Spiders are abundant here in Upstate New York. Did you know there are over 50,000 spider species in the world? The good news is that they are not all living in our region. Let’s take a look at some of the common spiders in Upstate New York.
- Wolf spiders chase their prey, have excellent eyesight, and will bite if provoked. Thankfully their venom is not dangerous to humans.
- Cellar spiders are long, thin and delicate. They vibrate rapidly when their web is disturbed or when it catches large prey.
- Crab spiders are often found inside flowers or low vegetation, waiting for a meal to pass by so they can use their forelegs to attack it.
- Jumping spiders can jump up to 50 times the length of their body. They prefer open areas to hunt for prey.
- Black and yellow garden spiders can spin webs up to two feet in diameter. They are usually found in sunny open fields or gardens.
- Nursery web spiders live in low shrubbery and high weeds, allowing them to ambush prey. Interestingly, females will often eat males after mating.
- Harvestmen, aka daddy longlegs, are technically not spiders. They have no fangs, no venom and do not bite. They can swallow solid food, unlike spiders who eat prey after turning it into liquid.
This is just a sampling of the many spiders found in Upstate New York. Which spiders have you seen around your home recently?
