Snakes and spiders in Sussex County, Delaware

Yes. The eastern copperhead: 15 licensed records, 88% of all Delaware records of it. The southern black widow: 77 licensed records, 92% of all Delaware records of it. The northern black widow: 17 licensed records, 89% of all Delaware records of it.

In all, 10 snake species are on the Sussex County list. The most recorded are the northern water snake (185), the eastern rat snake (49) and the common garter snake (45). Sussex County holds more than half of all Delaware records of the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake, the eastern racer and the ring-necked snake.

Observation records of snakes in Sussex County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 23% of them, the same peak as Delaware as a whole.

In all, 55 spider species are on the Sussex County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (142), the bold jumper (114) and the familiar jumping spider (100). Sussex County holds more than half of all Delaware records of the black-and-yellow argiope, the bold jumper, the familiar jumping spider and the nursery web spider.

Observation records of spiders in Sussex County run mostly April through November, peaking in July with 17% of them, the same peak as Delaware as a whole.

Species for which Sussex County holds a large share of all Delaware records: the Georgia wolf spider, 100% (28 of 28); the spiny-backed orbweaver, 100% (20 of 20); the butterfly orbweaver, 98% (39 of 40); the broad-faced sac spider, 97% (31 of 32); the arrowshaped micrathena, 96% (22 of 23); the dark fishing spider, 95% (41 of 43); the black-and-yellow argiope, 94% (142 of 151); the arabesque orbweaver, 94% (46 of 49).

Among the snakes most recorded across Delaware, these do not reach the county list: the eastern milksnake (13 statewide) and the eastern ribbonsnake (6 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.

Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Delaware under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no rattlesnake record for Delaware under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern hog-nosed snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider and the common house spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for Delaware under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the longbodied cellar spider.

By licensed snake records Sussex County ranks 1st of 3 Delaware counties with any.

The whole state: venomous species in Delaware, all snakes, all spiders.