- Author: Denise Godbout-Avant
Why Are People Scared of Spiders?
One possible reason for people's fear of spiders is they are so different from the rest of nature, which Hollywood and the media have exploited.
Spiders are arachnids, a class of invertebrate creatures, which also includes mites, ticks and scorpions. Unlike insects, arachnids have eight or more legs, with two major body parts (insects have three), a fused head and thorax called the cephalothorax, and the abdomen.
Like mites, ticks and scorpions, most spiders are venomous, using venom to catch/kill their prey. However, the jaws of most spiders are too small to penetrate human skin. Only those spiders whose venom can cause a severe reaction are called “toxic” spiders.
Spiders in the World and California
Spiders have been around a long time – fossilized spiders have been found in 318-million-year-old rock. Today there are about 40,000 types of spiders in the world, on every continent except Antarctica. They range in size from a miniscule 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) to hairy tarantulas up to 3.5 inches (90 mm).
- California has quite a few tarantula species, none of which are venomous. They tend to be long-lived, and use silk to line their underground burrows.
- Orb weaver spiders are often large and colorful. Along with their distinctive, sizeable, elaborate webs they are easy to spot. Their venom is harmless to humans.
- Sheet web spiders are small brown spiders who build messy sheets of webbing, often on the ground. Their venom is harmless to humans.
- Cellar spiders, aka “daddy long legs” initially came from Europe, have long skinny legs, and often hang upside down. Their venom does not harm humans.
- Wolf spiders are free ranging predators who don't build webs and are harmless to humans.
Only four species of spiders in the world are really dangerous to humans: Sydney tunnel web spider (Australia), Brazilian wandering spider (Brazil), African sand spider, and widow spiders (global).
California's widow spider is the well-known adult female western Black widow (Latrodectus hesperus).
Their web is sticky, irregular and tough-stranded. During WWII widow silk was used to make the crosshairs in gunsights. Widespread in California, with as many as 20-30 per urban/suburban property, Black widows are found in the holes, crevices, trash, and clutter of human structures. Her distinctive shiny black body with a bright red hourglass on the underside of the abdomen is a warning signal to others which makes her easy to identify and thus avoid.
Misinformation on Spider Bites
Most spider bites cause no reaction or as much harm as a bee sting or mosquito bite. According to Spider Physiology and Behavior, Volume 41, there were only about 100 recorded deaths from spider bites globally during the entire 20th century! The last death by spider bite in California was in 1976 (due to septicemia). Other arthropod bites, including ticks, fleas, bees, wasps, bedbugs, mosquitoes, deer flies and horse flies, may be mistaken for spider bites.
A bite from black widow venom can cause fever, cramping muscle and joint aches, but it does not cause sores. But they are shy and reluctant to bite; when they do bite, it is often dry (no venom). On the rare occasion someone is injected with their venom, there is an effective antivenom available.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Management
Beneficial Spiders
Spiders are extremely beneficial due to being important predators of pest species. They are often the most important biological control of pests in and around homes, yards, gardens and agriculture. It is estimated that spiders eat 800 million tons of bugs a year. According to Norman Platnick of New York's American Museum of Natural History, “Spiders are primary controllers of insects. Without spiders, all of our crops would be consumed by those pests” and we could face famine.
I have always scooped up spiders I find in my home to carry them outside and will continue to do so. I am removing the spiders from my Halloween décor, since I do not want to continue misrepresenting these valuable creatures.
Resources
- UC Davis Dr. Lynn Kimsey's talk on spiders via UC IPM Urban & Community Webinars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ExDP5wNVw
- UC IPM Natural Enemies Gallery https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/spiders/
- UC IPM Quick Tips Card http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7442.html#SPIDER
- UC Riverside https://spiders.ucr.edu
- https://www.livescience.com/22122-types-of-spiders.html
- Author: Anne E Schellman
They key to attracting butterflies is understanding their life cycle. Adult female butterflies seek out specific host plants on which to lay their eggs. These eggs hatch into "very hungry caterpillars." As you may recall from The Very Hungry Caterpillar storybook, caterpillars eat large amounts of plants so they can complete metamorphosis and emerge as beautiful butterflies.
During our class, you'll learn which plants attract certain butterfly species, and how to grow and care for these plants. Our speaker will also tell us how to identify common butterflies found in Stanislaus County.
You won't want to miss this class. Sign up now and don't forget to mark your calendar!
When: January 26, 2021 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom Webinar
How: Register at: http://ucanr.edu/butterflies/2021
Speaker: Ellen Zagory, retired Director of Horticulture, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden