How to Identify a Spitting Spider

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 24, 2023 Approved

Spitting spiders are named for their cool way of catching prey: spraying the prey with a venomous glue, or “spit.” Spitting spiders are found all over the world, from North America to Australia. If you’re trying to identify a spitting spider, you should keep an eye out for their characteristic body shape, patterning, and spitting, of course! Knowing where to find these critters can help identify them, too.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Looking for Characteristic Traits

1
Examine body color and patterning. Look for a light, creamy brown body with dark brown speckles.^{[1]
X
Research source} On the cephalothorax, or front segment of the body, you should see a dark brown pattern that looks a bit like a lyre, which is a type of stringed instrument.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Don’t worry if you’re not sure what a lyre is. Look it up online to get a better idea of the spitting spider patterning.
2
Assess body size. Adult female spitting spiders have a body length of about four to six mm, not counting their legs. Adult males have bodies that are three to five mm long.^{[3]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Check for skinny, spineless legs. Spitting spiders have skinny, pale legs without any obvious spines. Their legs have dark brown or black bands.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- The tips of the legs have three tiny claws, called tarsi. If you can get close enough, check for these.
- The spitting spider’s legs are so long and gangly that it sometimes looks like it’s walking on stilts!^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
4
Look for three pairs of eyes. Spitting spiders have three pairs of eyes, for a total of six eyes. Two pairs are arranged across from each other, and the other pair is placed between them and a little lower on the spider's face.^{[6]
X
Research source}
5
Keep an eye out for a dome-shaped cephalothorax. The segment closest to the head, known as the cephalothorax, is narrowest near the head and slopes upwards towards the back, creating a dome-like shape.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- The two body segments, known as the cephalothorax and the abdomen, pretty close in size. The cephalothorax is usually a little bigger.
- Here’s a fun fact: the cephalothorax is where the spitting spider stores its trademark “spit”!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Observing Spitting Spider Behavior

1
Look for spitting on prey. Spitting spiders catch their prey by trapping them with their gluey, venomous “spit,” which they expel from their fangs. They cover their prey in overlapping bands of spit to pin the insect to the ground.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- The spitting spider bobs its head from side to side as it spits.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
2
Observe the spider wrap its prey in silk. Spitting spider “spit” paralyzes an insect. Once it has sprayed the prey, the spitting spider will hold the prey in its third legs and wrap it up in silk, like a tiny mummy. Then, it’s time to feast!^{[10]
X
Research source}
- The spitting spider will consume its meal on the spot, rather than taking the prey back to its lair like other types of spiders.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
3
Watch for their characteristic walk. Spitting spiders are pretty blind, so they’ll often walk with their front legs held up so they can sense their environment. Their front legs have lots of sensory receptors called setae, which allow them to “see” what’s around them. Pretty cool, right?^{[12]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Knowing Where to Find Spitting Spiders

1
Learn the regions where spitting spiders are found. Spitting spiders are found all over the place! They’ve been seen in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, but they may be found in other places, too.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Check out this website for a list of US states and Canadian provinces where you can find the spitting spider: http://www.spiders.us/species/scytodes-thoracica/.
- Spitting spiders are unique little guys because they don’t build webs! However, they might put down a little silk around their daytime hangout.
2
Look for spitting spiders in buildings. Spitting spiders usually live in and around homes and other buildings. They love cool, dark places, so check basements, closets, and dark corners.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Sometimes, spitting spiders will hang out under rocks or leaves near homes, too.
- Spitting spiders are also found in temperate forests.^{[15]
  X
  Research source}
3
Know the best time of day and year to find them. Spitting spiders are most often seen in the summer and fall--this is when they lay eggs and mate. They’re nocturnal, so nighttime is the best time for sightings.^{[16]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

Will I feel if the spit of a spitting spider got on me?

Community Answer

It depends on the spit. If the spit is weak, it would feel like a drop of water; if it's strong, it may feel like a fire-ant bite.
Question

What does their web typically look like?

Makkelly

Community Answer

It looks like thread spun in a unique pattern.
Question

What predators do spiders have?

Community Answer

Essentially, anything bigger than a spider is a predator.

Warnings

It isn’t advisable to kill a spitting spider in your home because they consume prey, such as flies and mosquitoes, that are bothersome. The spitting spider is not poisonous and cannot bite you.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 20 Not Helpful 3