SPIDER FACTS

 KEY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: All spiders have eight legs and two body regions - a

cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and an abdomen In contrast, insects have six legs and three body regions. Spiders also lack wings and antennae. All spiders have a pair of jaw-like structures

known as chelicerae. Spinnerets, the silk-spinning glands used for making webs, are located at the tip of the abdomen.

LIFE CYCLE: Spiders reproduce by laying eggs contained in an egg sac. These sacs are usually ball-shaped and are generally carried by the female or hidden in webs. Most sacs contain about 100 eggs each which hatch in about three weeks. After several molts, adulthood is reached in approximately one year. 

Spiders often are seen as ugly, threatening creatures. These eight legged, non-insect arthropods elicit fear and revulsion. Yet, they are a part of our every day world. They are viewed as beneficial when they capture insects but seen as pests when found inside the house.

Most buildings have a resident spider population feeding on household insects, stray flies, and each other. They live in neglected areas: attics, basements, behind and under furniture; bookcases or appliances; and in cracks between boards. Corners and baseboards are favorite locations.

Most house spiders are seldom seen except during housecleaning, but some of the larger species mature and become more active from late August to early October. At that time, the house may appear to have been invaded. Outdoor spiders do sometimes blow or crawl in through open windows, etc., but most either die of thirst in the house or fall prey to resident species.

Depending on your outlook, spiders in the house can be an advantage or disadvantage. A few spiders are rarely noticeable and help control other insects that find their way into the house. Spiders do, however, produce sheets or strands (cobwebs) of silk webbing, and small white specks of excrement which may drop on underlying items. People with allergies to spider venom, a fear of insects, or severe health problems should minimize the chance of any encounter with spiders.

Fear of Spiders

It is surprising how people have developed a fear of spiders. People who really aren't afraid may automatically behave as if they were. Horror movies, other people and just plain misinformation about spiders often are causes for this fear. Teasing by parents or children creates false impressions and fear. Another factor contributing to the fear is spiders move quickly, giving the impression they are "after" us. Other spiders hang around at eye level, where we blunder into their webs. People consider spiders to be ugly and frightening. In truth many are quite handsome or graceful, and all of them are fascinating.

Whatever the cause for fear of spiders, the fear is real. With some thought, effort and accurate knowledge about spiders, it may be possible to reduce the fear of spiders.

Basics

Spiders are predators of insects and other creatures. Usually they only capture prey smaller than or equal to their own size. Humans are far too big, even for the most ambitious spider. Many spiders are small and have small mouth parts. These spiders are not capable of biting through human skin.

Spiders which can bite through human skin only do so when provoked. Often bites occur when the spider is pinched or trapped in clothing. Their bite is merely a defense reaction; when you're cleaning the garage you may stick your finger in the spider's area, or trap it. Wearing gloves would prevent bites.

Lastly, humans out-weigh and out-size spiders many thousand times and are much more likely to behave with murderous intent. It should be the spider who feels "fear" at our approach -- not us. (Perhaps that's why they run so fast).

 

The Spin Doctor	HOBO SPIDER PAGE	spider woman	Spider Bites?	Black Widow
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Spiders can be ignored if their numbers are small and they stay in out of the way places. They primarily eat insects already present in homes, such as cupboard pests, silverfish, or clothes moths. Sometimes they eat each other or capture stray insect invaders such as rootweevils and blowflies. Spiders that are more visible, like the ones that get trapped in the tub or run up a wall, can be captured and released outside, vacuumed up, swatted flat, or sprayed with an insecticide. (Do not over-spray).

Usually spider activity declines by mid-October. Unless you continually introduce new spiders on firewood, household spiders will retire into obscurity for another year, quietly killing several times their weight in household insect pests and flies.

"Poisonous" Spiders

Because spiders inject a small amount of venom into their prey, they are all "poisonous." Some spiders, however, are known to be dangerously venomous to humans. Their poison has a severe effect on most humans. Most other spiders, if they are able to penetrate the skin, produce only a mild reaction varying from none, to that of a mosquito bite or wasp sting, unless the individual has an allergy to that particular venom. Consult a physician if pain and discomfort follow a spider bite.

The only dangerously venomous spider known to occur in Washington is the western black widow, Latrodoctus hesperus. It is not native to Snohomish County, though it is common in eastern Washington. Specimens are sometimes introduced here but apparently cannot establish a permanent population in our climate. Widows are shy, retiring spiders and bite only reluctantly, usually only when molested. A common local house species is often mistaken for a black widow but has no red mark.

