10 Colorful Spiders: Natural Works of Art or Pests? You Decide

Tiny but showy, the male peacock spider (Maratus spp.) flashes a brightly colored abdomen to court mates, just like its bird namesake.

Found primarily in Australia, these jumping spiders grow just 0.2 in (5 mm) long but pack a punch of color. Their flamboyant displays, backed by rhythmic leg waving, resemble a dance floor showdown.

These large spiders spin golden-hued webs strong enough to snare birds. Native to warm regions worldwide, golden silk orb-weavers (Trichonephila spp.) feature long legs striped with yellow and black, plus a shimmering body.

The gold hue of their webs comes from the silk itself—not from a structural effect, but from yellow pigments (such as xanthurenic acid) in the silk.

Don't let these beautiful spiders fool you. Poecilotheria metallica, found in southeastern India, combines electric blue coloring with a potentially painful bite.

The vivid appearance—used for camouflage among tree bark—stands out in the tarantula world, where most other species tend to show more earth tones.

The goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) is a master of disguise.

Perched on bright yellow flowers like sunflowers or black-eyed Susans, it can shift its color to match the bloom. This lets it ambush unsuspecting insects that come looking for nectar, not a spider with a body length of up to 0.4 in (10 mm).

Once thought extinct in parts of Europe, the male ladybird spider (Eresus sandaliatus) rocks a red-and-black body that mimics a ladybug. Why? Probably to warn predators it may be venomous.

Though not aggressive toward humans, this spider's appearance sends a message: You'd better not eat me.

True to its name, the green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans) blends into leaves and flowers, making it a lethal hunter. It’s bright green with translucent legs, often tinged in red or yellow.

Found in the southern U.S. and parts of Central America, it doesn’t spin webs to catch prey; it pounces.

First described in 1841, the Brazilian jewel tarantula (Typhochlaena seladonia) sports an iridescent exoskeleton with flashes of blue, pink and gold.

This arboreal spider lives in tree hollows, where it lines the space with silk. Its small size and stunning appearance make it a collector favorite.

This rare tarantula (Lampropelma violaceopes) lives in East Asia and stuns with cobalt blue legs and a deep golden body. Despite its color, it tends to stay hidden in tree cavities.

While its venom isn't deadly to humans, its aggressive nature and large size—up to 9-in (23-cm) leg span—make it one to watch from a distance.

Native to Australia, the mirror spider (Thwaitesia spp.) looks like it’s wearing disco balls on its back. Its abdomen features silvery patches that expand or shrink depending on stress levels.

These reflective spots help it vanish in plain sight: Light bounces off, making it blend into the environment.

With a shape like a cartoon crab and a shell covered in spikes, the spiny orb-weaver (Gasteracantha spp.) doesn’t look like your average spider.

It comes in red, white, yellow and black, and builds its webs in gardens, forests and tree canopies. Its odd appearance is pure defense; predators see those spikes and look for lunch elsewhere.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.