8 of the Strangest Spiders in the World

Living in the Midwest, we are no strangers to spiders. They lurk in our basements and garages, and we’ve all walked through a web at least once in our lives. In Illinois, we are used to seeing spiders like wolf spiders, orb weavers, and cellar spiders, but if we look all around the world there are some absolutely bizarre-looking spiders to be found! If you are in the 5% of the population that is arachnophobic this might not be the article for you–but otherwise, read on for 8 of the strangest spiders in the world today.

Water Spider

Native to Europe and Asia, this spider is unique in that it is the only species that lives its entire life underwater. Females grow to about ⅓ of an inch long and males grow to ½ inch in body length. Found in ponds, shallow lakes, and small streams, it is also called the diving bell spider. Its diet consists mostly of tadpoles and fish hatchlings. 

Like all spiders, it has lungs and has developed a very interesting way of remaining underwater. It spins a web on the surface of the water and collects air bubbles to stash underneath using the tiny hairs all over its body. When it needs to breathe, the spider goes under its own web to breathe the collected air bubbles until it repeats the process at the water’s surface, usually about once a day.

Golden Silk Spider

Found in warm regions of Australia, Asia, Africa, and America, the golden silk spider gets its name from its yellowish silk which glows gold in the sunlight. Female spiders are almost 2 inches not counting legs, but males only grow to ⅕ of an inch, often looking like the female spider’s young offspring instead of her mate. These spiders are easily identified not just by their glowing webs (which they repair daily), but also their colorful lines and spots, as well as their long thin legs.

Bird Dung Spider

This odd-looking spider, found in Taiwan, Japan, China, South Korea, and Australia, has developed an exceptionally clever method of camouflage which is where it gets its name. Between their white webs, body color, shape, size, and smell, these spiders mimic bird droppings–and they do it well. As birds are their main predator, this is an exceptionally handy defense strategy, and their level of commitment is total. It also assists them in their hunting of moths, who mistake them for bird droppings, making their mimicry both an offensive and defensive tactic.

Ogre Faced Spider

Named for its large eyes that are reminiscent of mythological ogres–and which give it excellent night vision–this spider is found in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Its body is about one inch long, but with its legs extended it is about three inches long.  It attacks by building a small net out of silk, stretching its forelegs, and holding the net when prey is close. The ogre-faced spider then throws its web–and itself–onto its prey before devouring it. For this reason, it is also known as the fabric-throwing spider.

Mirror Spider

This spider, found in the Australian tropics and southeast Asia, is a tiny treasure. Also called the sequined spider, it only grows to be about .1 to .15 inches long–about the size of a grain of rice–but they make up in pizazz what they lack in size. Their patches are reflective scales that change in size based on how threatened the spider feels. Made of guanocytes, they are a digestive byproduct that allows the spider to change colors rapidly. It might seem odd that the spider would broadcast its location to predators, but the effect is opposite: it dazzles them with its disco-ball-like patches and the predator is confused by the scattered light, making the spider more difficult to see and eat.

Happy Face Spider

These smiling spiders are only found on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii, with each island’s spiders bearing slightly different markings and exhibiting varied shades of color. These spiders have bodies around .2 inches long, but their legs are much longer. They weave their webs and lay their eggs under leaves. Scientists believe that similarly to the black widow spider, its markings are for camouflage against predatory birds. Unfortunately, the happy face spider is currently endangered. 

Peacock Spider

This jumping spider from Australia is our pick for the prettiest spider on this list. With a body length of about .2 inches, what this spider lacks in size it makes up for in its excellent vision–it can see up to 8” away which is 40 times its body length! But its eyes are not its most eye-catching feature. Male peacock spiders have a colorful back flap that they display while also waving their arms in an elaborate mating ritual to entice females. However, even if they are successful, these spiders still run the chance of being eaten after mating. It’s a spider-eat-spider world out there!

Long-Horned Spider

Native to south Asia, this orb-weaver spider weaves spiral webs over 3 feet wide to trap its prey. But their large webs are not what lands them on this list. Their most bizarre feature by far is their 6 sharp spines on their abdomen, especially the two largest ones which project outward and upward, curving toward each other. These two long horns, the spider’s namesake, can be up to three times as long as its abdomen is wide! Scientists are not precisely sure why these sharp spines exist or why they are so large, but they are thought to be either a deterrent against tropical forest predators, an attractant for potential mates or possibly both.

The Weird and Wonderful World of Spiders

With around 1 million spiders per acre of land on earth and as many as 3 million per acre in the tropics, there are bound to be some that truly catch the eye. With over 40,000 different species of spiders found worldwide, we have probably only scratched the surface of the strangest spiders in the world. But if closer to home you find yourself bothered by spiders, click here to get a free quote for spider protection today from Proactive Pest Management!