18 COMMON Spiders Found in Panama! (2023)
What kinds of spiders can you find in Panama?
Before we begin, I want you to know that the list below is just a fraction of the spider species found in Panama. Because of the sheer number of these arachnids, it would be impossible to cover them all. For example, some estimates claim there are over 50,000 kinds of spiders on the planet (and the list is still growing)!
With that being said, I did my best to develop a list of spiders that are MOST often seen, to help you identify what you’ve found.
18 common SPIDERS found in Panama!
#1. Green Lynx Spider
- Peucetia viridans
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are 22 mm (0.87 in) long. Males are 12 mm (0.47 in) long.
- As their name suggests, they are mostly green but can change to yellow depending on the season.
- Look for black dots and spikes covering their glass-like legs.
Green Lynx Spiders in Panama are adept at camouflaging among plants.
Instead of spinning webs, they use their silk to make egg sacs. These sacs can contain up to 600 vividly orange eggs. After about a month, spiderlings burst from the sacs out into the open. It’s quite a sight, to say the least!
You might see a mother Green Lynx hanging upside down from her egg sac, protective and alert. To defend themselves, females of this species have the astonishing ability to spray venom as far as 300 mm (12 in). That’s 25 times their own body length!
Despite being aggressive hunters, these spiders rarely bite humans. In addition, bites don’t cause serious damage, though they can be painful. Green Lynx Spiders hunt crop-damaging moths and other agricultural pests. However, they also prey on honeybees and some helpful insects.
#2. Sylvan Jumping Spider
- Colonus sylvanus
Also known as the Sylvana Spider.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are 8-10 mm (0.31-0.39 in). Males are 7-9 mm (0.28-0.35 in).
- Males are black with contrasting reds and yellows, while females are pale cream.
- You might see prominent white stripes running down their abdomens.
You’ll find these jumping spiders hiding among shrubs in Panama’s woodlands. Sometimes, they wander inside homes and buildings, searching for food. But don’t be alarmed! They are completely harmless and will likely flee if approached.
These spiders mainly feast on other spiders and even cannibalize members of their own species. To avoid becoming lunch, males will cautiously approach females in a zigzag motion when attempting to mate. If two males cross paths, they might fight each other until one escapes or gets eaten. However, they are solitary creatures, so these fights rarely happen.
Sylvan Jumping Spiders are patient and deadly hunters. Barely moving at first, they suddenly pounce on their prey with pinpoint accuracy. Impressively, they can pounce even when hanging upside-down as if defying gravity!
#3. Tropical Orbweaver
- Eriophora ravilla
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are 12-24 mm (0.47-0.94 in) long. Males are 9-13 mm (0.35-0.51 in) long.
- Their coloring is brown or gray with dark banding on their legs.
- Some specimens have a prominent lime-colored patch or a white stripe on their abdomens.
Have you ever seen a dried, curly leaf that looks like it was tied with silk? A Tropical Orbweaver likely used that leaf for refuge! This spider makes its home in the forests of Panama. It weaves webs large enough to span from tree to tree and occasionally hides in low-lying shrubs.
As night falls, these spiders start to build their webs, finishing them just before sunrise. When a moth or small insect lands on its web, the Tropical Orbweaver can feel the vibrations. Then, it will rush toward the trapped prey to deliver a fatal bite.
Bites of this species have a mild effect on humans, so don’t be afraid. Instead, Tropical Orbweavers are quite the little helpers. They like to hang out in fruit orchards, keeping the populations of pest insects in check. If bitten, the worst symptoms you can expect are minor pain and swelling.
#4. Arrowhead Orbweaver
- Verrucosa arenata
Also known as the Arrowhead Spider, Triangle Orb Weaver, and Triangulate Orb Weaver.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females grow to 7-14 mm (0.28-0.55 in) long. They have a yellow or white triangle marking on their abdomens.
- Males only reach 4-6 mm (0.16-0.24 in).
- Their coloring ranges from dark brown to rusty red.
- True to their name, they have pointed abdomens that resemble arrowheads.
Arrowhead Orbweavers aren’t picky with their habitats. Parks, gardens, and forests are all likely spots to find this spider in Panama. They’re most active in the late summer and early fall.
Unlike most orb weavers, Arrowhead Orbweavers sit on their webs with their abdomens pointing downward. Their webs are thin enough to be invisible and tightly woven. This way, the tiny flies and mosquitos that this species dines on are caught up efficiently.
Interestingly, the Arrowhead Orbweaver’s abdomen plays a huge role in its survival. White reflects ultraviolet light and heat so the spider can adapt better in hotter climates. Additionally, the yellow and white markings on their abdomens are a mechanism to lure in prey.
