Every year in autumn it's that time again: Especially after a warm and dry summer, countless house spiders get lost in apartments, sheds, garages and houses. Many people fear them because of their sheer size, but is their bite actually dangerous?

The house spider can bite, but is still harmless

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. House angle spider bite
  3. Which spiders can still bite?
  4. Get rid of house angle spider
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • House angle spiders can bite, but will only do so if they feel threatened
    • The bite of the house spider is painful, but non-toxic to humans
    • Cooling, aloe vera, onions, and also heat help reduce swelling and itching

    Can the house spider bite?

    The house spider (Tegenaria domestica), also known as the "cellar spider" or "house spider" because of its preferred habitat, scares many people because of its sheer size. The actual body is relatively small at around one centimeter in length, but the long legs can reach a span of up to ten centimeters. The animals are light to dark brown in color, becoming lighter after moulting and then darkening.

    The shy animals are mainly to be found where they find dark and hard-to-reach places for their web. Mainly in cellars, barns, sheds and attics, house spiders settle, where they create their webs, especially in cavities and behind cupboards. In summer, the species can also be found outdoors, in sheltered places such as walls or piles of stones.

    Angle spiders can bite and penetrate human skin with their pincers. However, it is rare and unlikely that this will actually happen: the animals only bite when they feel attacked and see no possibility of escape. It only becomes a problem if the spiders appear in the bedroom, for example, and get into bed at night. Here, movements of the sleeping person can lead to the spider getting under parts of the body or under the bed covers and biting there in panic.

    Is the bite of the house spider dangerous?

    House angle spiders - by the way, like all spiders - give off a toxin when they bite, but this is only poisonous for prey. However, the poison has no effect on humans. Symptoms of poisoning reported on some sites and in forums and necrotic and poorly healing wounds after a spider bite are usually due to a bacterial infection. Like all wild animals, the house spider carries bacteria that can be transmitted through a bite and cause skin infections that are as painful as they are lengthy. However, this only happens very rarely. Furthermore, in rare cases, allergic reactions can also occur after repeated spider bites.

    What are the symptoms after a bite?

    The bite itself is likely to feel like a pinprick: it's painful, but not as bad as that of a bee or wasp. Local redness and slight swelling can then occur, which in turn disappear after a few hours. On the other hand, an extensive, painful reddening, severe swelling and heat radiating from the wound are clear indications of a bacterial infection that must be treated by a doctor. Allergy symptoms also show up in a very similar way. In these cases, circulatory problems (e.g. dizziness), problems with balance, tachycardia and/or headaches can also occur. But as said before, these complications are very rare, so don't panic.

    How should you treat a spider bite?

    Instead, you should cool the bite and possibly apply a cooling gel (e.g. Fenistil). Suitable for cooling, for example

    • cooling pads or bags
    • ice cubes wrapped in kitchen towels
    • wet and wrung out cloths as envelopes

    Ice cubes cool and have a decongestant effect

    A fresh, sliced onion placed with the cut surface on the wound also provides relief. Onions also contain antibacterial substances that help prevent inflammation. On the other hand, do you have an aloe vera plant at home? Cut a piece, divide it and apply the wet inside to the wound.

    But not only cold, heat also helps against a spider bite. An electronic sting healer not only helps against spider bites, but also against bites and stings from numerous insects and is therefore a sensible investment.

    tips

    Never scratch open a spider bite to prevent dangerous bacteria from getting into the wound and inflaming it. If this is difficult for you, you can put a plaster on the bite site.

    Which spiders can still bite?

    First of all, spiders very rarely bite and only when they see no other way out. In addition, the mandibles of most native species are not strong enough to penetrate human skin.

    spider species Latin name Look habitat toxicity
    cross spider Araneus brownish with light spots, characteristic cross on the back in the garden, in nature only slightly toxic
    curl-hunting spider Zoropsidae light brown free hunting in nature, invasive species only slightly toxic
    trembling spider Pholcidae similar to harvestmen in the house, in nature only slightly toxic
    Nurse Thornfinger Cheiracanthium punctorium very light brownish-yellow colour in nature, invasive species poisonous
    water spider Argyroneta aquatica yellowish to brown only in the water only slightly toxic

    This video provides an overview of the most common spider species in Germany:

    youtube

    digression

    Are there dangerous poisonous spiders in Germany?

