5. Sheet Web Weaver Spider

The sheet web weaver spider is another common spider in New York, although you may never see one. These spiders, of the family Linyphiidae, are very small and prefer to hide out in vegetation, staying close to the soil or just very slightly above the ground where they construct non-sticky, fine sheet webs.

These webs feature many super fine, disorganized strands that insects can’t see. Once insects get caught in their webs, these spiders go on the underside of the web to bite their prey through the web.

How to Identify a Sheet Web Weaver Spider:

• Dark color, shiny
• Usually less than a quarter-inch long

Is a Sheet Web Spider Poisonous?

No, not known to bite people

Where Will a Sheet Web Spider Be Hiding:

In vegetation, close to the ground

6. Wolf Spider

If you’ve ever come in contact with a big, fuzzy spider that tends to move extremely fast, you likely have seen the wolf spider.

The wolf spider, of the family Lycosidae, is named for its furry, brownish grey appearance. These extremely agile spiders have powerful, long legs so they can run after their prey since they don’t use webs.

Two of the wolf spider’s eight eyes are also enlarged to help them spot potential prey while they hunt at night. These New York spiders typically prefer to hunt alone and carry their egg sac in their spinnerets.

How to Identify a Wolf Spider:

• Furry, brownish grey
• Large
• Move quickly

Is a Wolf Spider Poisonous?

No, but may bite on rare occasions if they feel threatened, resulting in some pain, itchiness and swelling

Where Will a Wolf Spider Be Hiding:

On the ground, usually in the grass or other lower parts of plants, inside on the floor

7. American House Spider

The American house spider, or Achaearanea tepidariorum, is the most commonly seen species around the home. You’ve likely seen one of these spiders hanging upside down from messy webs by only a few threads.

These spiders build webs where they can stay protected from the elements, often entering homes or businesses.

However, since they may still struggle to survive inside a home, these spiders may resort to a nearby shed or garage instead. Common American house spiders generally leave people alone, although they are still an unwanted pest inside.

How to Identify an American House Spider:

• Yellow-brown
• Large, round, shiny abdomens
• Thin legs

Is an American House Spider Poisonous?

No

Where Will an American House Spider Be Hiding:

In protected areas inside or near buildings

8. Cellar Spider

You’ve probably heard of daddy long leg spiders, which are in the same family as the commonly found cellar spider. Members of the family Pholcidae, female cellar spiders lay their eggs and then wrap them with silk and carry them in their fangs. These spiders are not known to bite and are not poisonous, despite some urban legends saying otherwise. Instead, these spiders protect themselves by rapidly gyrating in their web, hiding and becoming nearly invisible to potential threats.

How to Identify a Cellar Spider:

• Pale yellow or light brown
• Very long, delicate legs
• Smaller, elongated, skinny body

Is a Cellar Spider Poisonous?

No, not known to bite

Where Will a Cellar Spider Be Hiding:

close to the ceiling, hanging upside down from a loose web.

9. Jumping Spider

Another common spider species found in New York is the jumping spider of the family Salticidae.

These spiders have a distinct look and are known to be smarter than other spiders, as they tend even to have their own personalities. These spiders have excellent vision and are active during the day, where they hunt insects and other spiders.

Like their name suggests, they can jump great distances in search of prey or vegetation. Jumping spiders put their abdomen to the ground before jumping to establish draglines, so if the jump comes up short, they only fall a little since their spinnets can clamp onto the silk.

How to Identify a Jumping Spider:

• Large eyes
• Stubby bodies
• Short legs
• Black with white markings
• Can jump great distances

Is a Jumping Spider Poisonous?

No, but jumping spiders may bite humans on rare occasions

Where Will a Jumping Spider Be Hiding:

In plants, windowsills and mailboxes

10. Crab Spider

Crab spiders got their name from holding their legs to the side and scuttling along like a crab. These spiders also usually walk sideways or backward, using only their back legs. The crab spider’s first two pairs of legs are very large and look crab-like, as well.

Instead of building webs like other spiders, crab spiders will sit still, waiting for prey to come close enough to capture.

How to Identify a Crab Spider:

• Crab-like in appearance, two large front legs
• Can change color over several days to shades of yellow, white or pink to camouflage themselves

Is a Crab Spider Poisonous?

No, but bites can be painful. However, they rarely bite humans as most are too small.

Where Will a Crab Spider Be Hiding:

On flowers

Important Notes About New York Spiders

Although the average life expectancy for New York spiders is only about one year, some species live through the state’s frigid winter months by going inactive and hiding in warmer spaces, like homes or businesses.

Therefore, you may notice an influx of spiders entering your home or business when the weather starts getting colder.

Hunting spiders generally mate in the fall, while other species such as the jumping spider or wolf spider lay their eggs in the spring. Spiders keep their eggs in sacs to protect them from cold winter weather, so they can stay warm when they hatch. You may find these spiders in cracks of bark, in leaf litter or lofts or garages in or near your home or business.

What Spiders Eat

Spiders rely on insects as their primary food source, but many spiders will also eat other spiders. They will only go for live prey or prey that they killed recently, so you won’t catch spiders feeding off of something that has been dead for a long time. However, food sources vary from species to species.