#5. Golden Jumping Spider
- Paraphidippus aurantius
Also known as the Emerald Jumping Spider and Emerald Jumper.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are 8-12 mm (0.31-0.47 in) long. Their coloring is green on the body with brownish-orange heads.
- Males are 7-10 mm (0.28-0.39 in) long. They are black with white patches.
- In both sexes, you might see white spots on their abdomens.
Golden Jumping Spiders in Panama hunt actively and pounce on their prey.
These spiders move with abrupt hops and can leap great distances with their springy legs. They are alert hunters with excellent vision.
You’ll find Golden Jumping Spiders in the countryside and suburbs, especially in wooded areas. They usually rest in crumpled leaves that they bundle with their silk. Sometimes, they wander into houses, but don’t worry! These non-venomous spiders will help rid your home of bugs.
Spiderlings hatch from round eggs, and they are the spitting image of their parents. Within a few days, these baby spiders will have to fend for themselves and live solitary lives. Golden Jumping Spiders feed on flies, crickets, ants, butterflies, and other small insects.
#6. Pretty Orbweaver
- Eriophora nephiloides
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are approximately 11-22 mm (0.43-0.87 in) long. The males are smaller, in fact, the smallest in the Eriophora genus.
- Their abdomens are bright yellow or yellow-green. The rest of their bodies are brownish orange.
- Females have black bands on their legs.
The Pretty Orbweaver is a beautiful but secretive spider living in Panama’s forests. Spiders in the orb-weaver genus like this one pose no danger to humans.
Although they aren’t strictly nocturnal, Pretty Orbweavers tend to hide when the sun is hottest, usually inside curled leaves. Then, when night falls, they return to spinning webs at least a meter (3.2 ft) above the forest floor. Then, they wait for unfortunate scarab beetles and moths to get trapped.
Orbweavers “mummify” their prey by wrapping them up before eating them. Once their meal is wrapped in silk, they inject it with venom that liquefies their meal; then, they eat the liquid. Interestingly, if the prey is large, the spider will throw silk to incapacitate it before getting close!
#7. Spot-legged Bromeliad Spider
- Cupiennius getazi
Also known as the Banana Spider and Wandering Spider.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are approximately 128 mm (5 in) long. Males are about 123 mm (4.8 in) long.
- They vary in color but are usually rusty brown. Rare specimens are vibrant orange.
- The undersides of their legs are white with black spots.
Look for Spot-legged Bromeliad Spiders in Panama around Bromeliad plants. They often get mistaken for Brazilian Wandering Spiders, but they are nowhere near as dangerous. At most, bites from these non-venomous creatures will only result in mild pain that disappears within an hour.
You’re likely to find Bromeliad Spiders in banana plantations. Sometimes, they get shipped together with the fruits by accident! They’re one of many species with the nickname “banana spider” because of their stowaway habits. 🙂
Spot-legged Bromeliad Spiders like to make tunnels out of long banana leaves, rolling them together with silk. The humidity inside their banana-leaf lairs keeps them from drying out, especially when the weather gets hot.
At night, Bromeliad Spiders go out to hunt cockroaches, crickets, moths, and even small frogs. In total darkness, they rely on vibrations to locate their prey. The cover of night helps them avoid day-active predators such as birds, spider-wasps, and some reptiles.
#8. Tropical Wandering Spiders
- Ctenus
Also known as Wandering Spiders.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are typically shades of brown and black to blend in among dead leaves and rocks.
- Some species have distinctive patterns on their abdomens, including stripes and T-shapes. In addition, their legs might have stripes or mottles.
The Ctenus genus contains 157 unique species of spiders. As their common name implies, Tropical Wandering Spiders favor the warm, moist conditions of tropical forests and woodlands.
Watch where you’re walking! These spiders in Panama don’t spin webs. Instead, they prefer prowling through the forest floor in search of food. Unfortunately, little is known about the toxicity of their bites, so treat any spider you encounter with caution.
Tropical Wandering Spiders are abundant in their habitats but also vulnerable. Birds, bigger spiders, and even colonies of ants regularly prey on them. Regrettably, this means only a very few of these creatures ever reach adulthood.
#9. Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider
- Cupiennius coccineus
Also known as the Wandering Spider.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults can grow up to 40 mm (2 in) long.
- They are typically brown or orange, with some individuals bearing dark stripes.
- Their legs are much longer than their bodies and covered with red hairs.
Have you ever been stung by a bee? That’s about how painful the bite of a Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider is. Fortunately, they are non-venomous. The worst symptoms you could get from these spiders are pain, minor swelling, and itchiness.
