Snakes and spiders in Dukes County, Massachusetts
Dukes County, home of Edgartown, has 8 snake and 24 spider species on record, from 75 licensed snake and 436 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the timber rattlesnake, the eastern copperhead and the northern black widow are on the Massachusetts list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Dukes County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Dukes County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (31), the eastern ribbonsnake (12) and the eastern milksnake (11).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Massachusetts records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 31 | 3% |
| 2 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 12 | 17% |
| 3 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 11 | 8% |
| 4 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 6 | 10% |
| 5 | Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis | 6 | 15% |
| 6 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 5 | 5% |
| 7 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 3 | 9% |
| 8 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 1 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Dukes County?
Observation records of snakes in Dukes County run mostly March through October, peaking in October with 23% of them; across Massachusetts the peak is May.
What spiders are in Dukes County?
In all, 24 spider species are on the Dukes County list. The most recorded are the familiar jumping spider (46), the orchard orbweaver (39) and the nursery web spider (30). Dukes County holds more than half of all Massachusetts records of the cardinal jumper.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Massachusetts records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 46 | 19% |
| 2 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 39 | 13% |
| 3 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 30 | 12% |
| 4 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 24 | 25% |
| 5 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 19 | 21% |
| 6 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 18 | 32% |
| 7 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 14 | 17% |
| 8 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 11 | 13% |
| 9 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 11 | 16% |
| 10 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 10 | 40% |
| 11 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 9 | 10% |
| 12 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 9 | 26% |
| 13 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 8 | 25% |
| 14 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 8 | 14% |
| 15 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 7 | 4% |
| 16 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 7 | 16% |
| 17 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 7 | 11% |
| 18 | Cardinal jumper Phidippus cardinalis | 6 | 67% |
| 19 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 6 | 12% |
| 20 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 5 | 20% |
| 21 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 5 | 8% |
| 22 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 3 | 6% |
| 23 | Giant lichen orbweaver Araneus bicentenarius | 2 | 7% |
| 24 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 1 | 1% |
When are spiders out in Dukes County?
Observation records of spiders in Dukes County run mostly April through October, peaking in July with 21% of them; across Massachusetts the peak is August.
What stands out in Dukes County
Species for which Dukes County holds a large share of all Massachusetts records: the arrowshaped micrathena, 40% (10 of 25); the grayish jumping spider, 32% (18 of 56); the black-and-yellow argiope, 25% (24 of 95); the filmy dome spider, 21% (19 of 91); the familiar jumping spider, 19% (46 of 247); the eastern ribbonsnake, 17% (12 of 70); the flea jumping spider, 17% (14 of 82); the whitebanded crab spider, 16% (11 of 69).
Common in Massachusetts, not on the Dukes County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Massachusetts, these do not reach the county list: the northern water snake (347 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (14 statewide), the eastern copperhead (12 statewide) and the eastern hog-nosed snake (12 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Massachusetts, these do not reach the county list: the northern black widow (162 statewide) and the zebra spider (86 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Dukes County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Massachusetts list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern milksnake. Coral snakes are not on the Massachusetts list, but GBIF holds 1 coral snake record of any license in Massachusetts (eastern coral snake 1): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern milksnake.
Dukes County among Massachusetts counties
By licensed snake records Dukes County ranks 8th of 14 Massachusetts counties with any.
Other Massachusetts counties with their own page: Middlesex County, Worcester County, Norfolk County, Essex County, Barnstable County, Plymouth County and Suffolk County.
The whole state: venomous species in Massachusetts, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.