Photo by Jerry Kirkhart(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

22 of the spiders you might find in Michigan (and one you likely won't)

I have bad news for you if spiders freak you out: Michigan definitely has its share of the many-legged crawlers.

The good news? Only a couple really have the power to hurt you significantly.

Take a look at 22 of the spiders you might meet around the state. Plus, we'll chat about one scary spider that you likely will never encounter.

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Mad Max at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

American house spider

Species: Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Size: Between 4 and 9 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Indoors and outdoors, often near where humans live

Can they harm you?: These will only bite when attacked by a human, otherwise, it will likely run. Even if it does bite a human, only swelling and itching will occur.

Alternate name: Common house spider

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By D. Gordon E. Robertson (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Banded garden spider

Species: Argiope trifasciata

Size: Between 4 and 26 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In open fields and prairies

Can they harm you?: They will only bite a human if attacked but the result will be similar to a bee sting.

Fun fact: Males are much, much smaller than females

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(c) Michael Gabler / Wikimedia Commons, via Wikimedia Commons

Cross orb weaver

Species: Araneus diadematus

Size: Between 6 and 20 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Many places including yards, fields and farms

Can they harm you?: Not known to bite humans unless cornered. The resulting bite is similar to a mild bee sting.

Fun fact: These spiders can sometimes "balloon," meaning they ride the wind to higher locations. They can sometimes be found on the outside of skyscrapers.

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By D. Gordon E. Robertson (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Goldenrod crab spider

Species: Misumena vatia

Size: Up to 10 millimeters

Where can you find them?: These spiders love flowers and are often found hiding in goldenrods ... hence the name.

Can they harm you?: No.

Fun fact: These critters change colors from white to yellow and back again, in order to camouflage on different flowers.

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By D. Gordon E. Robertson (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Grass spider

Species: A variety of species under the genus Agelenopsis

Size: Between 6 and 19 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In grass and in the corners of buildings

Can they harm you?: No, and they will likely retreat if you approach.

Fun fact: They are very easily startled by any creatures except their prey.

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By User:Bartiebert (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Hacklemesh weaver

Species: Amaurobius ferox

Size: Between 8 and 15 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In dark places, near homes, under rocks and logs

Can they harm you?: Not known to bite

Fun fact: In addition to bugs and spiders, these creatures will munch on earthworms.

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By Ryan Hodnett (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Dark fishing spider

Species: Dolomedes tenebrosus

Size: Between 7 and 26 millimeters

Where can you find them?: You'll likely find this spider in the forest, hanging out on a tree.

Can they harm you?: It's unlikely they will bite but if they do, the bite is similar to a mild bee sting.

Fun fact: These spiders are preyed upon by certain wasps and other animals.

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By Dakota L. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Black and yellow garden spider

Species: Argiope aurantia

Size: Between 5 and 28 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In gardens (hence the name), fields and farms

Can they harm you?: They might bite you, if they feel attacked, but the bite is harmless to humans.

Alternate names: Writing spider, golden garden spider, corn spider

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Photo by Judy Gallagher (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Ant mimic spider

Species: Castianeira longipalpa

Size: Between 5 and 10 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In a variety of place near ground level, including under rocks, under logs and near fallen leaves

Can they harm you?: No.

Fun fact: These spiders exhibit many behaviors associated with carpenter ants, including raising front legs into the air to look much like an ant's antennae.

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By Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Six-spotted fishing spider

Species: Dolomedes triton

Size: Between 8 and 20 millimeters

Where can you find them?: This spider is found on the edges of all different varieties of bodies of water.

Can they harm you?: They will bite if threatened but the bites are not dangerous to humans.

Fun fact: These critters can stay underwater for 30 to 60 minutes at a time.

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(c) Hans Hillewaert / , via Wikimedia Commons

Woodlouse hunter

Species: Dysdera crocata

Size: Between 9 and 15 millimeters

Where can you find them?: This spider is predominantly found in gardens, forests and fields.

Can they harm you?: The worst that will likely happen if this spider bites you is a slight itchiness at the site of the bite.

Fun fact: The common name for this spider comes from its diet that consists almost exclusively of woodlice, also known as pill bugs.

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By Fyn Kynd from Searsmont, Maine, United States (Eastern Parson Spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus)) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Eastern parson spider

Species: Herphyllus ecclesiasticus

Size: Between 4 and 13 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Usually hiding underneath objects in wooded areas but might be spotted in the open or even indoors during nighttime hunting

Can they harm you?: They are considered harmless, though their bites might cause an allergic reaction in some humans.

