 species on it so far. Most of these sightings were made by Dr. Gergin (Gerry) Blagoev, a research associate from the University of Guelph's Biodiversity Institute of Ontario. Thanks, Gerry! Thanks also to John Reaume, Dan Schneider and Candice Talbot for their records. A full list can be found below.  We often offer a spider workshop - click here to check our workshops schedule.  As well, we sell a Spiders of The Arboretum booklet - click here for details.

Sixspotted Fishing Spider.  Photo by John Reaume.

Hoy's Jumper. Photo by John Reaume.

Spiders of The University of Guelph Arboretum

Araneae - [24 families]

Family Agelenidae (Funnel Weavers)

  • Agelenopsis potteri
  • Agelenopsis utahana
  • Coras aerialis
  • Coras juvenilis
  • Coras lamellosus
  • Eratigena agrestis - Hobo Spider
  • Wadotes calcaratus

Family Anyphaenidae (Ghost Spiders)

  • Anyphaena celer
  • Anyphaena pectorosa
  • Hibana gracilis - Garden Ghost Spider 
  • Wulfila saltabundus - Foliage Spider

Family Araneidae (Orbweavers)

  • Acanthepeira stellata - Starbellied Orbweaver
  • Araneus diadematus - Cross Orbweaver
  • Araneus saevus
  • Araneus thaddeus - Lattice Orbweaver
  • Araneus trifolium - Shamrock Orbweaver
  • Araniella displicata - Sixspotted Orbweaver
  • Argiope aurantia - Black-and-yellow Garden Spider
  • Argiope trifasciata - Banded Garden Spider
  • Cyclosa conica - Conical Trashline Orbweaver
  • Cyclosa turbinata - Humped Trrashline Orbweaver
  • Eustala anastera - Humpbacked Orbweaver
  • Eustala rosea
  • Hypsosinga pygmaea - Pygmy Orbweaver
  • Hypsosinga rubens
  • Mangora gibberosa - Lined Orbweaver
  • Mangora placida - Tuftlegged Orbweaver
  • Mastophora hutchinsoni - Cornfield Bolas Spider
  • Neoscona arabesca - Arabesque Orbweaver

Family Clubionidae (Sac Spiders)

  • Clubiona abboti - Stout Sac Spider
  • Clubiona johnsoni
  • Clubiona obesa
  • Clubiona pygmaea

Family Corinnidae (Antmimic Spiders)

  • Castianeira gertschi - Antmimic Spider sp

Family Dictynidae - (Meshweavers)

  • Dictyna coloradensis
  • Dictyna volucripes
  • Emblyna manitoba
  • Lathys sp. 1GAB

Family Eutichuridae (Yellow Sac Spiders)

  • Cheiracanthium mildei - Northern Yellow Sac Spider

Family Gnaphosidae (Stealthy Ground Spiders)

  • Drassyllus depressus
  • Herpyllus eccesiasticus - Parson Spider
  • Micaria pulicaria
  • Zelotes fratris
  • Zelotes hentzi
  • Zelotes sp.

Family Hahniidae (Dwarf Sheet Spiders)

  • Cicurina brevis
  • Cicurina pallida
  • Cicurina sp. 1GAB

Family Linyphiidae (Dwarf and Sheetweb Weavers)

  • Agyneta fabra
  • Agyneta serrata
  • Agyneta sp.
  • Allomengea dentisetis
  • Baryphyma gowerense
  • Baryphyma trifrons affine
  • Centromerus sylvaticus
  • Ceraticelus emertoni
  • Ceraticelus fissiceps
  • Ceratinella brunnea
  • Diplostyla concolor
  • Erigone atra
  • Erigone autumnalis
  • Frontinella communis - Bowl and Doily Spider
  • Gnathonaroides pedalis
  • Grammonota angusta
  • Grammonota gigas
  • Grammonota ornata
  • Grammonota pictilis
  • Hypselistes florens - Splendid Dwarf Spider
  • Hypselistes semiflavus
  • Meioneta serrata
  • Mermessus tridentatus
  • Mermessus trilobatus
  • Neriene montana
  • Neriene radiata - Filmy Dome Spider
  • Pocadicnemis sp. 2GAB
  • Scironis tarsalis
  • Tenuiphantes zebra
  • Walckenaeria atrotibialis
  • Walckenaeria communis
  • Walckenaeria subspiralis

