Spiders give most people the “willies,” which is why they are often featured prominently in Halloween décor. Most spiders, however, are harmless to humans and pets and can actually have a positive effect on their environment.

According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) all spiders have venom, but spiders that can be found in Massachusetts do not have fangs that can break through human, or most animal’s, skin.

“ Spiders play an important role in our environment by controlling insect populations, including pests like aphids and mosquitoes,” said Emily Stolarski, Communication Coordinator at MassWildlife.

They are also a food source for birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.

Bold jumping spider

The bold jumping spiders ( Phidippus audax ) look almost cuddly with large eyes and hairs that give them a fuzzy appearance. Their eight eyes have excellent vision and depth perception.

There are about 300 species of jumping spiders in North America with the bold jumping spider being the most common. They can jump 10 to 40 times the length of their bodies, and usually sneak up and pounce on their prey.

Common house spider

Not surprisingly, the common house spider ( Parasteatoda tepidariorum ) is often found in homes. They use a traditional web to catch their prey, small insects and household pests, and are considered by most to be a welcome guest. Males and females will share a web for long periods of time and females often build webs close to one another. They can range in color from tan to nearly black, and easily blend into their surroundings to hide from predators.

Yellow garden spider

Yellow garden spiders ( Argiope aurantia ) are expert weavers and can construct a large and complex web in a short time. They are often found in the eaves of houses where they ensnare their prey, wrap it in silk, inject venom into its body to kill it, liquify its organs, and save it to eat later.

These spiders are not aggressive towards people. The females have more yellow on their bodies than the males and are three times larger than males. Their diet consists of grasshoppers, wasps, and beetles.