10 Common Spiders on Long Island

Spiders are a common sight in homes, basements, gardens, and outdoor spaces across Long Island. While most species found in the region are harmless and even beneficial because they help control insect populations, many homeowners still feel uneasy when they spot one indoors.

Learning how to identify common spiders on Long Island can help you understand which species are harmless and when it may be time to take action.

Orb-Weaving Spider

If you have walked through a garden or near tall grass, you have likely seen the stunning, wheel-shaped webs of the Orb-Weaving Spider. These spiders are generally found outdoors and are recognized for their intricate web-building artistry.

• Appearance: These spiders exhibit a wide range of colors and sizes. Common species on Long Island include the black and yellow garden spider, known for its striking coloration and zig-zag pattern in its web.

• Behavior: Orb-weavers construct new webs daily, often consuming the silk from the previous night's web. They are not aggressive and are harmless to humans.

• Location: Primarily found outdoors in gardens, between shrubs, on porch railings, and other areas where they can anchor a large web.

Wolf Spider

The Wolf Spider is a robust and fast-moving spider that is often found on the ground. Unlike orb-weavers, these spiders do not use webs to catch prey; they are active hunters.

• Appearance: They are typically brown or gray, with a robust body and a hairy texture. Their intimidating appearance is often due to their size, which can reach up to 1.5 inches.

• Behavior: Wolf spiders are nocturnal hunters that rely on their excellent eyesight and speed to pursue prey.

• Location: They are frequently found in ground-level areas, such as leaf litter, under rocks, or in woodpiles. They may occasionally enter Long Island basements or garages in search of shelter.

Cellar Spider (Daddy Longlegs) 

Commonly referred to as "Daddy Long-Legs," the Cellar Spider is one of the most widespread house spiders on Long Island. They are easily identified by their small body and disproportionately long, slender legs.

• Appearance: These spiders are pale yellow or light brown with very long, delicate legs.

• Behavior: Cellar spiders construct loose, irregular webs in undisturbed areas. They are not a threat to humans and can be beneficial by preying on other insects and spiders.

• Location: As their name suggests, they are most often found in cool, damp, and dark areas, including cellars, basements, attics, and quiet corners of rooms.

Jumping Spider

The Jumping Spider is a small and sturdy arachnid known for its distinctive jumping ability. They are active hunters that stalk and ambush their prey.

• Appearance: They are typically small and hairy, with varying patterns. Their most recognizable feature is a large pair of forward-facing eyes, which provide exceptional vision.

• Behavior: These spiders are active during the day and will often jump to capture prey or move from place to place.

• Location: They are commonly seen outdoors on plants, fences, and walls, and can also be found indoors on windowsills as they hunt for flies and other small insects.

American House Spider

The American House Spider is perhaps the most common spider found inside Long Island homes. This species is responsible for the familiar cobwebs found in the corners of rooms.

• Appearance: House spiders vary from grayish brown to dark brown in color and have banded legs.

• Behavior: They build irregular, messy webs in undisturbed areas to trap insects. If a web is not successful, it will be abandoned, and a new one will be built elsewhere.

• Location: Commonly found indoors in attics, basements, garages, and window corners. They are not aggressive and their bite is not considered medically significant.

Yellow Sac Spider

This species is one of the few spiders in the region whose bite is of medical concern, though it is not life-threatening. The Yellow Sac Spider is a nocturnal hunter that does not use a permanent web.

• Appearance: They are pale yellow or greenish with dark fangs. They have a slender body and are relatively small.

• Behavior: Instead of a web, they create a small, silken "sac" or tube where they rest during the day. They are known to be more aggressive if cornered.

• Location: Often found in secluded spaces like wall-to-wall corners, behind baseboards, and under furniture. Their webs are small and are easily overlooked.

Funnel-Weaver Spider

Also known as "grass spiders," Funnel-Weavers are known for the distinctive, sheet-like webs they build, which often have a funnel-shaped retreat at one end.

• Appearance: They are brownish-gray with prominent longitudinal stripes on their bodies. They have two noticeable spinnerets at the end of their abdomen.

• Behavior: They are incredibly fast runners and will quickly rush out of their funnel-shaped web to capture any prey that lands on the sheet.

• Location: Primarily found outdoors in dense grass, shrubs, and hedges. They can also enter homes, where they build webs in corners of basements or on porches.

Fishing Spider

These large spiders are commonly found in wooded areas and are known for their ability to hunt on and around water. While they may appear intimidating due to their size, their venom is not toxic to humans.

• Appearance: Fishing spiders are typically large, with a body that can be over an inch long. They are usually brown or gray with dark markings and have a leg span of several inches.

• Behavior: As their name implies, they can walk on the surface of water and will even dive to catch small fish, tadpoles, or insects. They are active hunters and do not spin webs for catching prey.

• Location: They are often found near bodies of water, but some species can be found far from water in wooded areas. They may enter homes in wooded or waterfront locations, seeking shelter in basements or garages.

False Widow Spider

False widow spiders are often mistaken for the much more venomous black widow due to their similar appearance. While their bite can be painful, it is not considered medically serious for most people.

• Appearance: They have a smooth, shiny, dark brown or black body. Unlike the black widow, they lack the distinct red hourglass marking.

• Behavior: False widows create tangled, irregular cobwebs in secluded areas. They are not aggressive and will only bite if they feel threatened.

• Location: They are typically found in and around homes, sheds, and garages, often in dark, undisturbed corners.

Woodlouse Spider

This species is a highly specialized hunter that preys almost exclusively on woodlice (also known as "roly-polies"). They are a distinctive spider due to their unusual appearance.

• Appearance: They are easily identified by their shiny, reddish-brown body and very large, forward-pointing fangs, which are designed to pierce the tough exoskeleton of their prey. Their abdomen is a pale, cream color.

• Behavior: The woodlouse spider is a nocturnal hunter that does not build a web to catch prey. Instead, it actively seeks out its food source. They often spend their days in a silken retreat.

• Location: They are typically found in the same damp, humid environments as their prey: under logs, rocks, leaf litter, and potted plants. They may also be found indoors in basements and other damp areas.

Are There Dangerous Spiders on Long Island?

Most spiders found on Long Island are harmless. However, homeowners sometimes worry about venomous species such as black widow spiders.

Black widows are rare in the region but can occasionally be found in sheltered outdoor areas such as sheds or woodpiles. They are easily identified by the red hourglass marking on the underside of their abdomen.

Brown recluse spiders are not native to New York and are extremely unlikely to be found on Long Island.