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Ask the gardening expert

The Columbian
Published: October 28, 2010, 12:00am

I’m suddenly seeing many spiders. And not just outside, I have seen several big ones in my house. Why now?

Recently we’ve had lots of questions about spiders. Gardeners know that spiders eat many bad bugs in the garden. Some of us are spider sissies, but we tolerate them outside. It’s when we notice spiders indoors that most of us start to object.

Your house, like mine, has a resident spider population. They live in attics, basements or crawl spaces; behind and under furniture; bookcases or appliances; and in cracks between boards. Corners and baseboards are favorite locations.

It’s best if you can be philosophical about resident spiders. A few spiders are rarely noticeable and help control insects like flies, mosquitoes, clothes moths and cupboard pests. Some of the larger species mature and become more active from late August to early winter. That’s when your the house may appear to have been invaded.

According to retired WSU Entomologist Dr. Art Antonelli, they may be out looking for mates that time of year, and come into your home accidentally. Some adjust to the climate indoors, and settle in. But most outdoor spiders soon die of thirst or fall prey to resident species.

Spiders that are noticed—like the ones that get trapped in the tub or run up a wall—can be captured and released outside, vacuumed up or swatted flat.

Usually spider activity declines by late fall. Unless you are continually introducing new spiders on firewood, your household spiders will retire into obscurity for another year.

For the most part you won’t know they are in your home until you observe the spider webbing that catches house dust.

Horror movies and just plain misinformation about spiders often cause people to fear them. Also, some spiders move quickly, giving the impression they are “after” us. With some accurate knowledge about spiders, it may be possible to reduce the fear.

Spiders are predators, but humans are far too big to be prey — even for the most ambitious spider! Many spiders have small mouth parts and are not capable of biting through human skin. Spiders that can bite only do so when provoked, as a defensive reaction. Often bites occur when the spider is pinched or trapped in clothing. This time of year you might give clothing pulled from a closet a good shake before thrusting an arm into a seldom worn sweater or jacket.

I know a fellow who tells me he does a “war dance” on his work gloves before he puts his hands inside.

Spiders inject a small amount of venom into their prey, so they are all poisonous. But due to the size of the spider, and the size of you, most bites are near harmless. Most of those that bite people produce reactions varying from none at all to that of a mosquito bite or wasp sting, unless the individual has an allergy to that particular venom. A few spiders are known to be dangerously venomous to humans. Consult a physician if pain or discomfort follows a spider bite.

The black widow is common east of the mountains. While not impossible, it is highly unlikely you will ever see one in the Southwest Washington. The brown recluse spider is not known to be established anywhere west of the Rockies. Occasional reports of bites by brown recluse spiders have been made, but they have never been verified with an actual spider specimen.

Antonelli said that medical personnel suggest bites are from a brown recluse, not knowing how unlikely it is to find that species in the Pacific Northwest. He suggests it is more than likely the work of the so-called hobo spider, which is frequently found in Western Washington. It bites when cornered or threatened and can cause a severe reaction in people allergic to the venom.

Celeste Lindsay is a WSU master gardener. Send questions to mlindsay8@gmail.com.

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