Unidentified

Picture ID 98293

Picture of unidentified spider

Comments & ID Thoughts

I have no idea what kind of spider this is. I just noticed it for the first time today. It is outside. Any guesses are appreciated!

  • Submitted by: 
    Curiouscritters
  • Submitted: Jan 12, 2020
  • Photographed: Jan 12, 2020
  • Spider: Unidentified
  • Location: Carlstadt , New Jersey, United States
  • Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
  • Found in web?: Yes
  • Attributes:
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TangledWeb

I can’t believe she’s alive in January! She’s an orbweaver in family Aranidae. I can’t see her markings to ID her more specifically. Guesses of what she might be: a Cross Orbweaver or a Hentz Orbweaver. The females make the large webs to catch flying insects. What is she eating in Winter? They normally live one year. They hatch in Autumn and die the following Autumn. If she made an egg sac she might have hatchlings that she is trying to protect. The egg sacs kinda look like a tuft of cotton candy. The babies are freeze-resistant and will disperse… Read more »

TangledWeb

They aren’t house spiders, there isn’t enough large flying insects ( if there is, that’s a different problem) for them to eat. Orbweavers like her shield themselves from precipitation by climbing into a niche or building a canopy bed or wrapping a leaf around their body. The cold is more of a problem. Have you had a hard freeze yet? I live on the NH/MA state line area, my yard is frozen solid despite the record high temps near 70 this weekend. You’re south of here, but I never thought of NJ as that “Southern.” If it is cold out… Read more »