Bugs that look like spiders
A lot of insects and other arthropods get mistaken for spiders, even though they aren’t spiders at all. A quick identification guide can make things much easier when you’re trying to figure out what you’re looking at.
Bugs & Arthropods Commonly Mistaken for Spiders
Spider Beetles (Ptinidae family)
Why they look like spiders
- Round abdomen and long legs.
- Move in a “skittering” way similar to spiders.
How to tell the difference
- They have six legs, not eight.
- Antennae are visible.
Ant-Mimicking Spiders (Myrmarachne and others)
Why they look like spiders
- These are spiders, but they imitate ants so well that people often think they’re insects.
How to tell the difference
- Look for eight legs (front pair often held like antennae).
- Jumping-spider–like movements.
Ants (especially wingless queens or large workers)
Why they look like spiders
- Some species have large abdomens and long legs.
- Fast, erratic movement.
How to tell the difference
- Six legs.
- Narrow “waist” between thorax and abdomen.
Crane Flies (Tipulidae)
Why they look like spiders
- Long, spindly legs.
- People often see them on walls and confuse them with giant spiders.
How to tell the difference
- They have wings.
- Very delicate body.
Harvestmen / Daddy Longlegs (Opiliones)
Why they look like spiders
- Eight extremely long legs.
- Round body.
How to tell the difference
- They are not true spiders.
- Single fused body segment (spiders have two).
- No silk, no venom.
Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae)
Why they look like spiders
- Long legs and predatory stance.
- Some species have a spider-like silhouette.
How to tell the difference
- Six legs.
- Long, piercing mouthpart (rostrum).
House Centipedes
Why they look like spiders
- Many long legs.
- Fast movement.
How to tell the difference
- Way more than eight legs.
- Long antennae.
You may also like to know how to identify insects with long legs indoor : Insects with long legs indoor – arthropodinfo
Our learning resources
- Our Gumroad shop : https://arthropodinfo.gumroad.com/
- Dangerousness of arachnids ebook : https://arthropodinfo.gumroad.com/l/dangerousness-of-arachnids
