The Spiders Next-door: Why they aren't as scary as they seem

Eight legs, up to eight eyes, and hairy, fast, and long fangs! They are depicted as scary creatures in movies and TV shows. The news likes to use catchy titles about the spreading of new species, not rarely missing out on the opportunity to write all big: "poisonous." But why are spiders so scary, and are they truly dangerous? Let's take a look.

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We all know them, and we've all felt them at least once. Suddenly, they come out of nowhere. Sometimes all we feel is the slight weight of something tickling on our arm or walking through our hair. And other times we by accident walk through a spider web in the middle of the road, all too well seeing the critter hanging on the end of it, climbing towards us! And they do it so fast!

Next to these outdoor spiders are the small, thin-legged ones, living behind cupboards or randomly in a cellar or house, making big or small webs, and sometimes, especially at night, they just sail down the ceiling, maybe right above our bed. To be honest, these spiders are not making our lives easy.

So, why should I give them a chance? Don't they have fangs, and don't they bite? Can they truly lay eggs under our skin? Aren't they simply dangerous?

Such and many more questions run through our minds, and I'm not here to tell you to believe in this or that! But I want to help you understand these spiders, or arachnids, a little better and why they do the things they do—and what they don't do!

One more thing: This blog is based on spiders from central, eastern, and maybe northern Europe.

Why do spiders live in the house?

There are actually quite a lot of reasons for a spider to decide to move into our home. House spiders in general usually appear there, where the air is humid. Which is often the reason they appear to like building their homes in your bathroom, where they too have their water source.

Another reason is, like with most insects and arachnids, the food source. In fact, a spider in your home, whether it is now a house spider or any other kind, likes to come wherever other insects came to be. This might be the reason spiders appear often in your kitchen, around where you might hold your trash, and where other insects, like fruit flies and others, can be found.

But especially when the colder time of the year comes around, they too are in need of a dry and warm place. Cellars are, of course, a wonderful chance for them to find a place where they can survive easier.

In general, they have their reasons to roam in your home, usually with the strict goal to avoid you. All encounters with them are mere accidents, and they are, believe me, as uncomfortable as you are!

Zebra Jumping spider on wall controlling fly pest

Some species like to live outside and around your home, like this zebra jumping spider. They like every wall that has a crevasse, is warm, and has plenty of food opportunities. In summer, their prey are often fly species. These do tend to occur wherever there is food. This is, of course, very often next to a home.

But what do I do if I find a spider in my home? You could relocate it! All you need is a small box, a glass, or something to carry it with. A leaf of paper or anything that is thin is the safest way to close the container in a safe way. When you do want to catch a spider, make sure to not move fast for a successful and fast catch on your side. If the spider has a web, beware! If you touch it, it will feel the vibration and might hurry off.

But once I secure the spider, what do I do? It depends on what kind of spider it is. If it's a spider from outside and it's not winter, she won't have a problem if you bring her simply outdoors, maybe even there, where you know there are a lot of food opportunities. The small, grey, and thin-legged house spiders are actually called cellar spiders! Which means they like cellars and places where it's humid in general. If you do come across one such and truly don't want her around, you could search for a place like a cellar.

A little fun fact: The cellar spiders actually have the opportunity, thanks to her long legs on a hunt, to eat small house spiders of other kinds. Which does bring us to the fun fact that house spiders in your house can actually be beneficial!

Do spiders crawl in your bed at night?

Like many things, this is something we have been told by some adults, that spiders come at night, scooting down their line of web, until on our sheets. But is that true? Not really.

It is incredibly rare for a spider to even get unto your bed and if so, on mere accident - but the chance is almost zero. Especially than, when your blanket does not touch any wall or the floor.

But let's venture a little further: What is, if the spider does get on your bed? Nothing. The spider will scurry off as fast as possible. She's not there for a purpose and might've taken the wrong turn somewhere.

Do spiders bite?

It's not a secret. Spiders do have fangs, and if an animal does have fangs, it surely does bite, right? Well, it is possible. But if we now consider spiders in Europe (because, as an example, Australian spiders are simply built differently), there are only a small number of arachnids who have strong enough fangs to actually puncture our skin. Most likely, the only sign that stays back is a small, red bump that might tickle.

There are only some spiders, like the yellow sac spider, whose fangs are able to puncture your skin. This spider's poison can cause, at first, the effects of a wasp or bee sting. The symptoms of this poisonous spider in Europe are not very clear, yet if you do come across it, it's good to keep some steps away, just to be secure!

