I live in West Michigan and have found a few of these little guys in my house. This one is about the size of the tip of my pinky however I have seen a few outside that look just like this with the body alone the size of my thumb. Are they dangerous to humans?
Thanks in advance for your help
it looks like a type of jumping spider to me but someone who knows will be here soon.
Sure looks like a jumper to me also. The key to getting an accurate ID is to get a very close up detailed shot of both the top and belly sides with a size reference in the photo such as a ruler or coin. This isn't always easy, but if you have a large enough problem with a certain type of spider, it may be worth killing one gently, laying it out on white paper and macro photographing it if at all possible.
Based on your photo, I am leaning towards a jumping spider. Its easy to tell a jumping spider by its extremely rapid, spastic movements. They will spin completely around in a millisecond and typically, they will spin around to keep an eye on you when you move.
Not a spider guru, but I hope this helps you. When in doubt, kill one if you can and photograph it well and or show a professional.
Cheers,
Mac
This appears to be Phidippus audax, one of the commonest jumping spiders in the US. large specimens are capable of biting, but they are not dangerous to humans. For more information, see http://tinyurl.com/4lzkl
