Cranberry spiders are actually several different species, including wolf Spiders (Lycosidae), orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae), and nursery web spiders (Pisauridae). These arachnids have evolved to live and hunt in a wetland environment, making a flooded cranberry bog perfect for their habitat. They usually hunt insects and other small creatures but hardly ever bother humans aside from surprising us when they surface unexpectedly.

Because cranberry bogs also attract insects that like to eat the berries, cranberry spiders are a great, natural pest control option. Although some bites can occur, serious harm from bog spider bites is rare. Rather, these unique hunters help to protect cranberry bogs from destructive pests like cranberry fruit worms and weevils, making them good neighbors to their cranberry bog hosts.