Spiders and the World They Spin

Orb-weaver spiders

If you have ever run into a spiderweb in your yard, chances are that it’s an orb-weaver’s web. They build large, round webs that glisten in the morning dew, like a work of art.

Orb-weavers are found all over the U.S., especially in gardens, forests, and around homes. They prefer open spaces to catch flying insects like flies, mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. These spiders keep insect populations in check, making them great garden companions.

Female orb-weavers lay hundreds of eggs in a silken sac, which they carefully hide in a safe corner. When the spiderlings hatch, they look like tiny versions of their parents. Some even stay in their mom's web for a little while before venturing out to spin their own!

Jumping Spiders

These fuzzy little guys are kind of cute as they hop from leaf to leaf. They’re harmless to humans. While they aren’t venomous, their bites can cause mild redness, itching, or swelling. If bitten, simply clean the area with soap and water.

Jumping spiders are tiny, active hunters commonly found in gardens, on tree bark, and even in homes. Instead of using webs to catch their food, they leap from one surface to another, chasing small bugs like flies, beetles, mosquitoes, moths, and other small insects. 

Baby jumping spiders, known as spiderlings, hatch near their egg sac and, after a short time, venture off to explore and find food..

Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders prefer to live on the ground in grassy fields, forests, and gardens. They don’t spin webs to catch prey but are fast runners, hunting insects and other small creatures like crickets, beetles, and even other spiders.

These spider moms are special! After laying eggs, they carry the egg sac on their backs. Once the babies hatch, they cling to their mother's body until they’re strong enough to explore independently. It's quite a sight to see a wolf spider covered in tiny spiderlings!

Black Widow Spider

Black widows like dark, quiet places such as basements, garages, and woodpiles. They can also be found in bushes or rock crevices. Watch out for their messy webs in hidden corners!

These spiders are opportunistic predators, feeding mainly on insects such as flies, beetles, and grasshoppers that get trapped in their webs.

Baby black widows start life as eggs inside a silky egg sac. They’re tiny and pale when they hatch, not black like their mother. They stay together in the web for a while before venturing out to start their own lives, though only a few spiderlings will grow up to be adults.

Black widow spiders have venom that can harm humans, but they don’t bite unless they feel threatened. While their bite can cause pain, it is rarely deadly. Most people recover just fine with the right treatment. So, it’s best to leave them alone if you spot one!

Female black widows are famous for their shiny black bodies and the red hourglass markings on their bellies. They got their spooky name because, in some cases, the female may eat the male—though this doesn’t always happen!

Daddy Longlegs (Harvestmen)

Daddy longlegs are often confused with spiders, but they belong to a different group of arachnids called Opiliones and are not true spiders. You’ll find them in gardens, forests, and under rocks or logs, often in damp areas.

These creatures primarily feed on decaying plant matter, small insects, and other organic materials, scavenging rather than hunting like true spiders.

A common myth claims daddy longlegs are incredibly poisonous but cannot bite humans due to short fangs. However, this isn't true. Daddy longlegs don’t have venom glands or fangs at all—they rely on scavenging for food instead of hunting like spiders.

They lay eggs in damp areas, and when the babies hatch, they have long, thin legs and crawl around in search of food. They are completely harmless to humans!