Garden spiders lead a life hanging by a thread, artfully woven into impressive orb webs. This guide explains in a detailed and comprehensible manner whether the lives of people and pets are also hanging by a thread after a spider bite. Read here whether a garden spider is poisonous or harmless.

Although the garden spider is slightly poisonous, it is harmless to humans

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Dangerous to humans?
  3. Home remedies relieve spider bite
  4. Garden spider wanted poster
  5. Species Overview
  6. Toxic to pets?
  7. Selling with strategy
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Although the garden spider can bite and is also slightly poisonous, it does not pose a danger to humans
    • A spider bite should be refrigerated
    • Garden spiders are useful because they catch unpopular insects
    • Light sources attract the spiders into the house

    Is the cross spider dangerous?

    Slightly toxic, but completely harmless. This is the quintessence of the danger potential of a cross spider for humans. In fact, it is common in the spider kingdom that poisonous substances are used in the hunt for prey. Garden spiders always have a small supply with them in tiny poisonous claws on their toothless mouth. If an insect is caught in the wheel-shaped net, the paralyzing poison is injected into it at lightning speed. The spider then hastily wraps its victim in spider silk in order to suck it out immediately or later.

    What ends badly for a garden spider's prey has no serious consequences for humans. A direct confrontation only occurs if the orb weaver cannot find an escape route. During a bite attack, the garden spider then has a hard time penetrating human skin with its very short poisonous claws. If it is unfortunate that it hits a delicate area of skin, slight symptoms appear, like after a harmless mosquito bite.

    Slight swelling, redness and annoying itching subside after a short time if the poisonous claws of a cross spider puncture the epidermis. In rare cases, systemic complaints occur, such as headaches, nausea and muscle cramps. More severe symptoms are of course an indication of an allergic reaction and require a clarifying appointment with the family doctor.

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    Cross spiders - danger for allergy sufferers

    Allergy sufferers should not take the confrontation with insects lightly. In this respect, the garden spider is no exception, although its bite is usually classified as harmless. If the smallest amounts of spider venom get under the skin, shortness of breath, circulatory problems and similar symptoms of an allergic shock are inevitable. When gardening, long-sleeved clothing, rubber boots and work gloves for allergy sufferers are good protection against the bite of a garden spider. The personal emergency kit should nevertheless always be at hand, because it can save lives in an emergency.

    Home remedies relieve cross spider bites

    The bite of a garden spider is usually harmless. However, the attack can be accompanied by unpleasant consequences for those affected. The more delicate the spider victim's skin, the more distressing the symptoms. Adults register symptoms similar to those after a mosquito bite. In the worst case, children and babies complain of local swelling and pain up to severe itching. The following home remedies alleviate unpleasant side effects when a garden spider has bitten:

    • clear water: Rinse the wound under running water
    • ice cream: Put ice cubes on the skin
    • onion slice: Cut the onion open and press on the bite wound
    • cucumber slice: Cut the cucumber into slices and place on top

    Spider bites should be refrigerated as soon as possible

    As an immediate measure in the garden, grab a handful of cold, black soil and press the clod of soil onto the bite. Dairy workers, who regularly encounter cross spiders on the alpine pastures in the mountains in summer and are occasionally bitten, swear by this household remedy from the "dirty pharmacy".

    Consult the doctor with babies and toddlers

    Even the tiny venomous claws of a garden spider effortlessly penetrate delicate baby skin. Correspondingly severe symptoms can set in after a spider bite. Furthermore, it has often not yet been found out in small children whether they are allergic to spiders. If the first symptoms are alleviated with home remedies, we recommend consulting the pediatrician. Large swellings, severe redness, restlessness, fever or even shortness of breath are not cases for self-medication in children.

    Garden spider does not bite on purpose

    Anyone who assumes bad intentions after being bitten by the long-legged malefactor is doing the harmless garden spider an injustice. In fact, all species only have in mind the hunt for prey insects. Under no circumstances do the spiders crawl after a person with the cross on their abdomen in order to bite them. If the involuntary confrontation is acknowledged with a bite, the garden spider feared for its life because all escape routes were blocked. Instead of swatting at the arachnid or waving your hands in panic, you allow the shy insect to escape and avoid a defensive bite.

