Snakes and spiders in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Middlesex County, home of New Brunswick, has 5 snake and 36 spider species on record, from 74 licensed snake and 312 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Middlesex County?
Yes. The northern black widow: 2 licensed records, 7% of all New Jersey records of it.
What snakes are in Middlesex County?
In all, 5 snake species are on the Middlesex County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (41), the DeKay's brown snake (16) and the northern water snake (11).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Jersey records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 41 | 14% |
| 2 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 16 | 19% |
| 3 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 11 | 5% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 3 | 8% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 2 | 2% |
When are snakes out in Middlesex County?
Observation records of snakes in Middlesex County run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 35% of them; across New Jersey the peak is May.
What spiders are in Middlesex County?
In all, 36 spider species are on the Middlesex County list. The most recorded are the orchard orbweaver (20), the nursery web spider (17) and the dark fishing spider (14). Middlesex County holds more than half of all New Jersey records of the arrowhead orbweaver.
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Jersey records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 20 | 13% |
| 2 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 17 | 25% |
| 3 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 14 | 23% |
| 4 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 11 | 11% |
| 5 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 10 | 62% |
| 6 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 9 | 7% |
| 7 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 9 | 19% |
| 8 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 9 | 16% |
| 9 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 9 | 16% |
| 10 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | 8 | 15% |
| 11 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 8 | 11% |
| 12 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | 7 | 41% |
| 13 | Pseudeuophrys erratica | 7 | 24% |
| 14 | Dysdera crocata | 6 | 16% |
| 15 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | 6 | 26% |
| 16 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 6 | 10% |
| 17 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 6 | 19% |
| 18 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 6 | 23% |
| 19 | Asian wall jumper Attulus fasciger | 5 | 15% |
| 20 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 5 | 33% |
| 21 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 5 | 28% |
| 22 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 5 | 14% |
| 23 | Thin-spined jumping spider Tutelina elegans | 4 | 44% |
| 24 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 4 | 11% |
| 25 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 4 | 10% |
| 26 | Broad-faced sac spider Trachelas tranquillus | 3 | 15% |
| 27 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 3 | 8% |
| 28 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 3 | 10% |
| 29 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 7% |
| 30 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 2 | 14% |
| 31 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 2 | 7% |
| 32 | Northern yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium mildei | 2 | 33% |
| 33 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 9% |
| 34 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 2 | 11% |
| 35 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 1 | 6% |
| 36 | Spitting spider Scytodes thoracica | — | — |
When are spiders out in Middlesex County?
Observation records of spiders in Middlesex County run mostly April through November, peaking in May with 20% of them, the same peak as New Jersey as a whole.
What stands out in Middlesex County
Species for which Middlesex County holds a large share of all New Jersey records: the nursery web spider, 25% (17 of 69); the dark fishing spider, 23% (14 of 61); the DeKay's brown snake, 19% (16 of 84).
Common in New Jersey, not on the Middlesex County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New Jersey, these do not reach the county list: the eastern rat snake (109 statewide), the pine snake (48 statewide), the eastern milksnake (41 statewide), the eastern wormsnake (41 statewide), the eastern hog-nosed snake (34 statewide) and the eastern kingsnake (25 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across New Jersey, these do not reach the county list: the black-and-yellow argiope (52 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Middlesex County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the New Jersey list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for New Jersey under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the common house spider and the triangulate bud spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for New Jersey under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the spitting spider.
Middlesex County among New Jersey counties
By licensed snake records Middlesex County ranks 5th of 21 New Jersey counties with any.
The whole state: venomous species in New Jersey, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.