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- 1). Gauge the spider's size. If it's dead, you can measure it exactly; otherwise, estimate the length and width. Certain Arizona spiders are very large, at least on the invertebrate scale. Tarantulas, for example, may have 3-inch bodies with even longer legs. Other species are much smaller, like the 0.5-inch labyrinth spider. Giant crab and wolf spiders, which may be over 1 inch in body length, are other larger kinds.
- 2). Look at the shape of the spider. Tarantulas are burly spiders, with thick bodies and robust, segmented legs. The green lynx spider has thinner legs in proportion to its body and they are studded with spines; the abdomen is elongated, unlike the rotundity of the tarantula's. Defining the relative thickness of the spider's legs to its body, and coming up with a descriptor for the abdomen shape--like "oval-shaped," "circular" or "skinny"--are some of the most useful observations in this regard.
- 3). Consider the spider's color and pattern. The green lynx spider is a striking green hue. The female of the notorious black widow spider is glossy black with a crimson hourglass on the underside of her abdomen. Some of the more visible, active species, like the brown, giant crab or wolf spiders, are earth-toned, shaded gray or tawny. The wolf spider has a creamy stripe running along its head and thorax.
- 4). Define the spider's habitat--and its habits. Some of Arizona's species, like the tarantula, giant crab and wolf spiders, are active, roaming hunters, and they are apt to be seen skittering along the ground in vigorous search for prey. Other types, like the labyrinth spider and the funnel-web species, construct webs to ensnare their victims. The green lynx spider doesn't use a web, but is still an ambush hunter: It crouches amid flowers and folds of plants like the prickly-pear cactus, ready to leap upon unsuspecting prey.
- 5). Use a magnifying glass to get a closer look at a given spider--if it's not moving too fast. A field guide or other such reference, like one provided by a university extension service or an institution like the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, will also come in handy, especially if it includes visual aids.
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