Spiders in the Eastern U.S.

Spiders are members of the Araneae order. Some of these eight-legged creatures capture their prey in their webs, while other spiders ambush their prey by their speed or jumping on their food. Depending on the spider, you can find spiders living indoors or outdoors in numerous locations such as crevices of buildings, within bushes, in the lawns or along bodies of water. Most of the spiders crawling around in the eastern United States are prevalent throughout the region and vary in size, shape and color. Some spiders are dangerous if they bite, while other spiders like to explore people. Measurements given are for spider bodies and do not include legs.

  1. New England Region

    • The states situated in the New England region, a section in the eastern United States, include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. This region has a variety of spiders throughout the area. For example, the American house spider is a member of the tepidariorum species and is commonly seen crawling around. It measures 0.24 to 0.79 inches in length. The spider is brown, tan and black with a large body. Additionally, it builds Halloween-looking cobwebs in the corners of windows and attics. These types of spiders will bite you if you threaten them. However, their venom is not deadly. Additionally, some people may refer to an American house spider as a cobweb spider. Particular states in which you may see an American house spider are Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine.

      Another spider in the New England region is a funnel-web spider that belongs to the Agelenopsis genus. The spider is black, ivory and brown and it varies in length from 0.59 to 0.79 inches. These types of spiders enjoy lawns, low shrubs and crawling along fences. Funnel-web spiders also build cave-like cobwebs and take refuge toward the back of the web. In addition, they have the ability to pursue and drag their prey to their funnel cobweb. Some states where this spider dwells include Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut.

    Middle Atlantic Region

    • The Middle Atlantic region, another section that sits in the eastern United States, consists of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. This area has an abundance of spiders including the American house spider. Another spider that lives in the Middle Atlantic region is the wolf spider, a member of the aspersa species. This type of spider is brown, tan and black and measures from 0.63 to 0.98 inches in length. Some people tend to fear the spider because of its size. If you try to handle the spider it bites, but the venom is not harmful. The spider burrows itself in a house, beneath logs, stones or other places during the day and looks for food during the nighttime. You may have a chance to see this spider in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

      Another type of spider in the Middle Atlantic region is the southern black widow. Baby black widows are a brownish-orange color, while the male spider has a brown body with two white marks. However, the female southern black widow has a black body with two red marks. The spider measures from 0.12 to 0.39 inches in length. However, the male spider is smaller in stature compared to the female spider. In addition, this type of spider has poisonous venom. The southern black widow lives throughout the entire region.

    South Atlantic Region

    • The South Atlantic region also sits in the eastern United States. This region includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The eastern region has a variety of spiders that jump and crawl. For example, the tan jumping spider belongs to the undatus species and it varies in length from 0.39 to 0.51 inches in length. The tan jumping spider prefers to catch its prey by jumping on its food, rather than catching it in its cobweb. This type of spider is friendly to humans. However, if people roughly handle the spider it may bite. You can locate this spider in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.

      A running spider is another kind of spider in the South Atlantic region. Some people may refer to this spider as sac spider. This spider is a member of the Corrinidae family and measures from 0.12 to 0.39 inches in length. The running spider has a reddish-brown abdomen and head with brown front legs and whitish-brown hind legs. Additionally, this type of spider uses speed to quickly catch it prey and it does not build cobwebs. Some places this spider may live include Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia.

    East South Central Region

    • The eastern United States is also home to the East South Central region that includes Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. The East South Central region has a multitude of spiders throughout the area. For example, the grass spider, which is a member of the Agelenidae family, is a relative of the funnel-web weavers. This kind of spider varies from 0.59 to 0.79 inches in length. However, the male spider is typically smaller than the female spider. Similar to other funnel-web weaver spiders, the grass spider builds its webs in the grass, in crack of buildings and close to fences and short brushes. These spiders dwell throughout the entire region.

      Another kind of spider in East South Central region is the ground crab spider, and it belongs to the Thomisidae family. This type of spider resembles a crab when it sits and walks, hence the name ground crab spider. Additionally, the ground crab spider usually sits on flowers and leaves of plants, eventually pouncing on it prey. It ranges from 0.12 to 0.35 inches in length and has a reddish-brown body and head with tan and black markings throughout its body. This type of spider also lives in the entire East South Central region.