Red-thighed Bromeliad Spiders like to hang out in Panama in fruit orchards and often get shipped with the fruit. Take a second to imagine one of these spiders emerging from your bunch of bananas! They make their nests in Bromeliads and similar plants with long, broad leaves. These spiders use their silk to roll up the leaves and make humid tunnels to keep themselves from drying out.
Interestingly, the Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider’s courting ritual works a bit like a phone call! The female leaves a long line of silk lying about. When a male happens upon this thread, it will signal its interest in mating by sending vibrations across. Then, if the female responds favorably, the male climbs the thread towards her to begin mating.
#10. Arrow-shaped Orbweaver
- Micrathena sagittata
Also known as the Spiny Orbweaver and Arrowshaped Micrathena.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females reach only 9 mm (0.35 in) long. Males are even smaller at 5 mm (0.2 in).
- Females have distinctive abdomens which protrude backward into two points, forming an arrow shape.
- Their coloring is a mix of yellow, black, and red.
You’ll find these spiders in wooded areas of Panama.
It’s hard to miss the cartoonish body shapes of female Arrow-shaped Orbweavers. Their vibrant yellow color helps them lure in more prey.
As with other Orbweavers, their venom is harmless to humans but deadly to their prey. They spin tightly-spaced webs that are effective at catching small flying insects. If you find one in your garden, leave them be, and they’ll help you get rid of aphids, gnats, and other pests.
Arrow-shaped Orbweavers are equipped with spiky rears, so they are hard to eat, discouraging birds and other predators. They also have venom that helps digest their prey and slurp it up easily.
#11. Panama Blonde Tarantula
- Psalmopoeus pulcher
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 120-140 mm (5-6 in) long.
- They have pale blonde or tan hairs covering their legs and bodies.
- You may notice a dark patch at the bottom of their abdomen.
Keep your eyes up! This striking spider in Panama is arboreal, spending most of its life in trees. It usually leaps from branch to branch looking for food, though it sometimes crawls across the forest floor like other tarantulas. Incredibly agile and powerful, the Panama Blonde Tarantula can take down prey equal to its size.
The Panama Blonde Tarantula is a very unpredictable species. Some individuals are docile, while others are short-tempered. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they aren’t popular as pets, unlike other tarantulas.
You might feel a burning sensation if you’re unlucky enough to get bitten by a Panama Blonde Tarantula. That’s due to the venom’s toxins similar to capsaicin, a chemical found in hot peppers. Unfortunately, the venom is potent, so seek medical help immediately!
#12. Golden Silk Spider
- Trichonephila clavipes
Identifying Characteristics:
- They have reddish-brown and yellow coloring and a yellow oblong abdomen.
- Their legs are long, straight, and yellow, with black bands covered with hair.
- The head is small and grayish-white with black dots that look like a skull.
Golden Silk Spiders in Panama produce a truly amazing web.
First, the asymmetrical webs of golden-colored silk can be up to 2 m (6.5 ft) in diameter! These clever spiders often construct their webs above garbage, helping to attract insects. Unfortunately, Golden Silk Spiders must repair damage to their webs constantly because birds and large insects are always flying through them.
The silk of this species is also being tested in medical applications. For example, some studies have shown that a piece of silk can connect severed neurons, allowing them to heal properly after injuries. In addition, the silk doesn’t elicit an immune reaction from the body, which means it could be used to help people with paralysis or brain injuries. It sounds like science fiction, but it could be groundbreaking in the future!
#13. Gray Wall Jumping Spider
- Menemerus bivittatus
Identifying Characteristics:
- This species has a flattened torso and short, thick, grayish-white hair. Tufts of dark brown hair grow close to the eyes.
- The male has a brownish-white stripe on each side of the abdomen and a black dorsal stripe.
- The female has a larger abdomen and is typically lighter brown. In addition, her abdomen is rimmed with broad black stripes that come together at the end.
The Gray Wall Jumping Spider is native to Africa but has spread worldwide. It frequently appears on the exterior of buildings or tree trunks in gardens.
Instead of weaving a web around its prey, the Gray Wall Jumping spider stalks the prey before springing on it to attack. Their wide eyes and visual acuity allow them to focus easily on objects and distinguish between different colors. And, using their exceptional jumping ability, they can seize their prey in the blink of an eye.
Interestingly, male Gray Wall Jumping Spiders can produce sounds as part of courtship behavior. The hairs on their femurs and the teeth on the chelicerae (small claws on the front of the mouth) make clicking noises that attract females. These sounds are too low and quiet for humans to hear, but it isn’t hard to imagine the creepy noise!
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#14. Silver Garden Orbweaver
- Argiope argentata
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females average 12 mm (0.47 in) long, and males average 4 mm (0.15 in) long.
- They have a silver or white head and abdomen, and the back half of their abdomen is bumpy and dark colored with “windows” of white.
