Spiders in Maine
Maine has 297 spider species on record, each with at least 10 GBIF records in the state, and 939 licensed records in all. The most recorded are the goldenrod crab spider, the garden spider and the black-and-yellow argiope. No widow or recluse reaches the list. GBIF holds 2 widow or recluse records of any license in Maine (western black widow 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous.
Jumping spiders in Maine
Jumping spiders: 30 species are listed for Maine, with 146 records (16% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the bronze jumper (31), ahead of the zebra spider (27).
Plus 18: Hoy's jumper, Big-headed white-cheeked jumping spider, Boreal jumping spider, Flower jumping spider, Peppered jumper, White-jawed jumping spider, Whitman's jumping spider, Asian wall jumper, Boreal paradise spider, Downy jumping spider, Ghelna canadensis, Habrocestum pullatum, Habronattus viridipes, Minute jumping spider, Nell's neon spider, Pelegrina flavipes, Pelegrina insignis, Thick-spined jumping spider.
Most licensed records of the bronze jumper in Maine come from Hancock County, Cumberland County and Aroostook County.
Wolf spiders in Maine
Wolf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 29 species with 2% of records between them. The most recorded is the forest wolf spider (10), ahead of the drumming sword wolf spider (6).
Related species: Piratula minuta
Plus 17: Pale thin-legged wolf spider, Pardosa fuscula, Pardosa hyperborea, Pardosa saxatilis, Pirata sedentarius, Pirate otter spider, Piratula minuta, Schizocosa communis, Schizocosa crassipalpata, Schizocosa saltatrix, Shiny wolf spider, Shoreline wolf spider, Spinyrib wolf spider, Stone spider, Trabeops aurantiacus, Trochosa terricola, Ubiquitous thin-legged wolf spider.
Orb weavers in Maine
Orb weavers dominate the spider record of Maine: 25 species and 34% of all records. The most recorded is the garden spider (68), ahead of the black-and-yellow argiope (37).
Plus 13: Cone-shaped orbweaver, Fierce orbweaver, Shamrock orbweaver, Tuftlegged orbweaver, Lined orbweaver, Ornamental orbweaver, Openfield orbweaver, Carmine orbweaver, Humpbacked orbweaver, Hypsosinga pygmaea, Red-sided sector spider, Rubens orbweaver, Starbellied orbweaver.
Observation records of the garden spider in Maine run mostly July through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Hancock County, Washington County and Cumberland County. Observation records of the black-and-yellow argiope in Maine are concentrated in August and September (95% of them); most licensed records come from Washington County, Hancock County and Lincoln County. Observation records of the sixspotted orbweaver in Maine run mostly May through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Aroostook County, Somerset County and Piscataquis County.
Long-jawed orb weavers in Maine
Long-jawed orb weavers are a small part of the spider record here: ten species with 1% of records between them. The most recorded is the orchard orbweaver (5), ahead of the eastern cave long-jawed spider (2).
Fishing and nursery web spiders in Maine
Fishing and nursery web spiders: five species are listed for Maine, with 110 records (12% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the nursery web spider (37), ahead of the dark fishing spider (34).
Observation records of the nursery web spider in Maine run mostly April through November, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Hancock County, Oxford County and Lincoln County. Observation records of the dark fishing spider in Maine run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Oxford County, Somerset County and Cumberland County. Observation records of the dock spider in Maine run mostly June through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Hancock County, Waldo County and Washington County.
Crab spiders in Maine
Crab spiders: 30 species are listed for Maine, with 117 records (12% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the goldenrod crab spider (100), ahead of the American green crab spider (6).
Plus 18: Flower crab spider, Grooved running crab spider, Ground crab spider, Illustrious agile crab spider, Nearctic white-striped running crab spider, Ozyptila distans, Philodromus pernix, Philodromus placidus, Thanatus formicinus, Thanatus rubicellus, Threebanded crab spider, Utah crab spider, Xysticus ampullatus, Xysticus discursans, Xysticus ellipticus, Xysticus luctans, Xysticus luctuosus, Xysticus winnipegensis.
Observation records of the goldenrod crab spider in Maine run mostly May through August, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Hancock County, Washington County and Lincoln County.
Cobweb spiders in Maine
Cobweb spiders: 23 species are listed for Maine, with 31 records (3% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the common candy-striped spider (28), ahead of the common house spider (2).
Plus eleven: Lyric cobweaver, Marbled cobweb spider, Neottiura bimaculata, Parasteatoda tabulata, Robertus banksi, Robertus riparius, Robertus spinifer, Silver cobweb weaver, Spotted cobweaver, Theridion pictum, Twospotted cobweb spider.
Funnel weavers and grass spiders in Maine
Funnel weavers and grass spiders are a small part of the spider record here: eight species with 0% of records between them. The most recorded is Agelenopsis actuosa (0), ahead of the barn funnel weaver (0).
