Spiders in the house: what they eat, how long they live, how they reproduce

06.11.2016

Spiders appear in almost every apartment from time to time. People's attitude towards these living beings is ambiguous: some do not like them and try to eliminate them, others, blaming folk superstitions, leave them alone. In order not to torment yourself with doubts about what to do with new neighbors, you need to know whether they are dangerous or, on the contrary, beneficial and how to prevent their appearance in the apartment.

What species live in the apartment
Reasons for appearing in the apartment
Dangerous or not

What types of spiders are there?

Spiders, represented by several species, live in the house with humans. Most often it is:

haymaker (also known as centipede or windowcutter);
black or gray;
tramp.

The harvester has a body with a round or oval abdomen, six or eight legs, which are its distinctive feature. The length of the window spider's legs reaches 5 cm. The centipede weaves complex, extensive webs that trap small insects. The spider guards the victim who falls into the web, and as soon as the active desire to escape makes her so entangled that she cannot move, she injects paralyzing poison into her.

In a house or apartment, the haymaker chooses places near windows or in dark corners, hanging mostly upside down. When large insects approach, the spider, guarding the web, tries to swing it as actively as possible.

Black or gray house spiders are noticeably smaller than harvest spiders. Their body length does not exceed 14 mm. The web of such spiders resembles a pipe in shape, which after each victim the arthropod returns to its original position, repairing damage. Most often, female gray and black spiders hunt for small insects in the house.

An interesting type of domestic arthropod is the vagrant. They can be distinguished by their elongated body and long legs. The main feature of spiders is the absence of webs. They don't need it for hunting. Vagrants attack their prey while jumping, instantly paralyze it with poison, and then actively eat it. Predators do not stay in one house for long.

For humans, the poison of tramps is not dangerous, given the characteristics of our climate. In countries with hot climates, spider venom can cause inflammation of the skin.

In addition to the arthropods listed above, other species may appear in the house, but this does not happen so often.

What do spiders eat?

A representative of the described species is able to do without food and water for a long time. The spider preys on insects, including their larvae. Hermites, however, do not despise their fellows and small vertebrates. Unlike most other species, recluse spiders do not use webs to catch prey.

Flies and mosquitoes

Spiders hunt their prey while moving away from the nest. The killing is carried out by injecting a toxin from special glands located on the cephalothorax.

The hunter spider does not resort to preserving the prey with a net, but immediately begins to process it, tearing the meat with its jaws and injecting gastric juice.

Insects

When hunting insects, spiders wait for the deadly effect of the poison. After the prey dies, they proceed to eat, turning the carcass into a comfortable position as they eat.

Insect larvae

The easiest prey for hermits due to low mobility and lack of immunity.

Spider in the house: good or bad

Spiders are not pets. They live in the wild, but can easily settle in a house or apartment if the living conditions are suitable for them and food is constantly available. By understanding what spiders feed on, you can prevent them from appearing in your home. Favorite delicacies of arthropods:

mosquitoes;
cockroaches;
flies.

The answer to why there are many spiders in the apartment is simple - the more of these insects there are in the house, the more hunters for them will appear. The solution to the problem is simple - tighten cleaning, including in hard-to-reach places.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures that can prevent the appearance of arthropods include:

Fight against other insects that are food for spiders. If they have nothing to eat, they will not stay in the apartment for a long time.
Clean your room often. During cleanup, the webs are often destroyed, forcing the spiders to move to a safer location. Plus, a clean room leaves less food for arthropods, which also encourages them to leave the inhospitable area.
Place mosquito nets on the windows. They will block one of the main access routes to the premises. Don't forget to take them off for the winter.
Spiders do not like strong herbal aromas, such as mint or eucalyptus. They try not to stay in such premises for long.

How spiders get into the house

Arthropods appear in an apartment or house by penetrating:

through windows;
through doors;
through the attic;
through the basement;
on clothes;
on flowers or purchased plants brought from the street.

How good is this or, on the contrary, bad for a person and the main thing is whether it is necessary to kill uninvited “guests” if the fate is that spiders actively reproduce, littering the house with cobwebs and traces of vital activity. In fact, a lot depends on the superstitiousness of the home owners.

If they believe in omens, then most likely they consider spiders to be symbols of good luck, income, and success. However, signs associated with spiders are not always positive. Many, not knowing for sure whether spiders in the house are good or bad, believe that they can bring bad luck, illness, and even provoke adultery.

Why do you dream about many big spiders - Miller’s dream book

When you dream of a lot of big spiders, it is a very successful sign. This means that you will soon achieve success in some field in which you work, but it will not necessarily be in the professional field.

