The brown recluse isn’t aggressive, but it’s known to bite when it feels threatened. Since it’s a plain brown spider, it can be confused with other spider species, but the fiddle mark on its abdomen makes it distinct. While this spider is drawn to quiet, dark locations, they sometimes venture inside homes when they’re searching for food. The venomous brown recluse spider can be found throughout New Jersey. Brown Recluse Brown recluse on denim | Image by Robby Lockeby from Pixabay These spiders can help to get rid of other insects and spiders that may be lurking inside your home. If it’s hungry enough, it’ll even eat other spiders, including spiders of the same species. True to its name, the long-bodied cellar spider loves cellars and basements and is also found in garages.Įven though these spiders spin webs, they’re known to tackle insects and other prey that are nearby. It’s often referred to by another name: Daddy Long-Legs. These house spiders are commonly seen all over the United States, including in New Jersey. You may also like: 8 Species of Owls in New Jersey (Pictures) 6. Long-Bodied Cellar Spiders Long-bodied Cellar Spider | image by Judy Gallagher via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 They can occasionally be spotted indoors, but they prefer outdoor habitats, where they can hide beneath leaves, rocks, and within tall grass. This spider weaves wheel-like webs that tend to be close to the ground. Males are typically black, but females are bright yellow with red markings. While spiders usually have round abdomens, this spider’s body is shaped like an arrow. The arrow-shaped micrathena is one of the strangest-looking spiders you can find in New Jersey. 5. Arrow-shaped Micrathena Arrow-shaped micrathena | image by Judy Gallagher via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 While the eastern parson spider isn’t usually dangerous, its bite can cause an allergic reaction in some people. They’re fast, skilled hunters that stalk their prey at night. These spiders can be anywhere from 6 to 13 mm long. Since this spider hibernates during the winter, it’s always looking for a safe place to rest. The eastern parson spider is a hairy spider that sometimes hides itself beneath the floorboards of New Jersey homes. Scientific Name: Herpyllus ecclesiasticus Eastern Parson Spider Eastern parson spider | image by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 These spiders occasionally bite humans, especially when they’re being handled, but their bites aren’t known to cause any notable medical issues. Woodlice have strong exoskeletons, but the woodlouse hunter has powerful jaws and large fangs that can immobilize its prey. While the crustaceans it eats are typically found outdoors, it’s common to spot this spider inside New Jersey homes! They spend their days in a silken cocoon and come out to hunt when night falls. Sometimes called the pillbug hunter, the woodlouse hunter mostly feeds on woodlice.

Woodlouse Hunter Woodlouse hunter spider on a rock | image by Mvuijlst via Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 Many spiders in New Jersey are nocturnal, but the Sylvana jumping spider is active during the day, which makes it easier to spot. The sylvana jumping spider is an active hunter that will attack all kinds of insects and arachnids, even other spiders. It doesn’t build webs, but it does spin strands of silk that it uses as a safety line when it jumps! While female spiders are usually tan, males are a mixture of black, red and brown. This spider is usually found outdoors and is most active from late spring through summer. 2. Sylvana Jumping Spider Sylvana jumping spider on a leaf | image by Thomas Shahan via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 This spider is active year-round and can live for up to two years. It’s a reddish-brown color, with light brown markings on its abdomen. The hacklemesh weaver spins a funnel-shaped web that looks like it’s made from mesh. When they’re outdoors, they typically hide under rocks and leaves. In New Jersey, they’re often spotted in basements, especially during the winter. These spiders are drawn to damp environments. 1. Hacklemesh Weaver Hacklemesh weaver on its web | image by D. While you can find lots of spiders throughout the state, these spiders are particularly common. It’s been estimated that there are over 500 spider species in New Jersey. These 12 arachnids are some of the most common spiders found in the Garden State. Even though the state is packed with people, it’s also home to many spider species. New Jersey has the highest population density of any state.

Grass spider long bodied cellar spider