Wolf Spider with Egg Sac
New York’s diverse geography, from highly urban to fields, forests and mountains, makes for diversity among New York spiders.
While environmental factors influence the types of spiders found in New York, quick reflection on the fact that most New York back yards, whether in the New York city area or in the suburbs of Albany, Buffalo, Rochester or any other urban or suburban area, share very similar environments.
Green grass, shrubs and trees make a nice habitat for many New York spiders that fall under the general heading home and garden spiders.
Except for the northern border, the state’s temperate climate means outdoor spider season lasts from early spring through late fall.
This review covers many of the common species seen in residential neighborhood around the state. The top picture of the wolf spider with an egg sac is one example.
Jumping Spiders
A search of New York jumping spiders on Bugguide found 628 contributions, leading to an estimated thirty eight easily seen and photographed species divided into twenty four genera. Body color can change over the course of time, as with the species presented here. See this page for more complete information.
Bold Jumping Spider
Bold Jumping Spider
Brilliant Jumping Spider Face
Brilliant Jumping Spider side view
Brilliant Jumping Spider Top view
Bronze Jumping Spider Female
Bronze Jumping Spider Male
Zebra Jumping Spider
Zebra Jumping Spider Side
Zebra Jumping Spider Eyes
Orb Weavers
A similar search for Orb Weaving spiders, based on fifteen years of member contributions to Bugguide, resulted in documenting of 39 species divided into 15 genera.
Humpbacked Orbweaver
Zygiella x-notata
There’s around one hundred orb weaving spider species, many of them regionally situated. Some of the species come in a range of colors.
Here’s a few of the more common species with a wider geographical range. See Orb Weaving Spiders for more detail.
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
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
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
More Spiders and Relatives
Ground Spider
Pirate Otter Spider
Filmy Dome Spider
Opaline or Daddy Long Legs
Dog Tick Female
Dog Tick Male