The Burke Museum is CLOSED to prepare for the New Burke (opening October 2019).
Learn More
Topic Page
Read about the Burke's research into what the future holds for spiders and other species in forest areas cleared for logging.
Burke volunteers discover two spider families new to Washington state.
Bug out as thousands of specimens, dead and alive, fly, buzz, or crawl to the Burke Museum for Bug Blast, a favorite annual all-ages event.
How did a spider common in Europe make its way to Seattle? We may never know, but it appears to be here to stay.
Spiders seldom need controlling and pesticides are not the best way to do so. Sticky traps or better yet, physical exclusion work best.
Spider bite cases resulting in amputation are sometimes reported, but no such case has confirmation of actual spider involvement.
Several studies show that only in rare cases do spider fangs carry lesion-causing microorganisms. Antibiotics help only if it's not a bite.
Few if any physicians can correctly ID spiders from bite symptoms alone. Spiders caught biting should be ID'd by arachnologists.
Inadequate studies claimed that wolf spiders, "yellow" sac spiders, woodlouse spiders and white-tailed spiders were dangerous. They aren't!
Hobo spiders are neither aggressive nor are they true house spiders; the inflammatory name "agressive house spider" is a reject.
A chevron pattern, boxing-glove palps or a funnel web do not mean it's a hobo spider; you need a microscope to determine that.
Contrary to what you've heard, you cannot recognize a "brown recluse" spider by a violin shape. Numerous other spiders have one too!