BEFORE YOU POST:

This is a "No Nope Zone." Hackneyed jokes referencing fire, "nopes," or gratuitously killing spiders will be removed or downvoted to oblivion.

x-posts from r/WTF are not allowed. Posts referencing that subreddit will be deleted.

Include geographic location (country, state, province, region) with ID requests. There are tens of thousands of species -- this helps narrow it down.

There is no need to crosspost to /r/whatsthisbug - the same people identify spiders on both subreddits.

Do not post pictures of "bites" unless you personally witnessed the spider biting the person. If you're asking "Is this a spider bite?" the answer is almost certainly no. Pictures of random red bumps or yucky patches will be removed.

Photo tips: The most helpful views for identifying a spider include:

• a view from directly above

• the eyes

• a view from below

These are just tips -- if you didn't get a chance to get these, post what you've got! The spider sleuths will do their best.

Making IDs

Amateurs are encouraged to guess. An important exception is guesses about medically significant spiders (widows, recluses, etc). In those cases, leave it to people who know. Otherwise, an innocent person or spider could get hurt.

Is it dangerous?

The vast majority of spiders are harmless to humans. If you live in North America, there are only TWO types of spiders with the potential to cause serious harm:

• Brown recluse (a.k.a. fiddleback) - Loxosceles reclusa
  Note the limited range of the brown recluse.

• Black widow - Latrodectus sp.

Severe reactions are rare. A lot of spiders may look similar. If you aren't sure about your spider, please post and ask! By the way, science does not support that hobo spiders pose any threat.

Outside N. America, the following spiders have the potential to be medically significant (list may not be comprehensive):

• Wandering spiders of Central and South America (Phoneutria sp. and others)

• Recluses (Loxosceles sp.) in the Americas, Africa and the Mediterranean.

• Sicariids (found in southern Africa and South America)

• Australian funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus)

• Australian redback (Latrodectus hasselti)

• Mouse spider (Missulena sp.)

External links to spider ID resources:

Bugguide: Spiders of U.S. & Canada

Field Guide to Spiders of Australia

Spiders of Europe and Greenland

British Spiders

U.K. Safari Spider Guide

European Spiders

Arachnids of Southern Africa

araneae key

PBI World Spider Catalog

Eye arrangements

Male orbweavers

Other subreddits you might like:

• Tarantulas
• Spider Memes
• Arachnids
• Spider-Bro
• Adorable Invertebrates
• Isopods
• Beetles
• Entomology
• Insects
• Plants
• Nature
• Snakes
• What's this bug
• Any plant and animal ID requests
• Leeches, formerly Leechgang