Spiders: Care and Feeding of your Roommates

“The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.” ~ William Blake

I posted a funny picture on FB regarding spiders and a friend of mine said, “Spiders looking to our homes for winter refuge is a misconception. I only learned this a few years ago myself. Essentially, the spider activity you see is males looking for mates; it’s the only thing that drives a spider to wander around (wandering is dangerous!).

Indoor spiders placed outside (and any outdoor spiders that make it inside) are more than likely going to die very quickly. Indoor spiders have adapted to live in our homes, they spend their entire lives there; they aren’t adapted to living outdoors (and vice versa). And this from an arachnophobe..”

Then there was this: Myth: Spiders come indoors in the Fall that asserts:

This seemingly simple idea conceals many false assumptions. In reality, house spiders are usually not the same speciesas the yard or garden spiders outside the house.

“House spiders belong to a small number of species specially adapted for indoor conditions (constant climate, poor food supply, very poor water supply). Some house spider species have been living indoors at least since the days of the Roman Empire, and are seldom to be found outside, even in their native countries (usually Europe). Many of these species now live in houses worldwide, and most have been carried by commerce to more than one continent. Few are adapted to North American outdoor environments.”

Another very smart, funny and cute friend of mine noted:

“I heard that house spiders only want two things: food and sex. They’re not interested in anything else. Ever since I started looking at them like stoned freeloader roommates, I’ve been less afraid of them.”

I have to say, the last time there was a rather large spider in my house I grabbed it up and threw it outside. The chickens ate it before it even hit the ground! The indoor cats like to “play” with spiders too.