Common New Jersey Spiders

Most spiders common to New Jersey are also common to a larger region of the northeastern United States or areas with a similar climate. Spiders are often regarded cautiously, and sometimes feared, by humans, but the arachnids play an important role in insect control. Common New Jersey spiders can be found in and around homes as well as in fields and wooded areas.

  1. Yellow Garden Spider

    • Yellow garden spiders are yellow and black in color.

      The yellow garden spider, also called the common garden spider, is a regular to woodlands and gardens in New Jersey and throughout the United States. The spider has a yellow and black abdomen and legs. The coloring on the legs may sometimes appear to be orange and black alternating, but the abdomen is a varying bright yellow and black pattern.

      Female yellow garden spiders are considerably larger than their male counterparts. Females can grow to between 19 and 28 mm. Males typically range from 5 to 8 mm. They also appear paler than females. Yellow garden spiders appear in the summer, then lay their eggs in the fall. Their spiral webs are non-uniform, but the spider is known for creating a zig-zagging web pattern. Yellow garden spiders are not poisonous.

    Funnel Weaver or Grass Spider

    • Funnel weavers, or grass spiders, are a common sight during summer in New Jersey and in many other parts of the United States. They can be mistaken for the poisonous brown recluse spider, but funnel weavers are not dangerous. The spider's muddled brown, gray and yellow markings help camouflage it in the wild. They build their trademark funnel-shaped webs in grass, low foliage and in the crevices of buildings and fences. The funnel weaver lives inside the funnel's hole and waits for unsuspecting prey to wander across the opening and become entangled. The spider then pounces on the insect and consumes it. Funnel spiders can grow 15 to 20 mm long.

    Orb Weavers

    • Orb weavers have a large abdomen.

      Orb weavers come in different varieties, and one common New Jersey species is the marbled orb weaver. Orb weavers are most easily identified by their wide abdomens. Marbled orb weavers have particularly bulbous abdomens with marbled black and yellow or orange patterns. Their legs are black and white striped. Other orb weavers may come in a variety of colors, but are typically some version of black, brown, orange and yellow. Female orb weavers can grow to 20 mm in length, while males typically only reach about 6 mm.

      Orb weavers are often found around the exterior of homes and buildings, and because they are such active web builders, they can reduce the number of mosquitoes in the vicinity. Orb weavers can build up to a web a night during the summer and fall. Although the large abdomen of orb weavers can be intimidating to some people, the spider is beneficial to have around for mosquito control.