The much feared brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa is not known to be established anywhere west of the Rocky mountains. Occasional news reports of bites by brown recluse spiders have never been verified with an actual spider specimen.

More common in the Puget Sound Area is Tegenaria agrestis, the aggressive house spider. This spider is so named as it bites with little provocation when cornered or threatened. This spider can cause a severe reaction in persons allergic to spider venom, with the allergic reaction being very similar to that of the brown recluse.

As in all spider bites, if you can trap the offending spider, your County Extension Office should be able to identify the specimen.

Spider Management

You alone can select the methods that will solve your spider problem or your reaction to the problem Fortunately, there will always be spiders. The best solution is to manipulate the environment so the spiders don't live where you do. It is unrealistic to expect that spiders can be totally eliminated. On the other hand, one need not live with abundant spiders. If you can't live with your spiders, some of the following approaches can reduce their numbers:

1. Habitat modification: those spiders which are capable of moving indoors are ones which establish their webs in wood piles, junk piles, disused yard furniture or traps, trash bins, outdoor stairwells, window frames, porch superstructures, brick piles, or ventilation structures. Eliminating or keeping these sites relatively clean will help to keep spider populations low.
2. Structural modification: prevent spider entry by keeping doors and windows screened; by weatherstripping doors so there are no openings between the bottom of the door and the doorsill; closing gaps around water pipes under sinks; and sealing cracks and openings in the house.
3. Sanitation inside: Stored boxes, piles of magazinesand other items in basements create ideal hiding places for spiders. Many live out their lives and die without ever being noticed. The old practice of spring and fall cleaning is a practical control measure. Vacuum behind and under furniture and book cases, along baseboards and corners and in storage areas.
4. Pesticides (inside): an aerosol bomb or fogger will reduce spiders, as well as fleas and other insects that are already present. It will not provide residual control for insect coming in later. The pesticide also may not penetrate inaccessible areas. Follow label directions.
5. Pesticides (outside): Diazinon or dursban, can be applied around the outside of doors, window, vents, outdoor stairwells or window wells, foundations, or cracks and openings. Spray only where needed. Be sure that the site, (indoor use, along foundations outside, etc.) is listed on the label. The product should also be labeled for spiders or nuisance pests.
6. Exterminators: Professional pest control operators (PCO's) or exterminators will tackle the job for you. There are many approaches used by various companies.
7. Firewood: Spiders seek warmth and shelter in protected places like logs, under piles of rocks, bark and other debris. The wood pile is a choice winter residence. Many spiders ride inside on the firewood. Protect outside wood piles with covering. The more debris that falls on the wood, the more attractive the spiders find it. It isn't advisable to spray the wood pile. Pesticides with enough residual to keep spiders out could be toxic to handle, ant there is no information available on possible health effects of burning wood treated with pesticides.
8. New construction: if you are adding a room, building a house, or remodeling, consider treating the wall voids with relatively non-toxic (to humans) boric acid. This material is picked up on the insects' body and eaten when the insect grooms itself.

Intregrated Pest Management

Usually, successful pest management requires a combination or blend of methods. Each situation may require a different combination of management strategies.

Identifying Spiders

The most reliable way to distinguish major spider groups is by arrangement of the eyes on the "head" region of the spider. On the large spiders, this eye arrangement is readily visible. A hand lens or magnifier may make the job easier in some cases.

1. Eyes in 3 rows, arranged in 4, 2,2 pattern (Wolf spider & Jumping spider)
2. Eyes in 2 rows of 4 (most spiders)
3. Eyes in 3 pairs (Brown recluse and relatives)

Using the eye arrangement is much more accurate when trying to identify Brown Recluse spiders and spiders which have been squashed.

Fold up like a box if it is likely to get exposed to dust or moisture or if it could be accidentally stepped on.  It is recommended to fold up if it is going to be exposed to pets or children.  Otherwise, leave open to expose more catching surface. Place along the wall.    In the house, place traps near doors and entries, behind furniture such as television consoles or couch. Also place under beds or in closets.  It is also affective to place the traps under the house and in garages, but try keeping them from exposure to moisture.

Prepared by Sharon J. Collman, County Extension Agent, Mr. Rod Crawford, Burke Museum, University of Washington and Dr. Art Antonelli, Washington State University Cooperative Extension Puyallup. Slightly revised 5/96 Art Antonelli, Entomologist, WSU Cooperative Extension. Photo by Dave Pehling.

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Revised: 05/11/08. Home