Spider identification lol?

Question

Okay so im terrified of spiders and latley me and my mom have been finding these HUGE black and white spiders. I cant really find a picture that looks like them But they are maybe 1/2 an inch. big and fuzzy black withwhite spots. I live in Illinois and havent seen them anywhere else. Someoen please tell me what they are.

Answer 1

I think maybe your imagination is running a little wild.

1/2" is pretty big for most spiders, if you're talking about only the abdomen.  Also, if they are "fuzzy" and covered with hair, they probably don't live on a web.  I'm reasonably familiar with spiders, and I don't recognize that one.  It sounds like a beautiful animal to me.  I'd love to photograph it.

Answer 2

Taking a guess, a jumping spider of the genus Phidippus, probably audax.  That genus does get upwards of 5/8th of an inch.  I can't be sure without seeing the spider.

The bold jumper;

http://bugguide.net/node/view/2006

Fairly common in Illinois, I live near St. Louis on the east side of the river.

Answer 3

They are not black widow or brown recluse.  Therefore you need not be overly concerned about  a health risk.

And 1/2 inch spiders are common, that is not a large spider.  I see them all the time.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distributio...

Answer 4

Find your one here -

http://www.spideridentification.org/

http://www.badspiderbites.com/spider-ide...

http://www.aboutbugsbugsbugs.com/spiders...