Arachnida-Spiders and Scorpions
| Araenidae Araneus gemmoides Cat faced spider | These cat faced spiders are very visible in the fall. They are in the orb-weaver family. Colorado Insects of Interest Sheet-Cat-Faced Spiders |  Photo by Tami Mattics. |
| Solifugae Solpugid Windscorpion |  |
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| Theridiidae Lactrodectrus mactans Western Widow Spider | Western widow are common inhabitants of western Colorado. Colorado State University Fact Sheet-Western Widow Spider |  Photo by Tami Mattics |
| Thomisidae Crab spider | Crab spiders are common in western Colorado. They can be recognized by their long front 2 pair of legs. |  |
| Vaejovidae Paruroctonus boreus Northern scorpion | The northern scorpion is common in desert areas across western Colorado. This one was photographed on East Orchard Mesa near Grand Junction. |  |
| Dysdera Dysdera crocata Wood Louse Hunter “Roly-poly Hunter” | This smooth bodied spider is perhaps best distinguished by its large fangs which it uses to feed on pillbugs (roly-polies) and other hard-bodied prey. When full grown they are about .5 inch in length. Dysdera have a generally creamy gray body with distinctly reddish legs and cephalothorax. They live in a silk retreat and hunt at night. Their bite can be painful but they are not aggressive and their venom is not known to cause medical problems. Colorado Insects of Interest Fact Sheet-Roly-Poly Killer |  |
