Cranberry field spiders play a big role in maintaining the ecosystem in and around cranberry bogs. Species such as wolf spiders, jumping spiders and crab spiders live and keep the insect population in balance. They actively hunt, build webs and control the population of other insects living in cranberry fields.These spider species help control pests such as cockroaches, mosquitoes and ants, preventing damage to cranberry crops. Naturally, a sustainable agriculture is created.Do they crawl on people? Do they bite people? Which species are cranberry field spiders? You will find more information about cranberry field spiders here.
Description: They are known for being hunters. They move fast by following their prey and this is how they hunt.
Physical Characteristics: Brown or gray in color. They have big and strong legs.
Role: They hunt harmful insects and take an active role in natural pest control.
Description: They weave large pillow-shaped webs. They catch their prey with nets.
Physical Characteristics: They have long legs and slender bodies. Their webs are spread over large areas of the ground.
Role: They catch their prey with nets and take an active part in the ecosystem.
Description: They have strong hind legs and catch their prey by jumping.
Physical Characteristics: Eyes are small and colorful. Their head is large and round.
Role: They catch their prey by jumping and feed on small insects. They monitor insect populations in the ecosystem.
Description: Small in size with long legs. They are not spiders but look similar.
Physical Features: Eight-legged. Their legs are very long and their bodies are small.
Role: They feed on decaying organic matter in cranberry fields.
Description: Large spiders with a yellow-black pattern. They weave distinctive and conspicuous webs.
Physical Characteristics: Yellow, black and white in color.
Role: Feed on insects (especially flies and mosquitoes) in their webs.
Description: They wait camouflaged on flowers and catch their prey by leaping.
Physical Characteristics: They have short legs and a wide, flat body. They can move sideways like a crab.
Role: They feed by catching pests in flowers. They contribute to the protection of cranberries in cranberry fields.
Cranberry field spiders, including jumping spiders, orb-weaver spiders and wolf spiders, are generally harmless to humans. These spiders prefer to prey on insects such as mosquitoes, cockroaches and beetles, which makes them important for pest control in cranberry fields. Some species may accidentally crawl on people, but they do not consider humans as prey.
Cranberry field spiders are not aggressive. They may bite when provoked or threatened. This is very rare. Their bites can cause mild irritation, similar to a mosquito bite. Unlike bed bugs, this type of spider does not feed on human blood and does not infest homes. If you encounter one in a cranberry patch, we should let them do what they do best – natural pest control tasks.