Knowledgebase
Spider Identification #770767
Asked September 04, 2021, 11:50 PM EDT
Goodhue County Minnesota
Expert Response
The first is in the genus herpyllus and is likely an eastern Parson Spider, mainly found in the central U.S. https://extension.umn.edu/insect-relatives/spiders#hunting-spiders-%28do-not-build-webs%29-52361
We also referred your photos and questions to a taxonomist specializing in spiders at the University of Minnesota, and here is his response:
"The first one (full dorsal view) I think is the parson spider, Herpyllus ecclesiasticus. The markings are fairly distinctive.The other two photos are not good enough to venture an identification... There are very, very few spiders in Minnesota that would cause anyone concern. Only the brown recluse and the black widow will produce a somewhat harmful bite, but rarely. They are not native to Minnesota, although they can both arrive in shipments of various things."
So you need not be worried that the last two spiders are dangerous; I'm sorry we couldn't identify them for you.