Spiders are one of the most feared and reviled creatures on
earth. No one quite knows why we love to hate spiders like we
do. Arachnophobia is real, and there are people who would rather jump
off a cliff than take on a spider. But in reality, most spiders are
harmless. There are a few spiders, like the brown recluse and the black
widow, which can cause serious harm if they bite. The majority of
spiders only bite when threatened and their bites are usually less
bothersome than a mosquito or fly bite. As irrational as it seems,
spider fear still exists. Fortunately you can get rid of spiders fairly
easily if they scare the bajeebers out of you.
Spiders are Predators
Spiders love to eat other bugs and insects. They catch them in webs. Spiders have bad eyesight but great sense of vibration. When they feel their helpless prey struggling to free itself (which is very difficult due to the wonderfully efficient properties of spider webbing), spiders will come down the web and feed. You can make your home less hospitable to spiders by reducing the other insects that live there.
Throw Away Your Food
Many insects and pests are drawn to rotting food. The more bugs that are drawn to the food, the more spiders you will have. Place all discarded food in tightly sealed garbage cans and regularly remove the garbage.
Outdoor Lights
Have you ever noticed how bugs are attracted to your outdoor lights? Well, spiders notice this too. Keeping your lights off will reduce both your bug and spider populations. Consider yellow sodium "bug lights" if you want to retain your outdoor lighting.
Cardboard and Paper
Spiders love to live in cool dry places like cardboard boxes and stacks of paper. Check your basement and storage areas for spiders living in these items.
Picking Up Spiders
No great skill is required to pick up a spider. They are not particularly fast or devious. Simply wad up a paper towel and scoop it up. Release it outdoors, or if you so desire, stomp it under your shoe (mean you). A vacuum will work just as nicely if you are loathe to catch a spider by hand, albeit with less personal satisfaction.
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