Pennsylvanian Spiders

Pennsylvania is home to a large number of spiders that can live is numerous locations. Most Pennsylvanian spiders are harmless to humans. Spiders in this state also tend to have distinct characteristics and behaviors that make them very easy to identify. Some of Pennsylvania's most interesting spiders are the grass spider, the false black widow, the yellow garden spider and the fishing spider.

  1. Grass Spiders

    • Grass spiders are commonly found in the yards and fields of Pennsylvania residents. The distinguishing feature that lets people know if grass spiders are around are their webs. Their webs are horizontal, large, slightly concave and they have a funnel or tunnel located on one side of the web. The webs are mostly found on grass, bushes, brush piles and weeds. Females are 10 to 20 millimeters in length while males are 9 to 18 millimeters in length. Their main body color is a brown or yellowish brown.

    False Black Widows

    • False black widows are commonly found in Pennsylvania, and have many similarities in appearance to the poisonous black widow spider. They have a similar size which is around 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length and a similar black body color. False black widows do not have the red hour glass body markings on them, and they are also slightly more oval in shape than a black widow. It also makes an irregular shaped web which it uses to capture insects and other spiders. These spiders can bite humans, but the symptoms for their bite are much less serve than a bite from a black widow.

    Yellow Garden Spiders

    • Yellow garden spiders are some of the biggest spiders found in Pennsylvania. Gardens, bushes, weedy areas and sunny areas with plenty of cover are common locations to find these spiders. The females are between 3/4 to 1 1/10 inches in length, while the males are significantly smaller between 1/5 to 1/3 inches. The abdomen is oval-shaped and long, and it has a yellow and black color scheme. The carapace is covered in silver hairs. They are known for making large webs that are vertical and that can have a diameter of 20 to 40 inches.

    Fishing Spiders

    • Fishing spiders are a unique species that live in Pennsylvania. They are called fishing spiders because they tend to live near water, and have been reported to catch small fish and insects from the water. They can also run across the surface of the water. Some species of fishing spiders can also be found in wooded areas. Females are 1/2 to 1 inch in length, while males are 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Both sexes are brownish gray in color and have black or lighter colored markings on the body.