As our community continues to recover from recent storms, find helpful resources and information at tiny.cc/ufsaraext_disasterprep, tiny.cc/saraco_disasterprep, and scgov.net/government/emergency-services/storm.
This blog is part of a multi-part series. To meet other members of “The Spooky Bug Brigade,” visit our blog’s landing page.
Spiders (Araneae)
Credit: Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS
Description
Credit: Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS
When it comes to fears and phobias, spiders are often considered top on the list. Well, I hope I can not only assuage your fears but perhaps give you a newfound appreciation for our eight-legged friends. Spiders are a type of arachnid, possessing two distinct body segments (the cephalothorax and abdomen), four pairs of legs, six to eight eyes, and the rare ability to produce silk. Interestingly enough, you can often classify a spider down to family just based on its eye pattern.
On average, less than three deaths occur per year from spider bites. Compare that to 1.19 million deaths from vehicle-related accidents. Only two types of spiders in Florida are associated with hospitalization: widows and recluses. Spiders act exclusively in defense, meaning that they only bite us when threatened. If we are aware of our surroundings and leave them be, the favor will likely be returned.
Services
So, now that we’ve established just how little of a threat spiders are, let’s chat about reasons we actually want them around! Spiders are one of our biggest allies when it comes to managing pests. In fact, it’s estimated that they consume an average of 400 to 800 million metric tons of insects each year. While they may not discriminate “good” from “bad” bug, they do regularly consume flies, mosquitoes, moths, ants, beetles, and cockroaches – many of which are not desirable in our homes or landscapes.
Credit: © Thomas Shahan, some rights reserved
Habitat
Where a spider lives is largely dependent on the behavior of the individual species. Some spiders prefer to nest underground, others aboveground in webs. A few float on the water, and there are even nomadic spiders that don’t claim a home at all. In the occasional case of an indoor infestation, take care to reduce moisture, retrofit your lighting, and remove anything that might attract bugs, their preferred source of food.
Fun Fact
Wolf spiders carry their eggs in a silk sac on their back! Once the spiderlings hatch, they spend their first few days still hitching a “free ride” before they are ready to leave on their own.
To learn more about some of the spiders found in Florida, click here.
Resources
- UF/IFAS Featured Creatures: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/
- UF/IFAS Insect ID Lab: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/insectid/
- IPM Florida: https://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/
- UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, Chemicals in the Environment: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/natural-resources/chemicals-in-the-environment/
Credits
- Featured image: Cristina Carrizosa, UF/IFAS
- Photos: Credited in caption
- Graphics: Designed in Canva
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