Who among us has not screamed, cringed, or run away after spotting spiders in the house? Over the years, horror movies have depicted spiders as scary beasts hungry for human flesh, making many people afraid of these critters. Some people, however, have an irrational fear of spiders, called arachnophobia.
For whatever reason, however, many of us end up killing these bugs if we come across them in our vicinity or look for the best way to get rid of spiders. But, did you know that having spiders in the house is a good thing? Continue reading this article to find out why that is.
But first, let’s learn a little more about spiders.
What Is A Spider?
Spiders belong to the same class of arthropods as mites, scorpions, and ticks, called arachnids. Currently, there are 45,000 known species of spiders in different habitats across the world. They are not the same as insects, like ants, flies, etc. Spiders have eight legs, fangs that can inject venom, and anywhere from zero to 12 eyes. According to National Geographic, spiders range from 0.011 in (Samoan spider) to up to one foot (12 in) in length.
Are All Spiders Harmful?
All species of spiders have venom to some degree, but only a handful of them are actually dangerous to humans. The venom from arachnids, like the black widow and the brown recluse, is some of the deadliest. Otherwise, most of them are harmless.
What Are The Benefits Of Having Household Spiders?
Contrary to popular belief, spiders are actually quite beneficial to the environment and ecology. Also, no matter what you do or how much you try, it is almost impossible to keep them out of your house.
While some spiders may end up in your house by accident, others love living out their lives indoors. The common household spiders are secretive and hide out in places out of your reach, much like introverts. Having spiders in the house can also benefit you in different ways.
Most species of spiders are generalist predators, meaning they will eat anything they catch in their web. However, spiders frequently catch and eat annoying pests like beetles and moths that contaminate your food and clothing, as well as mosquitoes that spread disease.
A type of jumping spider in African homes loves to consume blood-filled mosquitoes inside African dwellings.
According to ‘Martin Nyffeler and Klaus Birkhofer’, (published in The Science of Nature), 400 to 800 million tons of insects are consumed annually by spiders worldwide. Spiders even eat their own kind. By killing a spider, you are not just taking its life but are also removing an important predator from your house.
Another way in which spiders are good for your house is that they prey on bugs like aphids, gnats, and mites, that may be harming you or your house plants.
NOTE: it’s never a good idea to go out hunting for spiders to introduce into your home for pest control. You might end up getting bitten by a bug or injuring yourself. Just allow things to happen naturally.
If you really can’t bear that spider in your home, apartment, garage, or anywhere else, attempt to catch it and release it outside instead of killing it. There are many home remedies for pest control, one such remedy is to spray a mixture of water and vinegar on the cobwebs.
As per Wikipedia, despite the spider’s name, it rarely preys on birds.
Some Interesting Household Spider Facts
- The Goliath Bird-eating Tarantula is the biggest spider in the world. The Goliath bird-eater has one-inch-long fangs and can reach up to one foot. Despite the name of the spider, it rarely preys on birds. The Goliath fires its tiny body hairs at whatever threatens it. Although, its bite won’t kill you unless you have an allergy. You should nevertheless prepare for excruciating agony, nausea, and excessive perspiration if you do get bitten.
- The Samoan moss spider is the tiniest arachnid in the whole world at just 0.3 mm or 0.011 in. It is practically undetectable to the naked eye. According to Guinness World Records, however, the smallest spider in the world is the Symphytognathidae which is 0.3 mm in length. But it states that three spiders are being touted as the smallest: Symphytognathidae, Samoan moss spiders, and Patu digua.
- Most people in the world believe that the black widow spider is the deadliest spider in the world. According to Guinness World Records, Australia’s funnel-web spiders are the most venomous spiders in the world.
- The most common household spiders are cobweb spiders and cellar spiders, according to a 2016 survey of 50 North Carolina homes conducted by,’ Bertone MA & Leong M. et al.’ (published in peerj,2016).
Remember that, like most creatures, spiders are more afraid of you than you are of them. While some spiders can be dangerous, most are harmless and mind their own business. They have a place in nature and ecological systems, which also include the ecology of your house. Let ‘live and let live’ be your motto, and learn to live with them.
If you don’t like spiders in the house or really want to get rid of them and other bugs, check out
Top 8 Tips to Prevent Pest Infestation at Your Home!
We hope this article has been informative and entertaining.
Author Bio
Andrea Noronha – Andrea Noronha is a content writer and editor with over 4 years of experience. Although she comes from a finance background, Andrea is passionate about blogging about interior design. Her other interests include travelling, baking, and digital marketing.