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders in Maine
Sheetweb and dwarf spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 71 species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is the filmy dome spider (13), ahead of the bowl and doily spider (3).
Same family (Linyphiidae): Frontinella pyramitela
Related species: Agyneta micariaRelated species: Agyneta micariaRelated species: Agyneta micaria
Plus 59: Blazed dwarf weaver, Centromerus longibulbus, Centromerus persolutus, Centromerus sylvaticus, Ceraticelus fissiceps, Ceraticelus laetabilis, Ceraticelus minutus, Ceratinella brunnea, Ceratinopsis auriculata, Ceratinopsis nigriceps, Collinsia plumosa, Common money spider, Common threaded sheetweaver, Diplocephalus subrostratus, Diplostyla concolor, Dismodicus decemoculatus, Eastern spurred sheetweaver, Eridantes erigonoides, Gonatium crassipalpum, Grammonota angusta, Grammonota capitata, Grammonota gigas, Grammonota pictilis, Latticed sheet-web weaver, Lepthyphantes alpinus, Lepthyphantes turbatrix, Megalepthyphantes nebulosus, Metopobactrus prominulus, Pale sheetweb weaver, Pinocchio erudite money spider, Pocadicnemis americana, Pocadicnemis pumila, Post dwarf weaver, Satilatlas marxi, Sciastes truncatus, Scylaceus pallidus, Simple sheet-web weaver, Sisicottus montanus, Small sheet-web weaver, Soulgas corticarius, Spiraling sheet-web weaver, Taiga sheetweb weaver, Tapinocyba minuta, Tapinopa bilineata, Tarsal sheet-web weaver, Threefront dwarf weaver, Trifling sheetweaver, Trilobate dwarf weaver, Tunagyna debilis, Unequal whiskered money spider, Walckenaeria atrotibialis, Walckenaeria brevicornis, Walckenaeria castanea, Walckenaeria communis, Walckenaeria digitata, Walckenaeria directa, Walckenaeria exigua, Walckenaeria placida, Zebra thin sheetweaver.
Ground and sac spiders in Maine
Ground and sac spiders: 40 species are listed for Maine, with 38 records (4% of the state's spider records). The most recorded is the parson spider (28), ahead of the white sac spider (4).
Related species: Clubiona abbotiRelated species: Clubiona abbotiRelated species: Clubiona abbotiRelated species: Clubiona abbotiPlus 28: Clubiona obesa, Clubiona trivialis, Drassyllus depressus, Drassyllus niger, Drassyllus socius, Glossy ant-spider, Gnaphosa muscorum, Gnaphosa parvula, Haplodrassus bicornis, Haplodrassus hiemalis, Haplodrassus signifer, Johnson's sac spider, Kaston sac spider, Lesser antmimic guardstone spider, Long-legged ghost spider, Micaria riggsi, Neglected ground hunter spider, Phrurotimpus alarius, Phrurotimpus palustris, Riparian sac spider, Scotinella divesta, Scotinella pugnata, Sergiolus ocellatus, Small-spined preening ground spider, Twobanded antmimic, Zelotes fratris, Zelotes hentzi, Zelotes puritanus.
Other spiders in Maine
Other spiders are a small part of the spider record here: 26 species with 3% of records between them. The most recorded is the longbodied cellar spider (11), ahead of the Bennett's laceweaver (7).
Plus 14: Cicurina itasca, Cicurina pallida, Cicurina placida, Cryphoeca montana, Cybaeopsis euopla, Dictyna brevitarsa, Dictyna coloradensis, Dictyna minuta, Dysdera crocata, Emblyna phylax, Hackledmesh weaver, Lathys pallida, Neoantistea agilis, Plump dictynid spider.
Where in Maine are spiders recorded most?
Hancock County leads with 189 records (20%), followed by Oxford County and Cumberland County; the top five counties hold 60% of the total. 16 of Maine's 16 counties have at least one licensed spider record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hancock County | 189 | 20.1% |
| 2 | Oxford County | 125 | 13.3% |
| 3 | Cumberland County | 104 | 11.1% |
| 4 | Lincoln County | 73 | 7.8% |
| 5 | Washington County | 68 | 7.2% |
| 6 | Somerset County | 66 | 7.0% |
| 7 | Kennebec County | 61 | 6.5% |
| 8 | Piscataquis County | 51 | 5.4% |
| 9 | York County | 49 | 5.2% |
| 10 | Androscoggin County | 44 | 4.7% |
| 11 | Aroostook County | 33 | 3.5% |
| 12 | Penobscot County | 26 | 2.8% |
When do spiders come out in Maine?