    Identify garden spider for sure - wanted poster

    A cross spider is easy to recognize by the cross on its back

    The distinctive feature of a garden spider is a cross of five spots on its abdomen. Four elongated blobs gather around a rounded mark in the middle. Other characteristics of the striking arachnids remove any remaining doubts about their presence. The attributes that characterize the native spider species are summed up in the following profile:

    • Insect family: Orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae)
    • Genus: Garden Spiders (Araneus)
    • Size: 5-18mm
    • Body coloring: depending on the species, black, light to dark brown, yellowish, reddish
    • Occurrence: Europe, focus on Central Europe with 10 species
    • Habitats: open landscape, gardens, meadow orchards, pine forests, raised bogs, hedges
    • Food: Insects of all kinds
    • Catch method: cobwebs, bite and simultaneously inject paralyzing poison
    • Life expectancy: 3 to 4 years
    • Status: not critically endangered
    • Toxic to Humans: Slightly toxic with no serious hazard potential

    Apart from a brief mating season in late summer, garden spiders prefer a solitary life. Males looking for a mate prefer to roam rather than spin a web. However, both sexes have mastered the art of spinning equally. Garden spiders build impressive orb webs to capture prey. Most of the time they sit patiently in the center of the ingenious catch construction. Some species lay a signal thread to the net and immediately register by means of minimal vibrations when an insect gets tangled up in it. The alarmed cross spider pounces on its catch and bites. The spider can also take on significantly larger prey because it has an advantage thanks to the paralyzing poison.

    With artfully woven orb webs, garden spiders outshine many human achievements.

    Cross spider species at a glance

    The four-spotted cross spider is just one of many species

    Garden spiders are masters of adaptation. In the course of evolution, the widespread genus of the orb-weaver spider family has produced a wide variety of species with individual characteristics that are perfectly tailored to the local framework conditions in the habitat. The following table lists common cross spider species by name with information on special characteristics:

    Surname scientific name common name size special feature
    garden spider Araneus diadematus German garden spider 7-15mm variable coloring according to brightness
    Four-spotted garden spider Araneus quadratus orange or yellow garden spider 10-18mm Cross of four spots
    Horned Cross Spider Araneus angulatus spiny cross spider 8-16mm two humps on abdomen
    swamp cross spider Araneus alsine red cross spider 8-15mm most colorful species
    Marbled Garden Spider Araneus marblerus white cross spider 9-15mm extra wide abdomen

    A multi-faceted body coloring is characteristic of all garden spider species. Trivial names that refer to the color of the spider's body should therefore be treated with caution. The coloring of a garden spider adapts to the current incidence of light. Marbled garden spiders love variety and appear in a choice of bright orange, elegant white or subtle grey.

    Are Cross Spiders Poisonous to Pets?

    Concerned pet owners can be given the all-clear regarding the venom of garden spiders. The shy insects only respond to curious sniffing by dogs or cats with a bite if their escape routes are blocked. This can be painful for your darling at first, combined with corresponding panic reactions, such as those observed after a wasp sting.

    A toxic reaction is only to be feared on thin skin areas. If a garden spider bites cats or dogs, for example in the armpit or groin area, temporary swelling and redness will occur around the bite wound. However, the symptoms subside within a short time. The garden spider bites a tiny wound cavity that quickly closes by itself. There is no sting left in the wound that could distress the animal, like after a bee or wasp sting. In other parts of the skin, the short venomous claws of garden spiders and their conspecifics do not penetrate so deeply that the four-legged victims have to pay for it.

    Pets and spiders rarely get in each other's way

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    Garden spiders - welcome beneficial insects in the garden

    The guest appearance of garden spiders in the garden makes the hearts of nature lovers beat faster. Where the shy arachnids settle, the ecological balance is in balance. Orb weavers diligently make their contribution to natural pest control in the bed. A wide range of insects are on the menu, including a number of pests and nuisances such as aphids, flies and mosquitoes.

    Drive away the garden spider - this is how it works with strategy

    All pleas for garden spiders as harmless beneficial creatures fall on deaf ears when the long-legged fellows sneak into the house. Nobody likes to share their bedroom with the unwelcome insects. Caring parents do not want to tolerate cross spiders bothering their children or the baby in the cradle. The prejudice-laden aversion to garden spiders in the house and apartment is of course no reason to fight the beneficial insects with chemical insecticides. Two simple tricks will scare away the uninvited arachnids never to be seen again:

    light off

    Garden spiders are magically attracted to light sources because they hope to find fat prey there. For this reason, the spiders are often found on lamps, on the balcony, terrace and in the conservatory. From these locations, orb weavers sometimes get lost in living quarters. As an effective defense against uninvited visitors, simply switch off the lights around the house. Because of this, no night light should be on in the children's room, at least not in the immediate vicinity of the bed or cradle.

    Remove spider webs

    Garden spiders are hardworking and persistent. If the insects like a location, they set themselves up permanently. By removing the characteristic orb webs in a timely manner, you strongly encourage the spiders to look for a new hunting ground away from the building. Persistence is crucial for the control strategy, because garden spiders weave a fresh web every night if necessary.

