this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2025
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Mildly Interesting
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At least where I live, it doesn't make sense to kill spiders at all. There literally is not a single local spider species that you might encounter at home that's even somewhat dangerous (AFAIK even in the wild there's only one, and even that one usually won't kill you). If there's something that's too gross for you, just pick it up with a glass and throw it out of the window (which is much easier with spiders than with flies). Spiders do kill flies and other critters that are annoying or even dangerous, so you definitely want the poison that kills flies but not spiders.
Yeah. Forget where I heard this, but it was something like "For every spider you see in your basement, that's like 1000 other bugs you won't".
Unless it's an infestation, I tend to leave individual spiders alone.
Yes but that's my contract with the bugs. If they don't cause structural damage, and I don't see them we can have peace. Pest or allie, if you have more than 4 legs and I see you in my domicile - I will do my best to destroy you as soon as I'm done screaming.
I’m good until they’re in my furniture or the bedroom.
Hahahahahaha, have your upvote
We have black widows, brown recluse, and wolf spiders, but bites are extremely uncommon and actually less dangerous than advertised. Yes, you should see a doctor right away for at least the first two, but it's not worth killing all the house spiders to avoid them.
Not sure what wolf spiders are doing on that list, they are totally harmless. Also everyone (except people in Antartica) has wolf spiders.
Black widows and brown recluses are medically significant but haven't killed anyone in the US in decades. But do go and see a doctor if you get bitten.
Also check this map to make sure you actually have brown recluses where you live. A lot of spiders are mistaken for them.
I only mention them because they can bite, and it hurts. I got bit by one on the foot when it made a home in my shoe, and it felt like a wasp sting. Can't say I blame him, because if a giant foot smashed into my house, I might react the same. But normally if you leave them alone, they leave you alone.
As for the brown recluses, I can't say I've ever seen one, I just heard from an EMT that they are trained for those and black widow bites. I have seen black widows, but I've never personally known of anyone bitten by one.