Cranberry Field Spiders : The Invisible Protectors of the Bogs

What are the first things you think of when someone mentions cranberries? Whether it’s a cool cranberry juice or the traditional cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. But ever give a thought to the cranberry field spiders? Yes, you heard it right! Cranberry bogs are also home to the unsung heroes of accompanying eight-legged creatures. Here, we will get a deep insight into these amazing spiders to know why are they so UNIQUE.

Cranberry Field Spiders

Cranberry field spiders are cute little sometimes-not-so-little guys just walking around the cranberry fields, going about their business and occasionally giving birth to an entire colon of terrified young Americans (well… Scared me good when I was a kid anyways). They are not one species, but a collection of different types of spiders who share an interest in the damp and somewhat cryptic environment at home within cranberry bogs. It is almost as if they have created their own spider park!

Why Cranberry Fields?

So you may be asking yourself: why the heck would spiders live IN cranberry fields? This is a buffet and that’s why it. Only eight-legged monsters come with higher price tags, all of which can have their pick from the swarm crawling over cranberry fields. The cranberry fields are a bounty of food for creatures ranging from small gnats, to smaller bugs. Also, the wet climatic condition is quite conducive to making webs and traps. It’s like a cozy spider spa.

The Role They Play

Cranberry Field Spiders Believe it or not, the Cranberry field spiders have an important job to do in order for those cranberries fields of ours to thrive. The league has a ghost-chiller aspect to it, too. These cranberry farmers are busy growing big juicy cranberries, while underneath these spiders catch and eat harmful insects that could destroy the crops. They are practically the bouncers of a nightclub who ensures that only people with correct entries get access.

And you know what, this is all for free! With no salary, nor benefits- just the love of it. These would be the first in line for a spider union, asking for more money.

The Value of a Cranberry Field Spider

Living Life as a Cranberry Field Spider You crawl out of bed, stretch your eight legs and go catch a fly or two. If you like to eat in the morning, you are going too look at your web as soon after breakfast as is practical for any uninvited guests. If you get here early, grab a carry-out sandwich or crouton shootout. So perhaps after that you wander around the town soaking up the love, then lounge in one of their late afternoon spots and admire all those red cranberries by natural light. Life’s good!

Things get a bit heavier at night. Spiders clean up their webs, putting them in the optimum spot for catching a top bug. They are literally fishing, but the fishes in question here are just these small irritating bugs. Then, of course, there was the occasional dance-off with a spider — as one does. We all need to have a little fun!

Cranberry Field Spider Quick Facts

They Multitask: These spiders are more than just pest-eaters, they help with pollination as well. They obviously are the over-achievers.

Cranberry Field Spider Gymnastics: The cranberry field spider has one of the best vertical jumps in all of Massachusetts. If these were humans, they would definitely win gold medals at the Olympics.

Silent Heroes: Although it may make us scream to see them, cranberry field spiders are hard at work controlling pests in the bogs. They are the unsung heroes of plants, without a cape.

Are They Dangerous?

The bright-side, cranberry field spiders are generally harmless to humans. Sure, they may startle you if you stumble upon one—but really, it points out that males are not on the prowl to attack hikers. It seems they are more excited about bugs than anything else. So next time you see a spider in the cranberry field do not think of it as enemy… nod your head to say hello. Are you kidding me, it does what its meant to do.

Conclusion

Although you may not think of cranberry field spiders when imagining a box labeled “cranberries,” they are quite important to the ecosystem. They help to maintain the field free from pest, and contribute to the well-being of cranberry crop. When you are sipping on that cranberry juice, or enjoying some of the rich and creamy mashed potato sauce remember to give thanks to these tiny little spiders who have done all this work. And perhaps you can think about not crushing them the next time one pops up in your living room? They are simply out there living their best spider lives okay?

If only they weren’t scary, too.