    Classic home remedies for repelling insects are useless if you want to get rid of garden spiders in the house. What works wonders against mosquitoes leaves the undemanding arachnids cold. Experts from the German Wildlife Foundation have discovered that garden spiders are extremely undemanding when it comes to scents and aromas. In a series of experiments, orb-weaver spiders unmoved and ate prey that had previously been dipped in vinegar or Epsom salt.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are Cross Spiders Poisonous to Humans?

    Every garden spider has poisonous substances in its luggage for hunting prey. This fact cannot be denied and is the source of numerous myths and legends about the potential danger. In fact, the amounts of the poison are far too small to harm humans or pets. Furthermore, arachnids' venomous claws are too short and weak to penetrate human skin. All in all, cross spiders are harmless. In the worst case, a bite causes symptoms similar to those of a mosquito or wasp sting.

    A cross spider bit me while working in the garden - what to do?

    Do not scratch the bite to prevent bacteria from entering and causing infection. If there's no doubt that it's a garden spider, disinfect the wound with iodine, put on a band-aid and you can confidently go about business as usual. You can relieve slight swelling or itching with a cooling pad or ice cubes. On the other hand, are you unsure whether the culprit was actually a harmless garden spider? Then please see your family doctor. Ideally, catch the long-legged culprit, or at least take a picture for positive identification.

    I found a garden spider in my apartment. How do I get rid of the spider?

    When temperatures drop in the fall, many species of spiders look for safe winter quarters. Human dwellings are also very popular with garden spiders, because fat prey in the form of house flies and mosquitoes can be expected here. If you do not want to tolerate the long-legged roommates in your apartment, we recommend catching the useful insectivores with a glass. Put a conventional drinking glass over the uninvited guest. Now slowly slide a piece of cardboard under the glass. Then carry the spider outside and set it free.

    Are Cross Spiders Poisonous to Dogs?

    Garden spiders inject their prey with a paralyzing venom that is specifically tailored to flies, wasps, and other insects. The toxin poses no serious risk to mammals such as dogs and cats. Aside from that, garden spiders will flee when a dog approaches. If the spider bites in its distress and gets a tender skin area, in the worst case there will be slight swelling, redness and itching. You can relieve this with cold compresses and a hydrocortisone cream against itching.

    We discovered several garden spiders on and in the house. How do we get rid of the spiders without killing the animals?

    Garden spiders do not usually seek to be near people. In contrast to house spiders and electric spiders, the insects usually only get into the building by accident. This is always the case when the outdoor lighting attracts hordes of prey from a garden spider. If you don't turn on the lights by the house for a while, the location will become uninteresting for long-legged hunters. You should remove the prominent orb webs regularly to scare off the unnerved garden spiders. Classic household remedies, such as essential fragrances or vinegar, have proven to be useless in practice.

    Where do cross spiders hang out most often?

    The diverse family of garden spiders inhabits almost all habitats that Mother Nature has to offer in Europe. As the name suggests, the garden spider prefers a life in gardens and parks. In the forest there is a good chance of meeting the horned garden spider. Moist meadows are the territory of the four-spotted garden spider. The red garden spider loves moist herb layers in fields, meadows and forests. The giant garden spider has so far been native to hot, dry regions on the Mediterranean. However, the majestic garden spider species is on its way north in the course of global warming and has already been sighted in Austria.

    Do the large orb webs always come from a garden spider?

    Garden spiders are just one of twenty-five genera in the orb-weaver family. The family is even represented worldwide with more than 160 genera. An orb web can only be assigned to a cross spider if the insect is in it. Otherwise, the master builder can also be a pumpkin spider (Araniella), bridge spider (Larinioides), or heather circle spider (Cercidia). Last but not least, numerous web spider species (Tetragnathidae) have mastered the art of spinning expansive orb webs. Even experienced arachnologists reach their limits to correctly classify an orb web without a spider.

    Is the garden spider threatened with extinction?

    Of the approximately 10 garden spider species native to Central Europe, the marsh garden spider (red garden spider, strawberry garden spider) is the only species that is seriously threatened with extinction. Reckless use of pesticides, destruction of biotopes and natural retreats nevertheless intensify the struggle for survival for all garden spider species.In 2010, the garden spider was named spider of the year to draw attention to the increasing threat to its habitat.

    tips

    With masterfully woven webs, the garden spider outshines human achievements. A single one of their ingenious orb nets consists of up to 20 meters long silk threads that stretch threefold without tearing. In relation to its weight, spider thread is four times stronger than steel. In less than an hour, the garden spider spins its round web to capture its prey. Please consider these stunning properties before destroying a cross spider web.

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Animals in the garden