Hobbies And Interests
Domestic House Spiders
House spiders classified as "domestic" commonly found in New Jersey include the funnel weaver, the drain spider, and the lesser house spider. These hairy brown spiders live in the narrow end of their funnel-shaped tunnels. Males and females may remain together for weeks, during which time they mate repeatedly. The male dies after mating and is consumed by the larger female.
American House Spiders
The arachnid known as the American or common house spider is typically brown or gray in color. It will spin various webs throughout the home, abandoning those that don't catch enough prey. Mature American house spiders live for about one year, during which time the female is capable of laying up to 3,000 eggs. Male and female common house spiders may mate numerous times.
Daddy Long Legs Spider
The daddy long legs spider is not to be confused with a true daddy long legs, which is a garden insect. Daddy long legs spiders are in the arachnid family Pholcidae. They are also called granddaddy longlegs, cellar spiders or vibrating spiders, and are frequently found in homes throughout the United States.
Venomous Spiders
New Jersey has a few venomous species of spiders. Though they prefer to live outdoors, they occasionally find their way into houses, barns and garages, especially when the temperature outside drops in autumn. The Northern black widow is one such species, but only the female's bite is dangerous to humans. The yellow sac spider, named because it builds a sac rather than a web to catch prey, delivers a bite that hurts but is not lethal. The brown recluse has been found in New Jersey. The bite from this spider may cause anything from mild skin irritation to an open, necrotic wound.