Fun fact: These spiders are very fast and not often captured either literally or photographically.

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By Patrick Edwin Moran (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Carolina wolf spider

Species: Hogna carolinensis

Size: Between 18 and 35 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Typically found in dry areas

Can they harm you?: They are timid and will flee humans. However, if caught by a human this spider might bite, causing a similar reaction as a bee sting.

Fun fact: It's the official state spider of South Carolina.

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By Sam Droege from Beltsville, USA [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Orchard orbweaver

Species: Leucauge venusta

Size: Between 3.5 and 8 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In different habitats, including on trees in wooded areas and in moist environments

Can they harm you?: This spider is too small to have fangs large enough to deliver venom to a human.

Fun fact: This spider was named by Charles Darwin.

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By Thomas Shahan [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Arrowshaped micrathena

Species: Micrathena sagittata

Size: Between 4 and 10 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In the woods or on the edge of forests, living in foliage

Can they harm you?: If this spider does bite you, which is unlikely, the resulting bite will appear much like a mosquito bite.

Fun fact: This spider has three claws on the end of each leg.

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By Andre Karwath aka Aka (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Spitting spider

Species: Scytodes thoracica

Size: Between 3 and 6 millimeters

Where can you find them?: You will likely find them in or around buildings, especially in dark spaces.

Can they harm you?: No.

Fun fact: While spiders typically have eight eyes, these creatures only have six eyes.

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By sanja565658 (< >) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Barn funnel weaver

Species: Tegenaria domestica

Size: Between 3 and 6 millimeters

Where can you find them?: You will likely find them in or around buildings, especially in dark spaces.

Can they harm you?: They rarely bite humans and even if they do bite, it should cause zero pain.

Fun fact: They sometimes curl into a ball if they feel threatened.

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By Kaldari (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Zebra jumper

Species: Salticus scenicus

Size: Between 4 and 7 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In areas inhabited by humans, such as on buildings and fences

Can they harm you?: Another timid spider, their bite is rare and resembles an ant bite

Fun fact: They can tell when a human is watching and immediately change their behavior, basically showing off.

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By Shenrich91 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Southern black widow

Species: Latrodectus mactans

Size: Between 3 and 13 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Confined, protected spaces both near and far away from structures

Can they harm you?: While this spider is not aggressive, meaning a bite is rare, the venom is dangerous to humans. Healthy adults will likely avoid any potential for life-threatening reactions to the venom but will likely experience extreme muscle cramping and other effects. Anyone who has experienced a bite should seek medical attention immediately.

Fun fact: These spiders are preyed upon by certain wasps and other animals.

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By Marshal Hedin [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Northern black widow

Species: Latrodectus variolus

Size: Between 4 and 11 millimeters

Where can you find them?: In wooded areas and in tree stumps, mostly in the western Lower Peninsula, according to Michigan State University

Can they harm you?: Bites are rare but dangerous, because the venom is very poisonous. A very small percentage (less than 1 percent) of bite victims die. Others experience pain, nausea, cramps and profuse sweating.

Fun fact: They can be told apart from southern black widow spiders because the hourglass on the northern variety is detached in the middle.

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Stu's Images [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

False black widow

Species: Steatoda grossa

Size: Between 4 and 11 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Often they are found indoors near the ground

Can they harm you?: This is an extremely timid and non-aggressive spider. However, like many other species, they will bite humans if they feel threatened. Some blistering at the site of the bite is possible, according to the Penn State Department of Entomology, as well as pain and nausea.

Fun fact: In the 2002 film adaptation of "Spider-Man," this is the species of spider that bites Peter Parker.

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Mad Max at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Long-legged sac spider

Species: Cheiracanthium mildei

Size: Between 5 and 10 millimeters

Where can you find them?: Mostly found indoors, many times nocturnally crawling on walls and ceilings

Can they harm you?: If bitten by this spider, a mild irritation or itching is likely.

Fun fact: This spider is many times confused for the brown recluse.

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By mattb (Photographed by myself.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A note about the brown recluse

Let's be clear — you are unlikely to come across a brown recluse (species name Loxosceles reclusa) in Michigan. If you do, yes, they are dangerous.

These critters cannot live in temperatures under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which means Michigan is not the place for them. Once in a while, though, they are found in the state. For instance, a Davison family recently found some of these bad boys in their garage.

If you do believe you have been bitten by a brown recluse, seek medical attention immediately.

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Photo by Garret Ellison | MLive

If you like spiders ...

Perhaps I could interest you in some snakes.

Check out the 17 snakes you might meet in Michigan

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