- Their underside is dark brown, their long legs have bands of orange, silver, white, black, or dark brown, and they have two sets of eyes.
Silver Garden Orb Weavers produce seven distinct types of silk. The silks have different compositions, each used for a different purpose when constructing the web.
These webs are incredibly important for the survival of the Silver Garden Orb Weaver because they help with nearly every aspect of their life. For example, they trap food in their web and detect it by feeling the vibration. In addition, the surface of the web collects droplets, which is their only water source.
These spiders will occasionally bite people in self-defense. However, Silver Garden Orb Weaver venom is not toxic to humans. Bites are typically less severe than a bee sting, with minor redness and swelling.
#15. Spinybacked Orbweaver Spider
- Gasteracantha cancriformis
Identifying Characteristics:
- Females are bright-colored and have a hard shell-like abdomen. They grow to 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in).
- Six spines stand out from their body.
- Males are much smaller and are not brightly colored. In addition, the spines are not as prominent.
- Also is known as Spiny-backed Orb-weaver, Spiny Orb-weaver, Thorn Spider, or Spiny Spider.
Many people don’t even realize these arachnids are spiders! Their hard body with spikes sticking out makes them unique for spiders living in Panama. Luckily, they aren’t dangerous to humans and will only bite out of self-defense.
Like most spiders, they make their webs at night. But here’s the interesting part, they have to make a new web EVERY day since they eat their web each morning.
Spinybacked Orbweaver Spider webs are constructed a little differently than other spiders. They actually add little silk balls to the web so larger insects and birds don’t run into or destroy it. These act as a warning to larger insects and birds to save the spider the work of repairing holes made by larger animals.
#16. Mabel Orchard Orbweaver
- Leucauge argyrobapta
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adult females range from 5.5-7.5 mm (0.21-0.30 in) long, while adult males range from 3.5-4.0 mm (0.13-0.16 in) long.
- Their coloring is silvery white on the abdomen, with a tan head, back, and greenish-black legs.
- Along with the overall silver color, these spiders often have bright green, yellow, and orange patches on their abdomens.
These relatively common spiders are also simply called orchard spiders. As their name implies, they’re commonly found in orchards, but they also live in shrubby meadows, wooded suburban areas, hedges, and houses.
Unlike many spiders in Panama, Mabel Orchard Orbweavers are social.
They even connect their webs if prey is plentiful in a small area. Webs are also frequently found near the webs of the Golden Silk Orb Weaver. Mabel Orchard Orbweavers likely use the yellow silk of the other species to save time and effort!
These spiders are mild, timid spiders and rarely bite. Bites are a last resort for defense and aren’t harmful to humans. A bite from a Mabel Orchard Orbweaver is usually milder than a bee sting.
#17. Pantropical Huntsman Spider
- Heteropoda venatoria
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 2.2-2.8 cm (0.86-1.1 in) long with a leg span of 7-12 cm (3-5 in).
- Females have larger bodies, and males have longer legs.
- Both sexes are brown with yellow or cream markings and distinct black spots on their legs.
The Pantropical Huntsman Spider is native to Asia but is a bit of a world traveler! They’re often called banana spiders because they hitch a ride in tropical fruit imports, making their way to other parts of the world. These fearsome-looking spiders thrive in areas with warm climates but are occasionally found in greenhouses and heated buildings in temperate climates.
Because of their need for warmth, Pantropical Huntsman Spiders slip into small cracks and crevices around homes, barns, and sheds. Luckily, they’re most active at night, so your chances of disturbing one are fairly low. Additionally, their venom is not dangerous to humans. However, they can deliver a painful bite that might swell and turn red.
As you may have guessed from their name, this species is an accomplished predator. Instead of trapping prey in webs, they rely on their speed and strength, grabbing prey with their jaws and injecting venom into it. In fact, people in many tropical countries like them because they feed on cockroaches and other pests.
#18. Amazon Thorn Spider
- Micrathena schreibersi
Identifying Characteristics:
- They have a black body, yellow or white abdomen, and orange, reddish, or black legs.
- Their abdomen has black spikes, and two large black-tipped, orange spikes protrude from the rear.
- Males are smaller and have shorter spines.
This species has my vote for the best-looking spider in Panama!
These fascinating spiders have long spikes and hardened abdomens, which help deter predators. In addition, although they aren’t venomous, they have bright coloring that makes them appear more dangerous, which is another adaptation to avoid being eaten!
Amazon Thorn Spiders in South America are most commonly found in tropical woodlands. They’re active during the day and retreat to the safety of their webs at night. Instead of actively hunting, this species waits in the safety of its web for prey to become trapped.
Check out these other guides about animals found in Panama!
Which of these spiders have you seen before in Panama?
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