10 Spiders Found in Pennsylvania (With Pictures)

If you are thinking about traveling to Pennsylvania, it’s a good idea to learn more about the local wildlife so you know what to expect, especially if you are going to be camping and hiking. Spiders are a great place to start as some can be quite dangerous while others are a marvel to behold and are worth seeking out. Keep reading while we look at several spider species that you can find in Pennsylvania to help you have a safe and enjoyable visit.

The 10 Spiders Found in Pennsylvania

1. Southern Black Widow

The Southern Black Widow is a poisonous spider that you can find in Pennsylvania. These spiders have a well-known appearance of a black body with a red hourglass shape on their back. The females often eat the male after mating, and many people are terrified of these spiders. However, only the females have fangs large enough to penetrate human skin, and even then, though painful, symptoms are not usually severe. These spiders are helpful to the environment in that they eat red Fire Ants, an invasive species that are difficult to control.

2. Red Spotted Orb Weaver

Red Spotted Orb Weavers are highly attractive spiders that you can find all over Pennsylvania. These spiders usually have a leaflike pattern on their wide abdomens. It is usually peaceful and pays no attention to humans but will bit if it feels threatened. It contains no venom, though, so it will be similar to a bee sting.

3. Marbled Orb Weaver

The Marbled Orb Weaver is similar to the Red Spotted Orb Weaver, but it’s slightly smaller. These spiders are typically bright orange or yellow. Because of this bright coloration, many people refer to it as the pumpkin spider. Like other orb weavers, it’s peaceful toward humans until cornered.

4. Yellow Garden Spider

The Yellow Garden Spider is one of the most memorable spiders you are likely to see in Pennsylvania. It has a black body with bright yellow highlights that you can see from some distance. To make it even more memorable, this spider tends to create intricate web patterns that are true works of art.

5. Banded Garden Spider

The Banded Garden Spider is one of the most popular types of orb spider, and you can find them all over Pennsylvania. You can find these spiders in the tall grass and enjoy dense vegetation. It can create a large web that often exceeds six feet.

6. Bridge Spider

The Bridge Spider is another small spider that you can find in Pennsylvania. These spiders like to create their web over the water, and you will usually find them in a well-lit area. In a city, they multiply rapidly, and there can be up to 100 of them near a parking garage light where feeding is good.

7. Spined Micrathena

The Spined Micrathena is a small but scary-looking spider that comes equipped with spikes on its back. You can find them in several colors, but most will have a black and white body with shiny black legs. Their web is about eight inches across and tightly woven for strength. It also produces venom, but it doesn’t affect humans.

8. Six Spotted Fishing Spider

The Six Spotted Fishing Spider lives near the water and can run across the surface of a lake or pond. It’s extremely fast and difficult to catch. It usually sticks to the water where it dives for prey, and is no danger to humans. It can even encase itself in an air bubble to live underwater for several minutes.

9. Bold Jumper Spider

The Bold Jumping Spider is an interesting species that you can find in Pennsylvania that many people confuse with the Black Widow due to the similar red marking on its back. These spiders do not create webs and prefer to hunt in open areas where they can spring on their prey. You will usually find these spiders near your garden and by your fence.

10. Zebra Back Spider

The Zebra Backed Spider is another jumping spider that prefers to leap on its prey like a cat than build a web. These spiders have a black body with white hairs that form stripes. They have large anterior eyes that allow them to see with excellent binocular vision.

Poisonous Spiders in Pennsylvania

Fortunately, there is only one poisonous spider you need to worry about in Pennsylvania, the Southern Black Widow. Some experts suggest that since the Southern Black Widow is present, the Northern Black Widow is also present, which would bring the number of poisonous spiders to two. However, these two spiders are nearly identical in appearance and toxicity. Some people also suggest that the deadly Brown Recluse is present in Pennsylvania, but that isn’t true.

Conclusion

As you can see, several spiders are living in Pennsylvania, and the vast majority of them are not harmful to humans. The only one you need to worry about is the Black Widow, and even then, you are unlikely to receive a fatal bite.

We hope you have enjoyed reading over this list and found the answers to your questions. If we have introduced you to some new species, you had not heard of before, please share this guide to ten spiders found in Pennsylvania on Facebook and Twitter.

See Also: 4 Lizards Found in Pennsylvania (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Liz Weber, Shutterstock