Bugs and spiders in Alaska
Barn funnel weavers and rough sowbugs are the only two species listed as common in Alaska. The rest are occasional finds, such as zebra jumping spiders, long-bodied cellar spiders and European earwigs. Alaska's list is far shorter than any other state's, and nothing rated Get advice appears on it, not even a tick.
Common in Alaska
Established here or recorded often, most-recorded first.
What to watch for in Alaska
Nothing on Alaska's list is rated Get advice. The two Be-careful species people do run into here are the false black widow and the bed bug, and both are only occasional. The false black widow is found indoors year-round. Bed bug reports often rise after travel, a move or bringing home used furniture. Giant house spider records exist, but it is not known to live in Alaska. Anyone worried about a bite can call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Through the year
- Spring
- Rough sowbugs show up indoors in spring and after long wet spells, and zebra jumping spiders appear on warm, sunny days.
- Summer
- Barn funnel weaver males wander most from late spring through summer, and zebra jumping spiders are around until late summer.
- Fall
- European earwigs turn up from late summer, a few western conifer seed bugs may move in during September and October, and barn funnel weavers wander again.
- Winter
- Barn funnel weavers, long-bodied cellar spiders, false black widows, bed bugs and firebrats live indoors all year, so they are the ones still around.
Seen now and then
Recorded a few times; often brought in on plants, firewood or luggage.
Zebra jumping spiderHarmlessOccasional · 22 records
False black widowBe carefulOccasional · 10 records
Long-bodied cellar spiderHarmlessOccasional · 7 records
Bed bugBe carefulOccasional · 5 records
European earwigHarmlessOccasional · 5 records
Western conifer seed bugHarmlessOccasional · 5 records
FirebratHarmlessOccasional · 3 recordsRecorded, not established
Range maps don't place these here, but people have recorded them. Usually hitchhikers.
Lists come from research-grade iNaturalist sightings (Alaska: 47,600 arthropod records) and, for dangerous species, published range maps. A species with few records may be a hitchhiker. Counts pulled Oct 18, 2026.