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Parson Spider

Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

Spider or relative · family Gnaphosidae · order Araneae

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
5 states[3]

The Parson Spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) is a spider in the family Gnaphosidae, order Araneae[4]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide[2].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Parson Spider a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The US Fish and Wildlife Service data show it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. All five states with a NatureServe rank list it as SNR, which means the state has not ranked it yet[5]. NatureServe also uses the name Parson Ground Spider[6].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)

Where Parson Spider lives

NatureServe lists the Parson Spider as native in 5 US states and territories: Indiana, Montana, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming[3]. People have reported it on GBIF most often in New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia and Illinois[7]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many spiders live there[7].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank SNRMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank SNRWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: native, state rank SNRINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: native, state rank SNRWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank SNRSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[5].
Show state ranks (5 states)
StateRankMeaning
IndianaSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaSNRNot Ranked
West VirginiaSNRNot Ranked
WyomingSNRNot Ranked

When to look for it

Reports of the Parson Spider on GBIF are highest in June, July and August[8]. Records are fewest in the winter months and rise through spring[8]. These records show when people look and report, not how many spiders there are[8].

January: 235 recordsJanFebruary: 272 recordsFebMarch: 472 recordsMarApril: 832 recordsAprMay: 1,364 recordsMayJune: 1,682 recordsJunJuly: 1,971 recordsJulAugust: 1,825 recordsAugSeptember: 1,281 recordsSepOctober: 536 recordsOctNovember: 286 recordsNovDecember: 204 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[8].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January235
February272
March472
April832
May1,364
June1,682
July1,971
August1,825
September1,281
October536
November286
December204

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois[7]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Parson Spider endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Parson Spider live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Indiana, Montana, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming[3]. GBIF has the most reports from New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia and Illinois[7].
When can you see a Parson Spider?
Reports on GBIF peak in June, July and August[8]. That shows when people look and report, not how many spiders there are[8].

Facts and sources

  1. Parson Spider is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Parson Spider: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Parson Spider as native in 5 US states and territories: Indiana, Montana, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Parson Spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) is a spider or relative in the family Gnaphosidae, order Araneae. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe state ranks for Parson Spider (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  6. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Parson Spider: Parson Ground Spider. NatureServe Explorer
  7. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Parson Spider: New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  8. GBIF observation records of Parson Spider in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.