Spiders—To Squish or Not to Squish?

Most of us aren’t huge fans of the arachnid species—when we see one, we scream or shudder and hope someone else is around to squish it for us. Occasionally, though, there is a softhearted soul who prefers to pick up the 8-legged home invader and toss it outside, hoping to save the spider from harm. The question is, is this an actual act of compassion or a swift death for the spider? Do house-dwelling spiders survive outdoors? Rod Crawford, Curator of Arachnids at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, says it depends on the species of spider. Some can survive transplantation, but many will not. If the spider is native to your area, it will most likely be able to survive outside. However, if the spider is from somewhere else—even if its ancestors were transplanted hundreds of years ago—the spider will perish outside. This is because spiders are adapted very specifically to places and temperatures. The American House Spider, for example, is native to northern South America. So while it flourishes inside your home, it only survives well outside if your backyard is in Brazil or Guyana. If you’re truly worried about a spider’s welfare, yet don’t want it living alongside you in your home, Crawford suggests moving it to another part of your residence, like your garage. He also advises that killing one won’t get rid of them, as they live in indoor populations of 50 to several hundred spiders. They prefer nooks and crannies in relatively unused areas, and they’re likely staying busy catching other small pests in your home, like flies and mosquitoes. To make it harder for spiders to invade your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, try to fill any gaps or cracks with caulk, weather stripping, or rags. Spiders are highly skilled at squeezing through tiny spaces. For the more ardent anti-spider folks out there, Pointe Pest Control’s specialists are highly trained in the safest, most effective ways to eradicate arachnids from your residence. We use cutting-edge, environmentally friendly methods to take care of any and all of your pest problems. Call us today.