Observation records of spiders in Maine run mostly May through October, peaking in August with 24% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Maine are rarely recorded in winter. The sharpest rise comes from May to June.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 0% | 1% | 3% | 9% | 19% | 24% | 24% | 13% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
Spiders: Maine compared with its neighbors
Maine ranks 5th of 50 states by the number of spider species listed; Texas leads with 386 species.
Maine lists more spider species than any state it borders (Maine: 297 species; New Hampshire 72).
What spiders are in Maine? All 297 species
Ranked by licensed records in Maine. The table shows the 60 most recorded of 297 listed spiders.
| # | Species | Family | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | Thomisidae | 100 | 10.6% |
| 2 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | Araneidae | 68 | 7.2% |
| 3 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | Araneidae | 37 | 3.9% |
| 4 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | Pisauridae | 37 | 3.9% |
| 5 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | Pisauridae | 34 | 3.6% |
| 6 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | Araneidae | 34 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | Salticidae | 31 | 3.3% |
| 8 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | Pisauridae | 31 | 3.3% |
| 9 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | Araneidae | 29 | 3.1% |
| 10 | Common candy-striped spider Enoplognatha ovata | Theridiidae | 28 | 3.0% |
| 11 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | Gnaphosidae | 28 | 3.0% |
| 12 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | Salticidae | 27 | 2.9% |
| 13 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | Salticidae | 20 | 2.1% |
| 14 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | Araneidae | 19 | 2.0% |
| 15 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | Araneidae | 18 | 1.9% |
| 16 | Nordmann's orbweaver spider Araneus nordmanni | Araneidae | 17 | 1.8% |
| 17 | Barn spider Araneus cavaticus | Araneidae | 14 | 1.5% |
| 18 | Bridge orbweaver Larinioides sclopetarius | Araneidae | 14 | 1.5% |
| 19 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | Salticidae | 14 | 1.5% |
| 20 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | Linyphiidae | 13 | 1.4% |
| 21 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | Araneidae | 13 | 1.4% |
| 22 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | Araneidae | 12 | 1.3% |
| 23 | Giant lichen orbweaver Araneus bicentenarius | Araneidae | 11 | 1.2% |
| 24 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | Pholcidae | 11 | 1.2% |
| 25 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | Araneidae | 10 | 1.1% |
| 26 | Forest wolf spider Hogna frondicola | Lycosidae | 10 | 1.1% |
| 27 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | Salticidae | 9 | 1.0% |
| 28 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | Salticidae | 8 | 0.9% |
| 29 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | Salticidae | 8 | 0.9% |
| 30 | Bennett's laceweaver Callobius bennetti | Amaurobiidae | 7 | 0.7% |
| 31 | Fierce orbweaver Araneus saevus | Araneidae | 7 | 0.7% |
| 32 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | Pisauridae | 7 | 0.7% |
| 33 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | Thomisidae | 6 | 0.6% |
| 34 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | Lycosidae | 6 | 0.6% |
| 35 | Habronattus decorus | Salticidae | 6 | 0.6% |
| 36 | Marbled purple jumper Phidippus purpuratus | Salticidae | 6 | 0.6% |
| 37 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | Tetragnathidae | 5 | 0.5% |
| 38 | Shamrock orbweaver Araneus trifolium | Araneidae | 5 | 0.5% |
| 39 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | Salticidae | 4 | 0.4% |
| 40 | White sac spider Elaver excepta | Clubionidae | 4 | 0.4% |
| 41 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | Linyphiidae | 3 | 0.3% |
| 42 | Common pirate spider Mimetus puritanus | Mimetidae | 3 | 0.3% |
| 43 | Common white-cheeked jumping spider Pelegrina proterva | Salticidae | 3 | 0.3% |
| 44 | Floricomus plumalis | Linyphiidae | 3 | 0.3% |
| 45 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | Araneidae | 3 | 0.3% |
| 46 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | Theridiidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 47 | Contrasting jumping spider Euophrys monadnock | Salticidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 48 | Eastern cave long-jawed spider Meta ovalis | Tetragnathidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 49 | Emerton's crab spider Xysticus emertoni | Thomisidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 50 | Green long-jawed orbweaver Tetragnatha viridis | Tetragnathidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 51 | Hoy's jumper Evarcha hoyi | Salticidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 52 | Lined orbweaver Mangora gibberosa | Araneidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 53 | Money spider Linyphia triangularis | Linyphiidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 54 | Northern long-toothed sheetweaver Drapetisca alteranda | Linyphiidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 55 | Northern yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium mildei | Cheiracanthiidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 56 | Ornamental orbweaver Larinioides patagiatus | Araneidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 57 | Philodromus exilis | Philodromidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 58 | Pholcus manueli | Pholcidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 59 | Punctated ground crab spider Xysticus punctatus | Thomisidae | 2 | 0.2% |
| 60 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | Lycosidae | 2 | 0.2% |
Related pages
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.