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The state of New Jersey provides habitat for numerous spider species. The most frequently encountered spider species in New Jersey are American Grass spiders, Hackle-mesh Weavers, Yellow Garden spiders, Parson spiders, Cross Orb Weaver, Wolf spiders, Cellar spiders, Jumping spiders, Common House spiders, Brown Recluse spiders, and Black widows. Every spider species has its own characteristics and homeowners need to understand their differences.

11 Common Spiders in New Jersey

Which Common Spiders Bite?

Are you afraid of spiders? Does the very sight of them make your spine tingle as cold chills run up and down your back? Perhaps your hair might even stand on end when one is in the room, but did you know that your spider fears could be genetically linked? Research has proven that you might be so against spiders due to a trauma that occurred in childhood or from your genetic makeup. Whether you like them or not, living in New Jersey means that you’ll, no doubt, encounter a few. Oddly enough, many people call these common spiders insects or bugs, which is incorrect.

They’re actually an arachnid because they have eight jointed legs and two distinct body parts. Another shocking fact is that they’re relatives of the crayfish, which means they’re related to the lobster too. So, they’re no ordinary bug that lingers in your home.

Many people overlook the importance of spiders. Spiders are predators of insects such as mosquitoes, moths, earwigs, cockroaches, and flies. The spider occupying your window is helping you enjoy your porch as it takes care of the other insects around you.

The good thing is that they capture something that can drive you crazy while trying to enjoy the great outdoors. However, not all spiders are created equal, and you must educate yourself.

Common Spiders Found In New Jersey

An innocent orb-weaver doesn’t hold the power to paralyze you like the black widow or the brown recluse. Still, people kill spiders unnecessarily, so you must know which ones need to go and which ones are safe to have around.

While any infestation of a spider is cause for concern, there’s no need to kill those living in their natural habitat, not bothering a soul. Here are the 11 most common spiders we find in the Garden State.

American Grass Spiders

You’ve probably encountered the American grass spider dozens of times but never knew the proper name. They’re of the larger size, with their bodies getting up to 20 mm. You’ll notice them instantly due to their bizarre arrangement of eyes. These common spiders have eight eyes altogether, and these peepers are categorized into three distinct rows. The first row of eyes has two, the middle section of eyes has four, and on the bottom tier, they have another two. These spiders are primarily brown with a darker pair of bands that run longitude on their eight legs. However, you might see some color variations of yellowish-brown in the mix. They have two spinnerets they use to make their webs, and they’re pretty prominent in their rear section. The bands on their legs also are pretty visible, making them easier to identify. If they should bite you, the venom they release won’t be toxic to humans. However, their prey is paralyzed with one puncture, and they succumb to their web of torture.

Hackle-mesh Weavers

The hackle-mesh weaver is a common spider that won’t typically come into the home, as they prefer to be outside in a woodpile or under leaf litter. You may even spot them if you lift a stone in your yard. These are woodland creatures, and they love the dark and damp conditions they find outside. Hecklemesh Weavers can make their way into your home through your cellar or basement during the moist fall and winter months. These spiders show no aggression toward humans and lack venom. The negative attention these spiders receive is because they look similar to the brown recluse. The dark ‘violin’ silhouette they have on their bodies is the difference. You won’t wonder or awe at the webs they design, as they often lack symmetry and intrigue.

You can identify this arachnid by its color, any variations of red to brown, and the hair covering its body. The average size of these spiders is 6mm to 11mm, and they’re known for their large, bubbled hind side.

Yellow Garden Spider

Yellow Garden Spiders

Sometimes called the banana spider, these yellow garden arachnids are fascinating. They’re quite large, getting up to one inch in size. The female is always more prominent than the males, sometimes by three times. These creatures are master web weavers, and their circular web is done to perfection. This is because they have a claw on each foot that helps them to make these tricky designs. While you’ll notice the bright yellow on them, the spider’s base is reddish-brown to black. The female is more colorful than the male, but both are pretty striking. Though the yellow garden spider does produce venom, it won’t harm you. However, they use it to help capture their prey.

By their sheer size, they can eat bees as well as all the other common insects. An amazing fact about this spider is that they create a zigzag pattern throughout their webs to ensure birds see it.

They want larger animals to see and avoid this area where they’ve worked so hard. If this spider gets bored or wants to change the decoration, they may eat the web and spend the entire night re-spinning another one with a different design.

Parson Spiders

The parson spider is a ground hunter and common spider that makes webs to capture its prey on the ground. They like to come out at night when they can be least noticeable, and they hide under stones, boards, and leaves to do their hunting. They will come into your home during the fall months seeking shelter from the elements, but otherwise, you shouldn’t see them inside much. The presence of this spider is so vast that it’s become an epidemic in the northern part of the country and Canada. They get their name from the bizarre abdominal markings, which are said to resemble an old-fashioned clerical collar worn back in the 18th century. They’re actually two spiders in one, as there are the Eastern and Western Parson Spiders, which many don’t differentiate. You probably won’t tangle with one of these spiders as they come out at night, but if you do, their bite will be painful but harmless. You can identify them by their larger size, up to a half-inch, and their dark brown or black color with the white collar-like shape on the back. They have hair on them, which makes them a hairy spider that looks more ominous.