Dreaming of many large spiders in your house is a signal that you have accidentally harmed someone, and if you see someone getting rid of large spiders, this is a warning that you will soon have association with envious people .

When many large spiders appear in a dream, no matter where it occurs, it may mean that you unconsciously feel the need to remain in a monogamous relationship. This dream also has meaning - you are very tired of relationships that are reaching a dead end, you will be given a chance to improve everything, take advantage of it.

Is it necessary to exterminate arthropods?

Corners, windows and ceilings covered with cobwebs look untidy. If there are a lot of spiders in the house, it means that the cleaning there is carried out poorly, with hard-to-reach places being ignored. That is why the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to look for a remedy for spiders is in the affirmative. It is possible and necessary to fight arthropods, but it is better to do it humanely, especially if the goal is not to harm living beings.

The most humane method is to remove the spider from the house mechanically. Arthropods are manually collected in a jar or on a scoop, taken away from the house, and the cleanliness of the house is monitored, preventing their further appearance.

Spiders hibernate outdoors under leaves, in warm corners behind the bark of trees, so you can release them from your home at any time of the year.

Chemicals and aerosols

If there is an invasion of spiders in the house, then general cleaning and folk methods alone will not do. You will have to poison the spiders with chemicals. These drugs are based on pyrethroids (bifenthrin, permitrin, tetramethrin). Chemicals are used against spiders in the form of aerosols.

Raid

The spray is effective against many insects: spiders, ants, cockroaches. The aerosol is recommended for use only inside tightly closed rooms. The substance is toxic; you should leave the room immediately after the event.

Aerosol Raptor

Raptor, familiar to many from commercials, has a minty smell. Its active ingredients are cypermethrin and tetramethrin. The insects themselves need to be sprayed with the spray as they move. Due to the fact that Raptor, used against spiders, is toxic, it should be sprayed in a respirator, and the room should be ventilated a quarter of an hour after the event.

Joker Bun

Turkish development against spiders and other insects. The product is odorless and recommended for both indoor and outdoor spaces. When it hits an insect, it instantly dies. After drying, the aerosol repels pests.

Aerosol against spiders Bros

An effective insect repellent is the Polish drug Bros.

When a spider comes into contact with this product, it immediately dies. Afterwards, parasites no longer crawl on surfaces treated with this drug. The substance is valid for 3 months after use.

Glue traps

To combat spider infestations, you can use special traps with sticky material applied to the surface. The device should be placed under furniture, inside cabinets, opposite baseboards. Many supporters of this option for protecting your home from arthropods leave positive reviews about it, speaking about the effectiveness and, most importantly, the safety of this product, in contrast to insecticides such as dichlorvos against the presence of spiders.

Dust Clean House

You can treat the premises with a simple insecticide - dust, which is used to destroy various household pests: spiders, bedbugs, cockroaches, ants. The effectiveness of protection with this powder is about a month.

Diatomite

A proven remedy for arthropods is Diatomite. Its main advantage is the absence of harm to people and animals. The substance should be spread near the cracks in the baseboards.

Insecticidal chalk

Special chalk will help protect your home from uninvited guests. Its application is quite simple - the substance needs to be applied to the baseboards, this will provide a reliable barrier to insects.

Vacuuming

One of the reasons for the appearance of spiders in the house is dirty premises. It is necessary to remove garbage in a timely manner. Necessary:

perform a thorough wet cleaning; remove leftover food from kitchen furniture; treat the bathroom.

Cobwebs must be removed with a wet cloth or mop. After completing all of the above measures, you can begin to fight arthropods. It is not enough to simply remove the cobwebs. The spiders have long since managed to lay their eggs in a secluded place, so soon a new group of insects will safely emerge from them.

If the situation is already uncontrollable, you will have to call exterminators. Service workers use strong chemicals. Thanks to this, it is possible to effectively get rid of insects. It must be taken into account that the insecticides used are very toxic, so the owners must leave the apartment for a certain time.

Chemical preparations for arthropods - which ones to choose?

Considering how long spiders live (usually no more than a year), you might think that fighting them is pointless. However, one must remember the ability of arthropods to actively reproduce. The new generation of spiders will replace the old one so quickly that it will be almost impossible to achieve cleanliness in the house without cobwebs and dry bodies of their victims without special means.

The most effective chemicals are:

"Butox 50".
"Neoron".
Dry trap tablets.

