Please help me identify what type of spider it was...?

Question

I saw a spider today, and killed it. It was about the size of a bumblebee, black, and hairy. It also had an hourglass shape on it's back. What was it?

In case it helps, it was in Northern Illinois.

I believe the hourglass was white. I know that it was NOT RED! My friend stabbed it before I could get a picture.

Answer 1

Another Murder of a helpless, defenseless, and HARMLESS spider. Learn what the couple of POSSIBLY harmful spiders look like and let the rest live.

Answer 2

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/islandcreekes/...

this is a possiblility. It is a jumping spider.

http://www.adamspestcontrol.com/pestid/p...

this is a gnaphosid spider

and this is a parson's spider.

http://entomology.unl.edu/images/spiders...

None of them are deadly.

Answer 3

It sounds like a jumping spider.  There are many different color patterns.  The legs held close to the body and the big eyes are defining characteristics.

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&k...