Cross Orb Weaver

Another member of the orb family is the cross-orb weaver. Their legs are quite powerful and able to help them spin beautiful webs with ease. Females are the larger of the species, and they can get up to 20 mm in length. Males only get up to about 13 mm. The colors are quite vast as they can be anywhere from yellow to gray. One of the most common things to help you identify this arachnid is the cross mark that appears on the dorsal abdomen. These are other fascinating spiders, as they create silky webs that are vast and complex in design. Scientists have found webs that get up to 40 cm, which is substantial for such a small creature. The cross orb can bite you, but it won’t be dangerous.

However, it won’t be a pleasant experience. Due to their larger size, they can pack a powerful punch should you tussle.

Wolf Spider

Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders are common spiders in New Jersey, and you might notice one by the eggs they carry on their back. These arachnids are known for having excellent eyesight due to the eight eyes they possess. You won’t miss this one, as they can grow to a massive two inches in length. They get their name from the wolf in the wild, as they’re pretty hairy. You will find color variations of brown to gray, but the most distinctive feature of them is the Union Jack mark on the back. They don’t spin webs as they hunt on the ground, but you may not notice them since they can camouflage their body color. They can pounce on their prey, so they’re quite aggressive. However, they won’t bother you. Should you encounter them, their bite may sting, but it won’t cause any issues.

Long Bodied Cellar Spiders

While the technical name is long-bodied cellar spiders or pholcus phalangioides, people around this area call them Daddy Long Legs. Though this spider does have fangs, it will not bite or harm you in any way. You may see them in a garage, cave, warehouse, or cellar, but they like dark and quiet places to hang out. While they spin webs, they can tackle their prey with their long legs on the ground. The females will grow to about 10 mm in length, but their legs will be 5–6 times larger. It’s easy to identify this arachnid with the legs, but their bodies are brown or black. Should they get hungry and no food is in sight, they will turn to cannibalism to feed.

Bold Jumping Spiders

The bold jumping spiders have an innate ability to jump. The beautiful coloring of their body stands out and gets significant recognition. Though they don’t make webs, they prefer to hunt on the ground. They will pounce on their dinner to ensure they feast. Once they find something to eat, they will cast a thread when they go to pounce, as this ensures if they miss it, that thread will capture it. The female is larger than the male, and she gets up to 1.4 cm in length. Though they’re primarily black, they will have a white patch that’s mingled with some metallic shades of either blue or green in the mix. These spiders will bite, and it will hurt, but it’s not poisonous.

Common House Spiders

Many species fit into the category of common house spiders, but most of them get no more significant than the size of a nickel. These are non-venomous arachnoids, but they can be pretty scary to encounter. Their color ranges from brown, tan, and grayish with or without distinct markings. If you believe that you have a spider infestation, it’s always best to have a professional inspection done to make sure they’re not poisonous.

Dangerous Common Spiders

Brown Recluse Spiders

One of the most feared common spiders of all is the brown recluse. Though they’re often confused with other spiders, their body is quite ominous. Instead of eight eyes, brown recluse spiders have six. They are also predatory and will attack you. Their bite is powerful, and the venom they infect you with can eat away at your tissue. The recluse is a light to dark brown color on the body. Their legs are covered in fine hairs, but their abdomen is smoother. On their back is a dark violin or fiddle mark, which makes it easy to identify. They are found in attics, basements, and behind baseboards, and they can go for months without food or water. Though they can get up to 16 mm in width, their long legs can be more than 8 mm larger.

Black Widow Spiders

When you come across a black widow spider, there will be no doubt about it due to their black color with a distinct red hourglass on their abdomen. The black widow can grow up to 1.5 inches long, but the male will be about half of that size.

Black widows spin webs and hang upside-down, waiting for their next meal. A bite from a black widow isn’t as fatal as the recluse’s, but they represent the most venomous spider in the United States. Researchers have drawn many comparisons to the female black widow, as she is known for sexual cannibalism after mating.

This creates shorter life spans for male black widows.

Knowing When To Call For Help

Although there are 98 percent of spiders that pose zero threat to humans, they are still scary. Noticing a spider occasionally is typically not an issue but when you begin to see a lot of them that means you could use some help. Seeing brown recluse spiders requires immediate attention since they can cause life-threatening issues.

Kapture Pest Control is your professional pest control go-to in New Jersey. We can identify spiders in your home and treat them with effective measures.