"Butox 50" is a simple and affordable product, easy to use. Use it after carefully studying the instructions on the package. To achieve the result, it is enough to spray surfaces where spiders often visit, after preventing the entry of clean air through windows and doors. After the product wears off, ventilate the room.

The drug "Nero" enjoys well-deserved trust among specialists. Just as in the previous case, it is necessary to study the instructions for using the product. In places where food, children's toys, and dishes are stored, the product is used with extreme caution, protecting vulnerable items and products with film.

An alternative to aerosols, often with a pungent odor, are tablets, also known as traps. They are produced in dry form, lure spiders, and then poison them with poison. The method is simple and effective, but far from humane.

A little about folk signs

There are many folk signs associated with these insects. Since ancient times, people have monitored house spiders and, based on their behavior, predicted important events that awaited the family.

Here are a few of them:

if the spider crawls down, expect problems. It is much better if it creeps up - this is a profit;
seeing a spider in the morning promises bad news; in the evening, on the contrary, it promises good luck;
A large number of cobwebs under the bed for unmarried people promises new love acquaintances. A married couple needs to be more attentive to each other’s desires;
if he crawls over money, expect unexpected financial income;
The luckiest spider is white. Black is considered a bad omen and brings bad luck.

Not everyone now believes in omens, but there is one that even scientists agree on - you can’t kill spiders! And not because it will bring failure into your life. They are simply an integral part of the ecosystem. Small domestic arthropods are not dangerous to humans. At the same time, they catch harmful and bothersome insects such as mosquitoes and flies.

If house spiders appear in the apartment, you should expect improvement, quick success and the appearance of money. The same applies if the spider is on your head or arm.

Descending spider - guests will arrive soon or a message will arrive, but there will be an unfavorable time in financial matters. And a spider rising upward promises improvement and stability. If you see a spider hurrying upstairs in the evening, you should wait for your wish to come true.

The appearance of a cobweb or spider over the bed is a quarrel, betrayal or illness.

Seeing it in the kitchen in the morning means sad news, but if it happens in the daytime, you should expect joy. Meeting a spider in the kitchen in the evening is a sign of career growth, the fulfillment of a plan, or a promising meeting.

The spider wove a web and hid - towards the rain.

Seeing a spider sitting on you means a quick expensive new thing, a spider crawling means financial well-being, and a spider running away means loss.

Negative values

There are also meanings that have only a negative connotation:

An attacking arthropod creature promises aggression from spiteful critics. If the spider bites you, you will be affected by gossip that will negatively affect your life.
Huge and shaggy - the sleeper expects the treacherous actions of a person who is higher in status and rank. Most likely, this will affect the professional field - loss of job or demotion.
Running away from a tarantula in a dream is a bad sign. In reality, the sleeper will lose luck and a dark streak in life will begin. Perhaps he will find himself in an ugly situation in which he will be humiliated.
A spider crawling over the body and hair - such a dream promises a poor existence and difficulties.

Fighting existing spiders

If insects have already settled in the neighborhood of a person, then you should constantly remove cobwebs and spider eggs in the corners of the house. There are three ways to do this:

Use a stick with a damp cloth wrapped around the end. The cobwebs are cleaned off using circular movements. Arachnids get entangled in their “nets” and do not run away.
Clean corners with a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool.
Sweep away cobwebs with a reed broom. This device will remove the spider's house and crush its owner.

Traditional methods

Homemade recipes are attractive due to their simplicity and accessibility. They do not cause allergies, so they are used by people sensitive to odors.

The following will help you get rid of “pets”:

White vinegar. Sprayed in insect habitats. The liquid kills spiders and repels them with a strong odor.
Chestnuts, walnuts, and hazel are natural repellents. They are crushed and then laid out under cabinets.
Eucalyptus oil, peppermint, tea tree. The product is added to water, and then the liquid is sprayed around the apartment.
Lime. Fresh whitewashing prevents the appearance of unwanted animals.
Dried zest. It is placed where spiders like to live.
Diatomite The substance is scattered along the walls.
Tobacco. The leaves of the plant are brewed in boiling water. The walls and floor are sprayed with the infusion. In a private house, the building is treated both inside and outside.
Salt. Dissolve in warm water (10 grams per 1.5 liters) and pour into a spray bottle. The product is sprayed onto the spider.

Chemical methods

Store-bought chemicals will help deal with arachnids. But how to choose an effective drug? After all, there are dozens of insect poisons on the shelves.

