Spiders – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Marbled Orbweaver Spider – 9/28/24

Observer: John Baur Observation Date: 9/28/24 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Marbled Orbweaver Spider Scientific Name: Araneus marmoreus var. marmoreus Comments: Brightly colored marbled orbweaver spiderwebs are found in trees, shrubs and tall weeds, and grasses in moist, wooded settings and can frequently be found along the banks of streams. The webs are oriented vertically and have a “signal” […]

Marbled Orbweaver Spider – 9/24/24

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/24/24 Observation Time: 7:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Marbled Orbweaver Spider Scientific Name: Araneus marmoreus var. marmoreus Comments: Brightly colored marbled orbweaver spiderwebs are found in trees, shrubs and tall weeds, and grasses in moist, wooded settings and can frequently be found along the banks of streams. The webs are oriented vertically and have a “signal” […]

Golden Jumping Spider – 6/23/24

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/24 Observation Time: 1:20 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Golden Jumping Spider Scientific Name: Paraphidippus aurantius Comments: This strikingly marked jumping spider joined us at a picnic table at Borderland State Park. More Information: iNaturalist

Marbled Orbweaver Spider – 9/26/23

Observer: Marshall Katler Observation Date: 9/26/23 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Mansfield St. Common Name: Marbled Orbweaver Spider Scientific Name: Araneus marmoreus var. marmoreus Comments: Although usually found in woodland, this one was found on the side of a house. It is most likely a male. More Information: Wikipedia

Dimorphic Jumping Spider – 6/12/22

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/12/22 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Dimorphic Jumping Spider Scientific Name: Maevia inclemens Comments: Identified by Seek iOS app. More Information: Wikipedia

Wolf Spider – 4/1/21

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/26/21 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Place: Moose Hill area Common Name: Wolf spider Scientific Name: Gladicosa gulosa Comments: I would have been happier finding this wolf spider outside rather than in our mudroom. I captured it and deposited it outside — before reading that some wolf spiders can be aggressive towards humans, that their bite can take a few weeks to […]

White Banded Crab Spider – 9/7/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/7/2020 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: White-banded Crab Spider Scientific Name: Misumessus formosipes Comments: These spiders (also called flower spiders) can change color to match the flowers they are hunting in. Cool. More Information: iNaturalist

Wolf Spider – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Place: trail from Brook Road to Devil’s Rock Common Name: Wolf spider Scientific Name: Gladicosa gulosa Comments: This spider does not make a web. More Information: Sweating the Small Stuff

Orchard Orbweaver spider – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Orchard Orbweaver spider Scientific Name: Leucauge venusta Comments: I had a hard time focusing the camera on this tiny spider and its gossamer web. More Information: Wikipedia

Tan Jumping Spider – 5/25/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/25/19 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (kitchen window) Common Name: Tan Jumping Spider Scientific Name: Platycryptus undatus Comments: A member of Salticidae, this spider jumps to ambush its prey in lieu of creating webs to ensnare it. It is a fast runner and it pounces on top of the insect it plans to eat. As the […]

Orchard Orbweaver – 6/1/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/1/14 Observation Time: 12:25 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Orchard Orbweaver Scientific Name: Leucauge venusta Comments: I had a hard time focusing the camera on this tiny spider. More Information: Wikipedia

Fishing Spider – 9/27/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/27/14 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Place: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes tenebrosus Comments: Fishing Spiders get their name from their hunting behavior and occasional food source. They are adept at ambushing insects and other food items on land, but they are also able to submerge their bodies just under the surface of calm water and […]

Black and Yellow Garden Spider – 9/24/10

Observer: April Forsman Observation Date: 9/24/10 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: DPW Common Name: Black and Yellow Garden Spider Scientific Name: Argiope aurantia Comments: Males range from 5 to 9 mm; females from 19 to 28 mm. Like other members of Argiope they are considered harmless to humans.The female of the species grows much larger than the male. Females have large rounded bodies that may […]

Black and Yellow Garden Spider – 8/11/09

Observer: Regen Jamieson Observation Date: 8/11/09 Observation Location: Moose Hill in the meadow at the end of the “unnatural trail”. Common Name: Black and Yellow Garden Spider Scientific Name: Argiope aurantia Comments: Males range from 5 to 9 mm; females from 19 to 28 mm. Like other members of Argiope they are considered harmless to humans.The female of the species grows much larger than the male. […]

Funnel Weaver Spider – 10/18/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/18/12 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (basement) Common Name: Funnel Weaver Spider Scientific Name: Agelenidae family, Coras genus Comments: Spiders give me the creeps, especially big ones like this specimen, but I could not resist taking a photo and getting an identification from bugguide.net. More Information: BugGuide

Cross Orbweaver Spider – 10/5/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/5/12 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Cross Orbweaver spider Scientific Name: Araneus diadematus Comments: This common spider made a web right outside our garage door. More Information: Focusing on Wildlife

Rabid Wolf Spider – 9/24/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/24/14 Observation Time: 11:20 a.m. Observation Place: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Rabid Wolf Spider Scientific Name: Rabidosa rabida Comments: This species doesn’t build webs to catch prey. Instead, they ambush or chase their prey at night. They then wrap their prey in silk. Note the egg sac in the photo below, which was taken in […]

Tetragnatha Spider – 6/7/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/7/14 Observation Time: 12:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Tetragnatha Spider Scientific Name: Tetragnatha sp. Comments: Typically found near ponds and wetlands. More Information: Wikipedia

Nursery Web Spider – 6/1/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/1/14 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Nursery web spider Scientific Name: Pisaurina mira Comments: This large spider was on a tree trunk in my back yard. More Information: Kentucky Spiders

Harvestman (Daddy Longlegs) – 10/2/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/2/13 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Place: Woods near Beaver Brook (near Sharon train station) Common Name: Harvestman (Daddy Longlegs) Scientific Name: Opiliones family Comments: Harvestmen are 8-legged arachnids, but they are not true spiders. Their bodies are oval-shaped and have no waist like a spider. They do not produce venom, and they are harmless to humans. Harvestmen are omnivores, eating a variety of organic […]

Cross Orbweaver spider – 10/1/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/1/13 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Cross Orbweaver spider Scientific Name: Araneus diadematus Comments: Native to Europe, but common in North America. Its name comes from the sign of the cross on its abdomen. More Information: GeoChemBio

Six-spotted Fishing Spider – 6/2/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/13 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Place: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Six-spotted Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes triton Comments: Fishing Spiders get their name from their hunting behavior and occasional food source. They are adept at ambushing insects and other food items on land, but they are also able to submerge their bodies just under the surface of calm water and […]

Fishing Spider – 9/3/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/3/12 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes vittatus Comments: This huge spider (about 3″) was spotted in aquatic vegetation near the stone hut at the edge of Lower Leach Pond at Borderland State Park. A boy with a butterfly net scooped it up so I could get a photo of it. I got […]