Sunday, April 28, 2024

Seattle's giant house spiders: Big and fast, but they won't kill you

giant house spider

They prefer to avoid contact with humans and hide during the day, meaning they are most often seen at night. Giant house spiders  are a very common spider species found in North Carolina. They have a leg span that can reach up to 4 inches, with a brown and hairy body. Their abdomen is patterned with a series of marks, usually lighter than their overall body color. What is true is that giant house spiders are big, reaching 4 inches with their leg span. Although the female has a larger body, the males have longer legs, according to Iowa State University’s BugGuide.

Brown Widow Spider

As almost all spiders, it possesses venom glands and given its size, also the possibility to penetrate human skin. However, the spider itself is very shy and its first instinct is to run (very fast) and hide when a larger being (humans or animals) approaches. In the few cases in which a giant house spider bites a human or a pet, the symptoms can include some local swelling and pain, comparable to a bee sting. The giant house spider has been treated as either one species, under the name Eratigena atrica, or as three species, E. As of April 2020[update], the three species view was accepted by the World Spider Catalog.

Where do giant house spiders hide?

It’s important to note that while Giant House Spiders may appear intimidating due to their size, they are generally harmless to humans. Their venom is not potent enough to cause any serious harm, and they are not aggressive unless provoked. In fact, these spiders play a beneficial role in controlling the population of pests, making them valuable allies in the ecosystem. Giant House Spiders usually inhabit dark, damp environments such as basements, crawl spaces, and garages. These areas provide them with the ideal conditions for survival, as they prefer the cool and moist environment. The spiders often seek out hidden corners and crevices where they can build their webs and wait for unsuspecting prey to become entangled.

Are Giant House Spiders Venomous?

For example, what we commonly refer to as “daddy-longlegs” are, in most cases, not really spiders. There are actually indoor spiders and outdoor spiders, which are completely different species. The giant house spider was introduced to British Columbia, Canada, around 1900 and has since spread out along the U.S. Independent populations have also been recorded around the Great Lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Those massive spiders you're seeing have been there all along - Wales Online

Those massive spiders you're seeing have been there all along.

Posted: Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

With this species, it is only the adult females that are dangerous. An adult female Western Black Widow is shiny and black with an orange or red hourglass shape on the abdomen. The spider species Eratigena atrica, commonly known as Giant House Spider, belongs to the genus Eratigena, in the family Agelenidae.

How To Tell The Difference Between a Giant House Spider and a Hobo Spider?

Giant house spiders are not aggressive and usually run away, very rapidly, when startled. Giant House Spider bites are not serious and the giant house spiders’ venom is only harmful to individuals with specific allergies. They are often found in garages or basements, as well as outdoors, in firewood, or in gaps between bricks or stones. They build webs with a funnel-like hole in the center, where they sit and wait for prey. The giant house spider is not an active climber and indoors can be found on the floor or trapped in sinks and bathtubs where it has ventured in search of water.

Contents

Our exterminators use ongoing prevention, removal, and exclusion methods to ensure your property is safe from infestations. Ja-Roy is proud to have joined forces with Dugas Pest Control and Presto-X to provide our exceptional service to even more homes and businesses in Louisiana. When it comes to hunting, Giant House Spiders are skilled predators. They rely on their excellent vision to detect movement and vibrations, allowing them to locate potential prey. Once a suitable target is identified, the spider will swiftly move in and immobilize its victim using its venomous fangs.

giant house spider

They live up to three years, and their diet consists of small insects. They tend to build webs in the corners of your home, especially near a window. They capture insects in their webs, inject them with venom, and then save them to be eaten later. While these eight-legged creatures may give you the heebie-jeebies, they are very helpful in controlling the insect population inside your home.

Habitat, Diet, Life Cycle & Bites

They can be found in dark, quiet spaces like cabinets and undisturbed rooms like attics, basements, and garages. As the name suggests, these spiders are often found inside the home. American House spiders have a bulbous abdomen and are brown in color with white or darker patches and lines. Another myth that will be hardly comforting to most people — spiders are actually not more numerous in late summer.

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The average lifespan of a Giant House Spider is around one to two years. During this time, they continue to play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. Their feeding habits and hunting prowess contribute to the control of insect populations, helping to keep the ecosystem in check. Once the eggs hatch, tiny spiderlings emerge, ready to embark on their own journey of growth and development. These young spiders go through several molting stages, shedding their exoskeletons as they grow larger. Each molt brings them closer to adulthood, and with each stage, they become more skilled hunters.

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