How to poison spiders in the house? The most effective are considered:

"Butox-50" and "Neoron". Cheap products that kill annoying spiders. Before use, read the instructions. Do not allow the product to come into contact with food.
Trap tablets. The drug is placed under beds and cabinets. He kills those who decide to taste him.
"Tarax." The product forms a dense film. Insects that come into contact with it die.

Pest control

Calling exterminators is an effective way to exterminate spiders. Specialists treat the home with an aerosol method. A special service will destroy the “hunters” and their prey.

You should prepare for disinfestation in advance:

do the cleaning,
hide food
move furniture away from the walls,
remove or close things.

The family will have to leave the walls until the procedure is completed.

After returning you should:

open the windows,
Thoroughly wash items that have been exposed to poison,
carry out wet cleaning,
Throw away food that contains a toxic substance.

House spiders do not pose a threat, so extreme control measures are not recommended. “Chemistry” harms both insects and humans.

If spiders have become a problem, then you should first try to get rid of them using traditional methods, and then contact special services.

Do not forget about measures to prevent the influx of arachnids. Then these insects will not bother the residents of an apartment or private house.

Means of struggle

Traditional methods

Among the folk methods of control, there are substances that can answer the question of how to get rid of spiders in an apartment. This:

In addition to using the above means, the fight against arthropods includes regular cleaning of residential premises, which must be undertaken with enthusiasm. Particular attention should be paid to baseboards and ceiling corners.

Chemicals:

There are also special ultrasonic repellers that are not perceived by human hearing, but this is what spiders are afraid of.

Where and why do they appear?

Let's take a closer look at where spiders appear in apartments. Usually arachnids live outdoors and from there they can enter a person’s home in single quantities.

Insects settle in large numbers in houses and apartments when there is sufficient food for them. The favorite delicacy of arthropods is other small insects.

Let's look at other reasons why many spiders appear in an apartment:

rare cleaning of premises;
accumulation of large amounts of dust in secluded corners of the home;
lack of natural light in the room;
poor sealing of gaps between doors, windows and staircases;
missing or damaged mosquito nets on windows;
windows not closed at night;
the presence of old woolen items in closets.

With torn mosquito nets and open windows, not only spiders, but also their food source - butterflies, mosquitoes, midges - easily penetrate into a private house.

In order to eliminate spiders, you must first examine the nooks and crannies of the room:

areas under the bathroom;
mezzanine;
storerooms;
areas behind baseboards;
areas under the refrigerator;
wardrobes with fur or clothes.

In the basements

Be sure to whitewash basement ceilings with lime. Arthropods do not digest it. This simple method will deprive you of the “pleasure” of seeing spiders for a long time.

In apartments

Meticulous cleaning, reliably blocking access to spiders, and depriving them of food are the most proven methods of eliminating insects. Even after getting rid of them, do not neglect your home.

On the balconies

By constantly eating other insects, spiders are able to provide invaluable benefits to humans. But there is also harm from them. The cobwebs do not add any attractiveness to the room. What outweighs the benefit or harm, you need to decide for yourself. Only after this choose an alternative - to coexist peacefully or to constantly fight arthropods.

Spiders are one of the most numerous orders of arthropods. Large and dangerous species live only in hot countries. Russian spiders are completely harmless, they run away when a person appears, they rarely bite, the bite is slightly painful, and does not pose a danger.

The reasons for the appearance of arthropods in houses are:

open windows and doors;
cracks in frames;
heat coming from the home;
presence of food.

The spider population will not grow if the young have nothing to eat. The main reason for the large prevalence of arachnids in an apartment is the insects living in it.

In private homes, spiders crawl out of cluttered attics and basements, and outbuildings. Insects swarm around livestock and poultry, attracting arachnids and causing their population to continually grow. A light animal can be carried into a home by the wind; a person carries it on things and clothing.

Traditionally, it was believed that spiders were even beneficial, as they cleaned the house of flies, which are carriers of infection. Nowadays, many drugs have been created that remove insects, and people no longer need the help of arachnids.

Spiders can take up residence in any home. Getting into it by accident through:

cracks in walls, floors or ceilings;
open windows, doors;
clothes, soil, plants brought into the house;
furniture and other items that were stored outside.

Arthropods are delayed if the conditions for their existence are favorable:

comfortable temperature without sudden fluctuations;
there is a food base;
suitable level of air humidity: heat-loving arthropods settle in dry living spaces, such as the bedroom and kitchen; others prefer the bathroom or balcony.

Most often, predators remain in poorly cleaned rooms, where there is a lot of food for them: flies, bedbugs, cockroaches and other small insects.

