10 Types Of Spiders in New Jersey

Spiders are arachnids. The bodies of these eight-legged arthropods have a body that is segmented into two, and usually have eight eyes, though this in no way indicates that they have good vision. There are about 45000 species of spiders around the world, which are known to man. These crawling creatures come in various colours and sizes. Over the years, very few habitats have remained incompatible with their existence. The only places which cannot sustain spider life are the polar regions and regions with extremely high (such as extremely tall mountains or extremely low altitudes (such as the ocean). The following is a list of ten kinds of spiders found in the Mid-Atlantic State of New Jersey,

Spiders in New Jersey

1. Black Widow Spider

Black Widow Spiders are often mentioned among the world’s deadliest spiders. In fact, these spiders are considered to be the deadliest venomous spiders residing in the state. They live upto a full year and grow to be as big as 5 inches. These spiders are infamous for feasting on their partners after mating. There are two types of black widow spiders found in New Jersey- the Northern Black Widow and the Southern Black Widow.

Also Read: 10 Biggest Spiders In The World

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2. Trap Door Spider

The color of these spiders ranges from brown to light rust. These spiders can grow upto 1 inch and have an average lifespan of a year. They have hairy abdomens which enhance their tactile ability and make them good hunters. Trap Door Spiders are known for luring their prey into underground tunnels built by them, which are secured by trap doors.

Also Read: 10 Different Types of Wasps in Florida

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3. Wolf Spider

Adult Wolf Spiders are 3 inches big and usually live upto a year. These arachnids are covered in fur and have four red colored eyes. These spiders are not venomous but their bite could cause inflammation at the affected site. These spiders are known for their hunting prowess, in part because of their exceptionally good eyesight (which is not the case for most other spiders). These spiders do not spin webs.

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4. American Nursery Web Spider

American Nursery Web Spiders look quite similar to Wolf Spiders but are smaller in size. The American Nursery Web Spider can live upto a year and grow to be 0.75 inches big. These spiders typically have a brown body with yellow markings and long legs. It preys on locusts, earthworms, other spiders in nature. American Nursery Web Spider loves to thrive in the regions of grass Plains and Tropical Forests.

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5. American Grass Spider

Like American Nursery Spiders, these spiders too, live upto a year and grow to be 0.75 inches as adults. American Grass Spiders do not make sticky webs, however, they make up for this by their quick agility while hunting prey. Their venom is not toxic to humans. These spiders have a black body, long legs, and a long abdomen marred with two white stripes. They usually eat small insects found in gardens and lawns such as moths and grasshoppers.

Image Source: Wikimedia

6. Fishing Spiders

Fishing Spiders are unique semi-aquatic spiders, usually found near lakes, river banks, and ponds. These spiders live upto two years and grow to be as big as 4 inches. These spiders have adapted to living near water bodies and can dive and stay underwater for some time. These spiders generally have eight eyes, and their bite has not been proven to be of much harm to humans and, effects of their bite are no more dangerous than a bee sting. They are mostly black with brown markings on their body and legs, though many morphs exist within the same color range. As their name suggests, the spider is known to eat small fish.

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7. Star-Bellied Orb Weaver Spider

Star-Bellied Orb Weaver Spiders are highly attractive unique species of spiders. As adults, these spiders can grow to be 0.6 inches big, with females being nearly double the size of male Star-Bellied Orb Weaver spiders. These spiders come in various light to dark morphs of an overall brown body. They have eight eyes and ten to twelve points (spikes) protruding from their bellies, resembling a star. This spider spins vertical webs.

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8. Giant Lichen Orb Weaver Spider

Adult female Giant Lichen Orb Weaver Spiders are almost double the size of adult males at 1.18 inches. They can be identified by their light green or rust stomachs and their green legs with hints of red and orange, marked by alternating black bands. They are nocturnal spiders known for making orb-like webs upto 8 m in diameter, to catch wasps and insects.

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9. Orchard Spiders

Like other Orb Weavers, female Orchard Spiders are almost double the size of male Orchard Spiders at 0.27 inches. These spiders boast bright colorful bodies. These spiders have a white body with black and neon yellow markings. Along with this, they have an orangish-red crescent on their belly. Their colorful bodies greatly complement their bright green legs. They can live upto a year and are usually found in shrubs and woodlands. They feed on small moths, leaf insects, and flying insects. These spiders are not very aggressive and do not usually harm humans.

Image Source: Dennis Wilkinson

10. Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider

These spiders grow to be 0.5 inches big and have an average life span of a year. Red Spotted Ant Mimic Spider has black body with a large red stripe running down its abdomen and furry legs. They do not weave webs but instead aggressively prey on ants when they get in close proximity. They do so by mimicking ants, by using six legs to walk while the two near the eyes remain in the air, to resemble antennas. As these spiders prefer to mimic ants, they are usually found in shrubs, parks, woods, and under rocks.