These animals do not want trouble. They want to avoid you. Yet, if they are in their web, they don't have many places to run to, and some, if feeling threatened, may turn to their only way of protecting themselves—their fangs. Before this would happen, the spider would give you some signs of feeling threatened. It may stretch its legs, point them upwards, and, like its whole body, try to appear bigger.

Like this crab spider below, which wanted to show me, it's much bigger than it actually is.

Male crabspider: A threatening position.

But usually, spiders do not bite and do so only if they're feeling very threatened. But, of course, it is an animal. To be very sure, keep your distance from big spiders (or ones, you don't know at all), the ones you usually only meet on hikes or any outdoor adventure. Do not touch their web or them to not make them nervous. But if you're calm, you can observe and photograph them nicely!

I go by the general rule that if the fangs are very big in comparison to the head, I keep my distance, which is anyways the best way to observe them. Because if you don't disturb them, they will show you many things about their daily lives, which is a treat to watch!

Some spider myths

Some of these myths were a long time around, and I remember hearing them ever since I had been a child! Let's check them out.

"You swallow spiders in your sleep."

There aren't actually truly witnesses who can bring evidence. There are maybe some stories of a spider in the ear, but these are very unique and rare occurrences! But it's a very funny yet unlikely thing to happen.

"Spiders lay their eggs under the skin they wounded."

There are plenty of myths and stories. I've heard one close from an acquaintance of a family member. Yet, there is no evidence, and spiders are not equipped to lay their eggs under the human skin. Not only would it be incredibly hard to do, it's a climate eggs cannot grow in! It seems to be, with the current spiders that are known, impossible.

"Spiders live under the skin."

Likewise as the last myth, a spider won't do that, as it simply makes no sense. They need oxygen and aren't equipped for such a thing! This is just a myth.

"There are so many more spiders in late summer."

It does seem so, doesn't it? Every year I'm waiting for that time, because it's then when some spiders, as example the larger orb weavers, are mature! Yet, there aren't more spiders in late summer. In fact, there are even fewer species out there to observe. It's just spiders like these bigger orb weavers that are getting active, and when they do, you notice them very well. Especially since they are so big.

Four spot orb weaver - female in her hideout

Conclusion

These were quite a bunch of facts and stories about the behaviour of spiders. But I think it's now time to talk a little bit personal. Because I myself used to be someone who had respect for spiders—of some even fear.

I was afraid of big house spiders and orb weavers, especially. I thought they'd be able to bite me. And I was also frightened by cellar spiders, because living on a farm means these spiders will eventually appear in your room sometime and another, which they usually do at night. And I was even bitten once by a very small spider, which gave me a tiny red bump and a huge shock. Nothing came of that bite, of course.

It was only many years later that I started to watch the spiders a little bit more exactly. I observed the way they lived, and even though I didn't want to touch them a little bit or have them in any way dangerously close, I noticed that they were incredibly shy. Every time I breathed too much, they were gone. Whether the cellar spider or a massive orb weaver. Not once had they tried to attack me. With this realisation that they are as scared of me as I am of them, I lost that fear.

Of course, when I started to do macro photography, I learnt so much more from them, and the uncertainty grew into full astonishment and fascination. Soon after, I grew to have massive respect for them. These spiders—some of them—are incredible mothers. The wolf spider, as an example, carries her eggs and babies all the while on her back. If a child drops, she will wait until the small spider climbs back up on her back, and only then they're off again. I never saw that on my own, but I once saw a wolf spider lose the eggs. It dropped to the floor. The wolf spider was frantic, running around. I instantly—very carefully—used a small leaf and lifted the eggs. I tried to put it next to the spider, and only in a matter of seconds she stopped, watched the eggs, and grabbed them. She ran off, finally reunited.

Spiders don't bite if they aren't terribly terrified and feeling threatened. They don't want to be close to us; they're just searching for a good home to sleep dry and catch good food. The spider webs you run into early in the morning are usually the strands they used to "fly" from one place to another or to catch a fast snack—because even a small strand may get them some prey.

But, in general, if you come across a spider who, by accident, came to land on you, don't be afraid. Instantly, like with a wasp, move slowly. You could try to lean against any plant or tree, where the spider will likely get on. Or if that doesn't work, try using a small twig. But don't poke her!

These are the fascinating spiders, arachnids, and if you too know some myths you wondered about, feel free to ask them, and I shall try my best to give an answer!

At last, a glimpse into their life

If you're interested, I've made a video about a kind of spider, which may bring some insight into the daily life of these fascinating animals. In this case, of the Neriene sp.