Spiders in New Jersey

Widow spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the northern black widow (30), ahead of the southern black widow (16).

Observation records of the northern black widow in New Jersey run mostly March through July, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Cape May County, Monmouth County and Burlington County.

Jumping spiders dominate the spider record of New Jersey: 35 species and 36% of all records. The most recorded is the bold jumper (122), ahead of the familiar jumping spider (104).

Observation records of the bold jumper in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Burlington County, Cape May County and Mercer County. Observation records of the familiar jumping spider in New Jersey run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Cape May County, Middlesex County and Ocean County. Observation records of the bronze jumper in New Jersey run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Hunterdon County, Middlesex County and Burlington County.

Wolf spiders: 17 species are listed for New Jersey, with 117 records (5% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the wetland giant wolf spider (37), ahead of the drumming sword wolf spider (15).

Observation records of the wetland giant wolf spider in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Mercer County, Salem County and Gloucester County.

Orb weavers: 28 species are listed for New Jersey, with 404 records (18% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the spined micrathena (56), ahead of the spotted orbweaver (55).

Observation records of the spined micrathena in New Jersey run mostly July through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Atlantic County and Hunterdon County. Observation records of the spotted orbweaver in New Jersey run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cape May County, Middlesex County and Bergen County. Observation records of the basilica orbweaver in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Burlington County, Middlesex County and Atlantic County.

Long-jawed orb weavers: two species are listed for New Jersey, with 152 records (7% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the orchard orbweaver (150), ahead of the green long-jawed orbweaver (2).

Observation records of the orchard orbweaver in New Jersey run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Burlington County, Middlesex County and Atlantic County.

Fishing and nursery web spiders: seven species are listed for New Jersey, with 209 records (9% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the nursery web spider (69), ahead of the dark fishing spider (61).

Observation records of the nursery web spider in New Jersey run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Cape May County and Monmouth County. Observation records of the dark fishing spider in New Jersey run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Burlington County and Sussex County. Observation records of the sixspotted fishing spider in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Atlantic County, Middlesex County and Cape May County.

Crab spiders: six species are listed for New Jersey, with 88 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the American green crab spider (29), ahead of the flower crab spider (23).

Cobweb spiders are a small part of the spider record here: four species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the triangulate bud spider (18), ahead of the common house spider (17).

Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.2% of records between them. The most recorded is the barn funnel weaver (4), ahead of Barronopsis jeffersi (1).

Lynx spiders are a small part of the spider record here: two species with 0.7% of records between them. The most recorded is the western lynx spider (12), ahead of the striped lynx spider (5).

Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: three species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the bowl and doily spider (14), ahead of the filmy dome spider (7).

Ground and sac spiders: nine species are listed for New Jersey, with 76 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the parson spider (22), ahead of the broad-faced sac spider (20).

Other spiders: ten species are listed for New Jersey, with 88 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is Dysdera crocata (37), ahead of the black laceweaver (14).

Observation records of Dysdera crocata in New Jersey run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Ocean County and Bergen County.

Middlesex County leads with 312 records (14%), followed by Cape May County and Burlington County; the top five counties hold 51% of the total. 21 of New Jersey's 21 counties have at least one licensed spider record.

Observation records of spiders in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 17% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records. The sharpest rise comes from March to April.

New Jersey ranks 25th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.

Of the three states bordering New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York list more spider species (New Jersey: 127 species; Pennsylvania 164, New York 149, Delaware 71).

Ranked by licensed records in New Jersey. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 127 listed spiders.