I KNOW IT MAY BE hard to convince you, but let me try: Don't kill the next spider you see in your home. Why? Because spiders are an important part of nature and our indoor ecosystem – as well as being fellow organisms in their own right.
If you truly can't stand that spider in your house, apartment, garage, or wherever, instead of smashing it, try to capture it and release it outside. It'll find somewhere else to go, and both parties will be happier with the outcome. But if you can stomach it, it's OK to have spiders in your home. In fact, it's normal.
Spiders truly are nature's pest control. They help keep flies, roaches, mosquitoes, stink bugs, and many other home invading species from ever getting inside. Spiders are also great for gardeners. Spiders help keep crop killing insects from ruining your tomatoes, squash, and other plants.
Sometimes when we get too close or disturb them, they treat us like they would treat any predator. Many spiders have threat displays intended to scare off predators, such as rearing up or lunging. Biting in self-defence is another strategy that spiders can use when they are afraid for their lives.
The first thing is to ignore the impulse to get all Hulk-like when you see a spider and squish the little terror. Killing spiders will only attract other spiders; often, this makes way for nastier spiders. Some spiders are doing you a favor and are good to have in your home.
While it is common to dislike or fear spiders, they shouldn't be killed when found in your home. One benefit to having spiders in your home is their tendency to capture nuisance pests and disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes. Rather than killing any spiders you find, make an effort to release them outdoors.
People aren't usually overjoyed to see a spider crawling around inside their home. But Matt Bertone, an entomologist at North Carolina State University, says spiders are an important part of our indoor ecosystem and rarely a danger to humans — so it's best to just leave them alone. "They're part of our environment.
On average, 61.84 spiders can be found per home. There is probably a spider within reach of you right now. The global average spider density stands at about 131 spiders per square meter.
Spiders love to hide in the dark, debris-filled cracks away from humans. Be sure to give the space under your bed a lot of attention while you're cleaning. Since it tends to be dark and dusty under beds, they're an ideal place for spiders to hide away.
Common house spiders, on average, live for about one year. This all depends on the species, though, as some can live to be around 7 years old. There are even some types that can live up to 30 years! Below, we explore the lifespan of a common household spider.
“The majority of spiders in and around the home are pretty harmless,” Dr. Campbell says. “They're not really going to fight unless they're aggravated. And they are predators, so they will prey on other insects inside the home and potentially pest species inside of your house as well.”
Regular cleaning will do much to keep their numbers down. Cleaning and removing their webs will also get rid of their eggs.
They may give you the creeps, but spiders are really just more of a nuisance than a health hazard. In fact, having a few spiders around your home can be advantageous as they will help to keep away harmful pests and disease-carrying insects like ticks, fleas, and cockroaches.
Spiders View Humans As Predators
But what about getting revenge? Spiders will not try to get revenge on you for one simple reason: you are a predator to them!
While the theory is unproven, it is likely that spiders can detect human fear. However, there are only few studies about this topic and it is not yet known for certain. Different animals have sensory organs that are able to identify different stimuli.
Try natural remedies like peppermint oil or vinegar.
Spiders taste and smell with their legs, so they are naturally repelled by certain oils and odours. Spraying surfaces, cracks, and corners with a mixture of peppermint oil and water, or vinegar and water can help deter spiders from entering your home.
It's easy to keep spiders away using natural products. These eight-legged creatures hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. They also don't like peppermint oils, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, and vinegar. Using any of these around your home will keep spiders away.
Another scent that repels spiders is cedar, so if you are really bothered by spiders, consider investing in cedar wood furniture or place cedar wood blocks around your garden and near spider entrances.
When spiders get sucked into a vacuum cleaner, can they eventually crawl back out, or do they suffocate in all that dust? Almost every spider sucked into a home vacuum cleaner will die—either immediately, from the trauma of ricocheting through the machine's narrow tubes, or eventually, from thirst.
Clutter not only makes your home feel crowded, but it also provides the perfect space for spiders to turn your home into their home. Spiders like dusty areas where they know their nests and eggs will be left alone, which is why spiders like to hide under, behind, and inside of furniture and within clutter in your home.
In general, anything that attracts pests can also attract spiders, as this provides an easy food source. This may include trash left around the home, uncovered human or pet food, and plants around the home's exterior. One of the best ways to keep pests (and therefore spiders) out of the home is to keep things tidy.
The number one reason why spiders come into our homes is in the search for food. If you have food sources that insects can get into, they will thrive inside your home. And, when insects thrive, spiders will thrive too. If you want to control spider populations in your home, it's crucial to prevent pests in general.
Spiders eat other insects such as flies, moths, and earwigs. You might not see it, but spiders actually do more good rather than harm, so having them in the corner of your living room might not be that bad. By eating other insects, spiders keep the population in check - this can also help with the spread of diseases.