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. 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 [1] to check our workshops schedule.  As well, we sell a Spiders of The Arboretum booklet - click here for details. [2]

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