Maryland has hundreds of spider species, but two questions come up more than any others: is that a brown recluse, and are there black widows here? The short answers are “almost certainly not” and “yes, but mostly outdoors.” Below are those two answers in detail, then the spiders you’re actually likely to find in a Maryland house and how to keep their numbers down.
Are There Brown Recluse Spiders in Maryland?
No, not as a breeding population. Maryland DNR says brown recluses are not native to Maryland or to any state that borders it. Now and then one does turn up. DNR says these strays ride in on packages and household goods from the Midwest and Southwest. The University of Maryland Extension puts it more bluntly: “This spider is not found in Maryland.”
So if you think you found a brown recluse in Maryland, it is almost always one of these:
- Wolf spider: hairy, striped, and fast. It runs across basement floors in the fall.
- Grass spider: brown with two dark stripes. It builds funnel webs in shrubs and window wells.
- Common house spider: small and mottled brown-gray, sitting in a tangled web in a corner.
A real brown recluse is plain tan with a dark violin shape on its back, no stripes or bands on its legs, and six eyes in three pairs (most spiders have eight). If what you found has striped legs or a patterned belly, it is not a recluse.
Our brown recluse vs. wolf spider guide walks through more differences with photos, including the eye pattern and how each one moves.
Maryland DNR notes that only 13 recluse species live in the U.S. and that brown recluses are not native to Maryland or any neighboring state. DNR’s backyard spider guide adds that only about 10% of brown recluse bites lead to tissue necrosis (dead skin around the bite), even in places where the spider is common.
Are There Black Widows in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland has two native black widows, the southern black widow and the northern black widow. It also has one introduced species, the brown widow, according to Maryland DNR. UMD Extension calls the black widow “common in Maryland but not often found indoors.”
How to spot one:
- Southern black widow: shiny black female, about half an inch long, with a full red hourglass under the belly.
- Northern black widow: the hourglass is broken into two red marks, and there is often a row of red spots on the back.
- Brown widow: tan to brown with banded legs and an orange hourglass. Its egg sacs look spiky, like a burr.
Widows like quiet, cluttered spots outside: wood piles, the underside of deck furniture, shed corners, meter boxes, and basement window wells. They hang upside down in a messy, tangled web. Wear gloves when you move firewood or reach into a window well.
Maryland DNR reports that black widows rarely bite people and that up to 15% of bites carry no venom at all. In one analysis of more than 20,000 widow bite cases, 65% were mild and only 1.4% were life-threatening. UMD Extension adds that a bite is more dangerous to children than to adults, so a widow near a play area or sandbox is worth dealing with.
The only other bite we hear about much in Maryland is from the yellow sac spider. It is a small, pale spider that wanders inside in the fall. Its bite usually means local pain and mild swelling. And the old story that cellar spiders (“daddy long-legs”) are deadly but can’t bite is just a myth. For the full list of yellow species, see our guide to yellow spiders in Maryland.
Common Spiders in Maryland Homes
Maryland DNR counts hundreds of spider species in the state, and the Maryland Biodiversity Project tracks them from coastal marshes to mountain forests. Most get into houses by accident, chasing insects or looking for shelter as it cools off.
Daren, one of our registered technicians, says the three he sees most on service calls are common house spiders, weavers (orb weavers and funnel weavers), and wolf spiders. Here’s how to tell the common ones apart. For more photos, see our spider identification guide.
Black Spiders in Maryland
- Black widows: glossy black with red markings (see above).
- Bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax): fuzzy and black with white spots and shiny green mouthparts. It hops instead of running.
- False black widow: rounded, dark purple-brown, and no red hourglass. Often confused with a real widow in basements and garages.
Brown Spiders in Maryland
- Wolf spiders, grass spiders, and fishing spiders are the big brown ones. None of them are recluses.
- Cellar spiders are pale brown with very long legs. They hang in loose webs in damp basements.
- House spiders are small and mottled brown-gray. Their tangled webs sit near windows and ceiling corners.
Maryland Spider Species Guide
Black Widow Spider
Maryland’s most medically important spider, covered in detail above. Females are shiny black, about half an inch long, and build messy webs in wood piles, shed corners, and basement window wells. Maryland DNR notes that the males are rarely seen and aren’t known to bite people. If you find females near play areas or where pets lie, call a pro.