Web-building spiders, like the black and yellow garden spider or the grass spider, for example, like to feed on flying insects:

• Flies
• Moths
• Mosquitoes
• Butterflies

On the other hand, hunting spiders such as the crab spider may eat other insects:

• Crickets
• Beetles
• Grasshoppers

However, spiders don’t have mouthparts to chew, so they use their jaws, called chelicerae, and hollow fangs to distribute venom when they attack prey. They cannot swallow solid food, so they regurgitate digestive juices onto their prey to liquefy it and crush it with their chelicerae before sucking up its juices. Spiders also use their pedipalps, located on both sides of their chelicerae, to help maneuver their prey while feeding.

What to Do If You See a Spider Inside Your Home or Business

Whether you’re relaxing at home or hard at work, seeing a spider crawling across the wall is enough to make most people spring out of their seats.

When you see a spider inside your house or business, you have two main options — trap and release or kill.

This is ultimately up to you. Still, it’s also crucial to try to identify the spider before making a decision, as you wouldn’t want to attempt to trap and release a yellow sac spider, for example, and end up with a poisonous spider bite. Consider the list of New York spiders above to give you a general guideline when it comes to identification.

If you plan to trap and release a non-poisonous spider, you need to be quick. Start by grabbing a clear cup or a bowl to place over the spider and a piece of cardboard or other thin but sturdy material you can put underneath the container as a base. You should also have someone ready to open the door for you.

With these materials in hand, you’ll need to swiftly put the cup or bowl over the spider and carefully slide the cardboard or other material under the container. You’ll also need to keep your hand pressed against the cardboard or paper to ensure the spider stays contained. Once you’re outside, you should take the spider far enough from your home or business to release it that it doesn’t come crawling right back.

If you choose to kill the spider, you can purchase and set out traps for them, hit them with an object, spray them directly with a pesticide or use a vacuum to suck them up quickly. However, if you have a poisonous spider in your home or business, it’s best to contact pest control services to get rid of the spider safely. Plus, there are plenty of prevention methods you can take to avoid spiders from coming in altogether.

How to Prevent Spiders in Your New York Business

You don’t have to wait until you find spiders in your New York business before you do something about it.

Although It’s illegal in New York State to self-spray pesticides, there are still some ways that you can prevent facilitating a spider infestation in your building.

Spiders can squeeze their way into small, tight spaces through cracks and crevices in your building. Here’s what you can do:

To Prevent Spider Infestation in Your Commercial Building…

1. Seal Any Cracks in the Walls
   Since spiders can fit through even the smallest cracks, inspect the walls of your building and seal any cracks you find in the walls to help keep them out. Additionally, if you have cables running through walls from inside your business, check the seal around the hole that the cable runs through, too.
2. Make Sure Your Windows Have Hole-Free Screens
   If you ever open the windows of your business, be sure that they have screens to keep pests from crawling in. You should check these screens to ensure they aren’t damaged in any way, and replace them as soon as you can if they are. A screen with a hole is still an open invitation for any pest to come right into your business.
3. Fix Any Damage to the Building’s Foundation
   If your business is located in an older building, check for cracks in the foundation from any settling that may have occurred. Many times, spider infestations start in the basement or crawlspace of a building, so be sure to check your business regularly for any damage, like holes or cracks, in those areas to keep the spiders out.
4. Keep the Area Clean
   Spiders often hide and build webs in hidden locations where there’s a lot of clutter or debris, so make sure you’re keeping things neat and organized inside your business to prevent spiders from making a home inside. One way to enforce this is to keep a regular cleaning schedule. Regularly dusting and vacuuming not only helps clean up any existing spider webs and eggs but prevents them from coming back.
5. Think About Lighting
   Although light itself generally doesn’t attract spiders, it can attract insects that are a food source for spiders. This food source may then attract spiders to your place of business. Consider turning off your business’ outdoor lights or switch to a different type of lighting, like yellow sodium vapor lights, to avoid attracting bugs. If outdoor lighting for your business is a must, try to keep lights away from door entrances.
6. Secure Entrances
   Just like secure windows and hole-free window screens play a crucial role in keeping spiders out of your business, be sure to check your entrances and exits for any cracks or doors that don’t completely shut. Spiders can breach even the smallest spaces in your building, so protect your business and take preventative measures to ensure that they don’t have any easy way in.If you’re continually removing spiders and their webs, and they keep coming back, or you find a large number of spiders, you’re likely dealing with a more significant problem that will require pest control services. Again, it is illegal in New York State to self-treat your commercial property, so we would recommend hiring a professional commercial pest company.

How to Prevent Spiders in Your New York Home

Your home is supposed to be a peaceful place where you can relax, and finding spiders crawling around inside your house can make it difficult to do so. Just like spiders can squeeze through the smallest openings and infiltrate your business, they can do the same inside your New York home. While the occasional spider may not indicate any major problems, it’s essential to seek professional help if you suspect you have an infestation.

For residential pest control in New York, count on Pestech’s integrated pest management services to help put your family at ease and say goodbye to spiders. However, don’t put off taking preventative measures — here are just a few different ways you can prevent spiders from taking over your home.

To Prevent Spider Infestation in Your Home…