Family Liocranidae (Spinylegged Sac Spiders)

  • Agroeca ornata

Family Lycosidae (Wolf Spiders)

  • Pardosa distincta
  • Pardosa milvina
  • Pardosa moesta
  • Pardosa saxatilis
  • Piratulla cantralli
  • Schizocosa crassipalpata
  • Trebacosa marxi
  • Trochosa terricola - Ground Wolf Spider

Family Mimetidae (Pirate Spiders)

  • Ero canionis
  • Mimetus notius
  • Mimetus puritans

Family Philodromidae (Running Crab Spiders)

  • Ebo iviei
  • Philodromus cespitum - Turf Running-spider
  • Philodromus imbecillus
  • Philodromus peninsulanus
  • Philodromus rufus vibrans
  • Philodromus vulgaris
  • Thanatus formicinus - Diamond Spider
  • Tibellus maritimus
  • Tibellus oblongus - Slender Running Crab Spider

Family Pholcidae (Longbodied Cellar Spiders)

  • Pholcus phalangioides - Longbodied Cellar Spider

Family Phrurolithidae (Dwarf Antmimic Spiders)

  • Phrurotimpus alarius
  • Phrurotimpus borealis
  • Scotinella minnetonka

Family Pisauridae (Nursery Web Spiders and Fishing Spiders)

  • Dolomedes triton - Sixspotted Fishing Spider
  • Dolomedes tenebrosus - Dark Fishing Spider
  • Pisaurina brevipes - Nursery Web Spider

Family Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)

  • Admestina wheeleri
  • Eris militaris - Bronze Jumper
  • Eris rufa
  • Evarcha hoyi - Hoy's Jumper
  • Habronattus decorus
  • Hentzia mitrata - Whitejawed Jumper
  • Marpissa formosa
  • Naphyrs pulex - Flea Jumper
  • Pelegrina flaviceps
  • Pelegrina flavipes
  • Pelegrina galathea - Peppered Jumper
  • Pelegrina insignis
  • Pelegrina proterva - Reckless Jumper
  • Phidippus audax - Bold Jumper
  • Phidippus clarus - Brilliant Jumper
  • Platycryptus undatus - Tan or Familiar Jumper
  • Salticus scenicus - Zebra Jumper
  • Sitticus fascigar - Mottled Jumper
  • Sitticus floricola palustris 
  • Talavera minuta
  • Tutelina harti
  • Tutelina similis

Family Tetragnathidae (Longjawed Orbweavers)

  • Glenognatha foxi
  • Leucauge venusta - Orchard Orbweaver
  • Meta ovalis - Cave Orbweaver
  • Pachygnatha autumnalis - Thickjawed Orbweaver
  • Pachygnatha dorothea
  • Pachygnatha tristriata
  • Tetragnatha laboriosa - Silver Longjawed Orbweaver
  • Tetragnatha shoshone
  • Tetragnatha straminea
  • Tetragnatha versicolor

Family Theridiidae (Cobweb Weavers)

  • Enoplognatha intrepida
  • Enoplognatha ovata - Candy Stripe Spider
  • Euryopis funebris - Ant-eating Spider
  • Neospintharus trigonum - Dewdrop Spider
  • Neottiura bimaculata
  • Parasteatoda tepidariorum - Common House Spider
  • Steatoda triangulosa - Triangulate Cobweb Weaver
  • Theridion frondeum - Leafy Cobweb Weaver
  • Theridion murarium
  • Thymoites unimaculatus
  • Wamba crispulus
  • Yunohamella lyrica - Adolescent Common House Spider

Family Theridiosomatidae (Ray Orbweavers)

  • Theridiosoma gemmosum - Ray Orbweaver

Family Thomisidae (Crab Spiders)

  • Bassaniana utahensis
  • Mecaphesa asperata - Northern Crab Spider
  • Misumena vatia - Goldenrod Crab Spider
  • Ozyptila praticola
  • Tmarus angulatus - Angled Crab Spider
  • Xysticus alboniger
  • Xysticus discursans
  • Xysticus emertoni
  • Xysticus luctans
  • Xysticus punctatus
  • Xysticus sp. 3GAB

Family Trachelidae (Ground Sac Spiders)

  • Trachelas tranquillus - Bullheaded Sac Spider

Family Uloboridae (Hackled Orbweavers)

  • Uloborus glomosus - Featherlegged Orbweaver

TOTAL: 162 species