 |
|
| You Are Here: Burke Museum : Spider Myths : House : Coming In |
House Spider Myths
Myth: Spiders come into houses in the fall to get out of the cold.
Fact: This seemingly simple idea conceals many
false assumptions. In reality, house spiders are usually not the same species
as 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.
House spiders colonize new houses by egg
sacs carried on furniture, building materials and so forth. They usually
spend their entire life cycle in, on or under their native building. If a large
number appear at a specific season, it is usually late
summer (August and September) -- not a notably cold time of year! -- rather
than fall, and their appearance coincides with the mating season of the given
species. What you are seeing is sexually mature males wandering in search of
mates.
The females and young remain hidden for the most part, in crawlspaces, storage
areas and other neglected rooms; wall and floor voids; behind furniture and
appliances, etc. Generally fewer than 5% of the spiders you see indoors have
ever been outdoors.
In contrast, outdoor spider species are not adapted to indoor conditions. Any North American spider that needed artificial shelter for the winter, would have been extinct long before Europeans arrived! Spiders are "cold-blooded" and not attracted to warmth. They don't shiver or get uncomfortable when it's cold, they just become less active and eventually, dormant. Most temperate zone spiders have enough "antifreeze" in their bodies that they won't freeze at any temperature down to -5° C.; some can get colder. The few typical outdoor spiders that do end up indoors, die or at least don't reproduce.
 |
| Only 8 of these 170 Seattle spider species are commonly found both outdoors and in houses. |
Myth: "I'm very kind to spiders; when I find one in the house, I put it back outside instead of killing it."
Fact: You can't put something "back" outside that
was never outside in the first place. Although some house spider species can
survive outdoors, most don't do well there, and some (which are native to other
climates) will perish rather quickly when removed from the protective indoor
habitat. You're not doing them a favor.
In any case, house spiders are mostly harmless and beneficial. Human property
rights mean nothing to other species. There was spider habitat for millions
of years where your home is now. My advice is, "just wave as they go by."
| Previous Myth | Myths Home | Web Resources | Next Myth |
 |
Text ©
2003-2010, Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, University of Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195, USA Phone: 206-543-5590 Photos © as credited |
Queries
to Spider Myths author, Rod Crawford This page last updated 1 September, 2010 This site best viewed at 800 x 600 using IE 5.0 or above. |