    There are no really dangerous poisonous spiders in Germany. The nurse's thorn finger, the water spider and the garden spider are considered "poisonous" here, although the bite of the species mentioned rarely requires medical treatment. In the course of global warming, however, more and more poisonous species are migrating from the Mediterranean countries and from other countries, most of which are spreading through southern Germany. It cannot be ruled out that there will be an increased occurrence of really poisonous spiders here in the future.

    Get rid of house angle spider and avoid bites

    "Spiders are useful animals, keeping mosquitoes and other livestock at bay."

    Spiders are very useful animals that keep mosquitoes and other annoying insects at home in your home. However, many people are terrified of spiders and would like to get rid of them. Many resort to brute force methods such as the vacuum cleaner (with which the animals are sucked away) or hairspray, which is sprayed on the spiders and glues them together. Both remedies are of course very effective, but not particularly animal-friendly: the spiders die in a very painful way.

    If you dare, it is better to catch the animals with a jar, seal the opening with a piece of paper and release the spider outside again. In doing so, you are not only doing something good for the spider, but also for nature in general: With the drastic decline in insects in recent years, the number of arachnids has also declined sharply, so that some species are now endangered.

    Which really helps against house angle spiders

    In addition to the proven glass and cardboard trick, there are other methods to keep the house spider out of the apartment:

    • insect screen: Close the windows and balcony and terrace doors with close-meshed insect screens, then spiders and other creatures will come back into the house.
    • Order and Cleanliness: Keep your apartment and house tidy and clean. For example, do not leave dirty laundry on the floor, avoid dark and hard-to-reach corners (e.g. gaps behind closets) and clean all corners and floors regularly. A cleaning agent with a lemon scent is recommended for this purpose, as spiders do not like this scent.
    • close loopholes: Especially in old buildings with wooden floors and in old houses, the spiders can get into the house in other ways than through the window. Close any loopholes and hiding places well, such as baseboards or poorly closing entrance doors. Spraying possible loopholes with lemon or lavender oil has also proven effective in keeping spiders away.
    • ultrasonic connector: You simply plug this into a socket. The device emits an ultrasonic sound that humans can't hear, but spiders can. They can't stand the frequency and stay away.
    • spider catcher: Also known as a spider grab, this device will help you catch the spiders without touching them. The animals are not injured and can then be released outside again.

    digression

    Do grandma's old home remedies help against spiders?

    Grandmothers like to recommend strongly scented agents such as lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint or vinegar to ward off spiders. The remedies should be filled into a spray bottle and either sprayed directly onto the spider itself or in the corners of the room that spiders like to frequent. However, the benefit is controversial: Studies have shown, for example, that garden spiders in particular do not care much about such smells and are not impressed by them. However, this may not apply to all spider species, especially since a clean and tidy apartment is the best prophylaxis.

    frequently asked Questions

    How old do house angle spiders get?

    House angle spiders can live up to six years in good conditions (and if nobody tries to attack them with a vacuum cleaner or hairspray beforehand). That, however, is already a real spider Methusalem who reaches this age. Most specimens only live between two and three years, with many falling victim to another predator or to humans.

    Can house angle spiders jump?

    Although house spiders can run very fast, they have only rarely been observed jumping. Even if it cannot be ruled out with certainty that house spiders are not able to jump: such behavior is certainly not typical of this spider species.

    Do House Angle Spiders Have Natural Enemies?

    The house angle spider's worst enemy is humans, followed closely by the large trembling spider. This spider, which mostly stays peacefully in its web waiting for prey, is a major eater of the house spider. Where there are tremor spiders, the house spiders have usually disappeared very quickly.

    tips

    If nothing works, you can also use an anti-spider spray. However, this should not be used in the apartment or the apartment should be ventilated vigorously afterwards.

Category:

Animals in the garden