Wolf Spider
Brown to gray hunters that range from 1/4 inch to over an inch long. Shine a flashlight across the lawn at night and their eyes glow back at you. Females carry egg sacs on their abdomens. They don’t build webs. They chase down prey on the ground.
Wolf spiders often run across basement floors in fall looking for winter shelter. UMD Extension says their bite is not dangerous. You’ll see them from about March through October.
House Spiders and Cellar Spiders
House spiders build tangled webs near windows and in corners. They’re small and mottled gray-brown. Cellar spiders have very long, thin legs and build webs in damp basements and crawl spaces. Both are harmless and rarely bite.
Jumping Spiders
Compact, fuzzy spiders with big front eyes and very good eyesight. They don’t build webs. They stalk prey on walls and window sills. The bold jumping spider is the black one with white spots you’ll see on sunny siding. Completely harmless.
Orb Weavers and Garden Spiders
The yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) builds huge orb webs up to 2 feet across with a zig-zag band down the middle. Females can have 2.5-inch leg spans. You’ll find them in gardens and on porches across Maryland. Harmless despite their size. For yellow and black-and-yellow spiders, our yellow spiders in Maryland guide has all six common species side by side.
Fishing Spiders: The Biggest Spiders in Maryland
Maryland DNR counts five fishing spider species in Maryland and says they can grow up to 3.5 inches long. That makes them the biggest spiders most Marylanders will ever see. The dark fishing spider is the one that ends up in basements, garages, and woodpiles, often far from water. Big, but harmless.
Joro Spider
The Joro spider is Maryland’s newest spider. University of Maryland entomologist Michael Raupp writes that the first two sightings in the state were reported from eastern Howard County in September 2022. Three years later there were about 40 sightings, with colonies around Ilchester and Elkridge. Females are big and yellow, blue-black, and red, and they build golden webs high in trees and on porches. DNR says they aren’t interested in biting people and have been seen eating brown marmorated stink bugs.
Where Spiders Hide
Here’s a look at some of the spiders you may find in and around Maryland homes.
Indoor hotspots: basement corners, crawl spaces, cluttered storage, and window areas.
Outdoor by region:
- Coastal plain: under deck furniture, around shoreline structures
- Piedmont suburbs: shrubs touching siding, porch lights, garden supports
- Western highlands: stone foundations, wood piles, leaf litter
Moisture problems attract the insects that spiders eat. Fix drainage, gutters, and damp basements to reduce spider numbers.
The webs themselves are worth a look before you knock them down. Daren, one of our registered technicians, has more than once solved an ant problem nobody could figure out by checking the spider webs around a house. When the webs are full of ants or swarmers, that points straight at where the real problem is. The spiders are there because the food is there.
Seasonal Patterns
- Spring (March-May): First wolf spiders and jumping spiders appear. Black widow mating begins.
- Summer: Peak web season. Garden spiders and orb weavers build their biggest webs.
- Fall (September-October): Most indoor spider sightings as males wander looking for mates. Yellow sac spiders move inside.
- Winter: Most species go dormant outdoors. Cellar and house spiders stay active in heated homes. Egg sacs overwinter in eaves.
Prevention
In my experience, the heaviest spider pressure is in wooded, damp neighborhoods. Mt. Vernon, just across the Potomac on the Virginia side, is where I’ve seen it most. Lots of trees and moisture mean lots of insects, and the webs build up fast in the eaves. The two-part approach we use is simple. First, we take down the existing webs with a long-handled web brush called a Webster. Then we apply a non-repellent treatment along the foundation, so spiders and the insects they eat pick it up as they cross it.
Daren adds one thing homeowners can do that matters more than anything we spray: cut the light. Lights left on outside, or inside lights shining out through windows at night, pull in every flying insect around, and the spiders follow. There’s no spray that clears spiders instantly. Controlling their food is what keeps the numbers down.
For step-by-step help, see our spider removal guide.
When to Call a Pro
Call a professional when black widows keep showing up near kids or pets, or when spider problems come back despite sealing and cleaning. This often points to moisture issues or entry points that need a pro’s eye, and it’s the situation professional spider control is built around: find the conditions first, then treat.
Our approach includes tri-annual visits (three times per year) to maintain exterior treatments and clear webs from eaves and porches. For homeowners in College Park and nearby areas, we tailor service to local spider patterns and seasonal activity.
If you need spider help, call us at 703-683-2000 or email info@bettertermite.com.
