Biology of Spiders
Understanding the life cycles, eating habits, and habitat preferences of different species that we call pests is an important foundation in integrated pest control. The days of using toxic chemical sprays to control pests are almost gone; this method is harmful to almost all living organisms, negatively affected the environments in which it was used (including soil and water quality) and more often than not did not solve the pest control problem it was supposed to address in the first place.
Integrated pest control stresses using the least toxic approach to pest management, and this is best achieved through an understanding of what attracts pests and where they are likely to congregate. In this article, we will take a look at the biology of spiders.
Are spiders pests?
One important thing to keep in mind about spiders is that in most cases, spiders are only pests because of their visual appearance and our corresponding psychological reactions. Spiders are really incredible weapons when it comes to combating actual pests within our gardens and homes, and really should not be killed out of hand. That being said, there are three kinds of spiders found throughout the country about which people are commonly concerned.
* Black widow spiders are large, black spiders which may or may not have a red hourglass on their undersides. These spiders are venomous but only deadly to very young children, those allergic, and those with other health complications.
* Brown recluse spiders are another spider which is popularly vilified, but again whose actual bite is far less severe than reputation would have us believe.
* Aggressive house spiders have chevron patterns on their bodies and move very quickly, building funnel shaped webs. These spiders are probably the most “dangerous” of the three pest species - they do seem to like to bite and often leave a painful mark. Still their venom itself is not considered threatening.
Spider diet
The main reason why I hesitate to classify spiders as pests is their diet. Spiders eat insects, and they eat almost every insect you can imagine, including the numerous pest species. Grasshoppers, flies, fruit flies, moths, beetles, and ants are all no match for the spider’s cunning and power. Having a few around will really cut down on the infestations of your home and garden.
Habitat of the pest spiders
The two most feared pest spiders, the black widow and the brown recluse, are actually quite shy of humans and prefer to make their homes in out of the way places. The key to avoiding a bad incident with one (there really is no way to know if you have a widow or a recluse unless you see one) is to understand where they live.
Outside, both species seem to prefer wood piles and sheds, places that are pretty dry and not disturbed very often. Inside you might find these spiders in piles of cardboard, closets, cellars, and even unused bed sheets, but they rarely make their way indoors.