How to get rid of it: effective methods

How to get rid of spiders in the house forever? Eight-legged arthropods will leave their homes on their own if you deprive them of a comfortable habitat. Owners need to think about what factors attract arachnids and eliminate reasons for visiting the house.

How to proceed:

seal all cracks in doors and windows;
clear the attic and living quarters of rubbish. Arachnids settle in areas where there are many secluded places and there are enough zones for arranging a shelter;
hang grates with small cells on the air vents;
regularly clean an apartment or private house, do not be lazy to collect dust and cobwebs in the corners, from the ceiling;
look into hard-to-reach areas, thoroughly wash corners and areas under the sink, bathtub, and the side of the cabinet;
clean the porch, the area above the threshold, clean the balcony more often, especially if it is not glazed;
deprive eight-legged arthropods of their favorite food: destroy cockroaches, midges, mosquitoes, flies living at home;
old furniture, rags, unnecessary appliances, boxes, baskets piled up in utility rooms are an ideal habitat for many-legged “aliens.” Only cleanliness and space will reduce the risk of an unpleasant neighborhood with arachnids.

What do they look like on a person and how to treat them? Read useful information.
Go to the address and learn about how and what to treat ear mites in dogs.

Effective methods of control:

sticky tape traps for catching flies and mosquitoes. Place the devices horizontally in places where spiders frequently move;
a vacuum cleaner plus a damp cloth is an ideal weapon against eggs and trapping nets;
Place walnuts and horse chestnut fruits in the habitats of the arachnids. Spiders cannot tolerate the smell of natural products and leave the room;
essential oils against arachnids. Prepare a solution of 500 ml of water and 20 drops of mint, eucalyptus or tea tree ether, spray the areas where spiders accumulate with a spray bottle. This method is less harmful to eight-legged arthropods than spraying toxic aerosols.

Security measures

In the struggle for a clean living space, several rules must be followed.

Wear protective gloves when dealing with spiders.
When using chemicals, use a respirator.
If a spider bites, bandage the area above the bite and apply ice. If there is no guarantee that the spider was non-venomous, call a doctor.
If you are not very brave, do not take risks. Even during the day, nocturnal spiders will defend themselves when faced with a threat. If you are not sure that you can contrive and catch the animal, do not start a fight.

Expert opinion

Karina Aparina

I have loved spiders since childhood. I got my first one as soon as I moved from my parents to my own place. Now I have 4 pets.

Clean it up! The most important rule. You need to take a comprehensive approach to the struggle for a clean home and start with cleaning the house. If the animal becomes uncomfortable and does not have enough food, it will leave the house itself.

Are house spiders dangerous for humans?

The danger of house spiders to humans largely depends on the type of individual and its habitat. Any insect that lives on trees and shrubs in a given region can reach a person.

In total, there are about 1,000 species of arthropods in Russia, the vast majority of which are absolutely harmless.

The most dangerous insects for the human body are exotic insects that escape from terrariums.

The black street spider is relatively safe for humans. It is poisonous, but the amount of substance it releases when it bites will not be enough to infect people or pets. Insect venom only affects small animals: flies, beetles, etc.

Arthropods pose a problem for humans when they actively reproduce and spread throughout their homes.

To combat the problem, emergency measures are taken: they carry out wet cleaning, collect cobwebs in the corners.

The arthropod itself does not attack a person, but can sting him if he fears for his life. The insect bite site will need to be treated with an antiseptic.

Spiders - tramps and karakurts - are the most dangerous among the representatives of arthropods for humans. When bitten, the latter may develop signs of allergic reactions on the skin and problems with the respiratory system.

Insect bites present with symptoms of varying degrees of intensity. The bite of poisonous creatures is especially difficult for small children and people with immune deficiency.

Lifestyle

The house spider sits in a secluded place during the day, hides away from the sun's rays, and goes out hunting at night. Uses trapping nets or does without them. In the first case, the spider pounces on prey that accidentally gets entangled in the web. The predator injects poison, its own saliva. The first substance paralyzes the victim, the second liquefies the insides, which are then sucked out by the house spider. After some time, he throws the funnel and forms a new one in another place.

House spider (Tegenaria domestica)

The second method of hunting also involves the use of cobwebs, but without trapping nets. The spider stretches only 2 thin threads and sits in a secluded place. As soon as the prey touches them, the predator rushes to attack with lightning speed. The main diet consists of flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, as well as cockroaches and ants.

Interesting!
House spiders sense changes in atmospheric pressure very well. Before the rain, they climb deeper into the hole, sit there, without sticking out, and before a sunny day, they weave trapping nets all night.