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Harmless

Spotted orbweaver

Neoscona crucifera
Also called Hentz orbweaver, Hentz's orbweaver, barn spider (loosely), porch spider

Harmless: this round brown spider that builds big webs by porch lights at night rarely bites and is not seriously venomous.

Spotted orbweaver, photo 1
Photo: eb50, CC0, via iNaturalist
SizeFemales about 8.5–20 mm (1/3 to 3/4 inch); males about 4.5–15 mm (1/5 to 5/8 inch)
Where in the houseOutside near the house, windows and walls, garage
WhenMost noticeable late summer through fall, when adult females are large and leave webs up during the day.

Check these features

  1. Round, plump abdomen in reddish-brown to brown (occasionally pale or white in the North)
  2. Legs banded reddish-brown and pale yellow
  3. Often a double row of dark slash marks toward the rear of the abdomen
  4. Two white spots on the underside of the abdomen
  5. Big round web, up to about 2 feet across, strung from eaves or porch lights; spider sits in the center at night

Bites and stings

Rarely bites people; any bite is not known to cause serious effects. Wash the spot and get medical advice only if it spreads, looks infected, or you have signs of an allergic reaction.

What to do

  1. Leave it alone if the web is out of the way; it catches many night-flying insects.
  2. If the web is over a door or path, take it down with a broom in daylight when the spider is hiding, or move the spider with a container.
  3. Don't handle it with bare hands.

Look-alikes

Barn spider and other orbweaversSeveral brown orbweavers look nearly the same and build the same kind of web by night; all are low-risk, so exact ID isn't needed for safety.
Brown recluseA recluse is slim with a small oval abdomen, long plain tan legs and a violin mark, and never builds a round web, while the orbweaver is fat-bodied with banded legs and hangs in an orb web outdoors.
Wolf spiderWolf spiders have smaller abdomens and longer bodies, run on the ground and make no web; orbweavers sit in their webs and are clumsy off them.
Brown widowA brown widow is smaller, has an orange hourglass underneath, and hangs in a tangled web in sheltered corners, not a big round wheel-shaped web.

Why it came inside

It is an outdoor spider that builds webs on eaves, porches, decks and near outside lights because the lights attract insects at night; it may occasionally end up in an open garage or on a window frame.

Keep it out

  • Turn off porch lights when not needed, or use yellow-tinted bulbs that draw fewer insects.
  • Sweep webs from eaves and porch corners regularly during late summer and fall.
  • Trim shrubs and branches back from doorways and walkways.
  • Keep window screens in good repair and fit door sweeps so spiders don't move indoors.

What helps

Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always follow the product label.

Screen repair kit

Patches or replaces torn window and door screens, one of the most common ways insects get in.

See options on Amazon
Door sweep

Closes the gap under an exterior door. If you can see daylight under the door, bugs can get in.

See options on Amazon
Bug catcher

A long-handled catcher moves a spider or insect outside without you having to touch it.

See options on Amazon

Sources

  1. Mississippi State University Extension
  2. University of Florida IFAS (Featured Creatures / EDIS)
  3. UC Statewide IPM Program

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 2 sources. How we rate danger.