Zygiella x-notata
Welcome to Connecticut spiders. According to a checklist published by the American Arachnological Society in 1981, Connecticut’s spider population consists of approximately five hundred and fifty spider species. This introduction covers a few of the most common spider families found in residential areas and parks around the state.
Orbweavers
Interest in spider identification increased over the past forty plus years and no doubt the number of spiders in the state is larger than the estimate. Consider the Orb Weaving family. A citizen science project, Inaturalist, has documented close to forty different species around the state. The checklist only has eight species listed.
Orb weavers rank among the easiest of all the Connecticut spiders to identify because of their more definitive body colors and patterns. Plus, they stay stationary for most of the day, making them easy to photograph.
Here’s a few of the more common species. See this page for more detail on the Orb Weavers..
Yellow Writing Spider bottom view
Yellow Writing Spider top view
Banded Writing Spider
Cross Orb Weaving Spider
Araneus nordmanni
Trashline Orb Weaver
Gray Cross Spider
Larinioides patagiatus orange shade
Larinioides patagiatus brown shade
Larinioides patagiatus bottom
Sleeping Orb Weaving Spider
Long-jawed Orb Weaver
Long-jawed Orb Weaver side view
Jumping Spiders
With around forty different species, a variety of jumping spiders can be found in back yards around the state. The five most common types of jumping spiders documented to date are:
- Bold Jumping Spider
- Tan Jumping Spider
- Zebra Jumping Spider
- Dimorphic Jumping Spider
- Bronze Jumping Spider
Body color can change over the course of time, as with the species presented here. See this page for for more complete information on the topic.
Brilliant Jumping Spider Face
Brilliant Jumping Spider side view
Brilliant Jumping Spider Top view
Bold Jumping Spider
Body color can change over the course of time, as with the species presented here. See this page for for more complete information on the topic.
Bold Jumping Spider
Bronze Jumping Spider Female
Bronze Jumping Spider Male
Zebra Jumping Spider
Zebra Jumping Spider Side
Zebra Jumping Spider Eyes
Lynx Spiders
Striped Lynx Spider Eyes
Lynx spiders can be abundant in residential areas. The following pictures might help with ID.
Striped Lynx Spider top
Western Lynx Spider Eyes
Western Lynx Spider Female
Western Lynx Spider Juvenile
Western Lynx Spider Male
Crab Spiders
Flower Crab Spider
It’s sometimes difficult to identify Crab Spiders using body color. Body hair and eye configuration can help. Here’s a few examples.
Flower Crab Spider yellow
Yellow and Red Northern Crab Spider
Northern Crab Spider white
Northern Crab Spider yellow
Swift Crab Spider
Slender Crab Spider
Ground Crab Spider
Jumping Spiders
Bold Jumping Spider
A couple hundred jumping spider species inhabit residential areas, many with limited ranges. Body color can change over the course of time, as with the species presented here. See this page for for more complete information on the topic.
Bold Jumping Spider
Bronze Jumping Spider Female
Bronze Jumping Spider Male
Zebra Jumping Spider
Zebra Jumping Spider Side
Zebra Jumping Spider Eyes
More Spiders and Relatives
Ground Spider
Pirate Otter Spider
Wolf Spider with Egg Sac
Filmy Dome Spider
Opaline or Daddy Long Legs
Dog Tick Female
Dog Tick Male