How do spiders survive over winter in your house? Warning: Spider and centipede pics.

[zamler]

Spiders are a sign of moisture/condensation somewhere in the house, often hidden. They can survive for long periods on almost nothing, but can't exist without moisture. Look for any areas where hot meets cold.

[Stumptown]

Just because you don't regularly see insects in your house, doesn't mean they're not there. A bug so small you can't see it would be clearly visible and lunch for a happy spider. Carpet mites, silverfish, all sorts of nasties that you'd rather be without are probably being kept in check by your intrepid housemate.

[theJuice]

Good god, why did I scroll down.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by theJuice

Good god, why did I scroll down.

Maybe you shouldn't scroll down to this one either.

[metallicat]

This is up there with the creepiest threads in CP history. I've mentioned it before, but I once had a lengthy stand-off with a spider on my ceiling. I was brandishing a hockey stick.

[Boblobla]

This thread is going to haunt me for months. I hate spiders so much.

[Coach]

I'm so glad I live in a place where there's no crazy ridiculous bugs like that.

[burn_this_city]

Most spiders can survive for a long time without food. Some species can go up to 2 years in the desert without food and essentially no water. Most of the small species here need water but no food over the winter. They won't do anything to you, its not in their interest to get squished.

[dissentowner]

Ah, the good old afraid of spiders thread. I have 47 different species of tarantula in the room I am typing this right now. Anyhow, to answer the OP's question they survive because there are more bugs then you think in your house. As a matter of fact your walls are probably full of bugs and spiders. As somebody mentioned before spiders can go for extended periods of time without food and to a lesser extent water. Spiders may look creepy to you but they are your friend, without them the planet would be overrun by insects.

[Pastiche]

I generally don't kill spiders they perform a useful bug killing service and they usually just leave you alone. Would rather have a spider hanging out in the corner and stay there all day vacuuming up bugs than have bugs flying around passing me off all the time.

[Matata]

I've heard that you're never more than 3 feet away from a spider in your life.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

I generally don't kill spiders they perform a useful bug killing service and they usually just leave you alone. Would rather have a spider hanging out in the corner and stay there all day vacuuming up bugs than have bugs flying around passing me off all the time.

I kill the spiders I see, if they can't work behind the scenes, they got to go. Don't worry, there's plenty,

[ernie]

When we moved into our new house it had been empty for about 3 months...in the winter.

Lots of spiders in the house. Mostly brown recluses.

A steady 6 months of trapping with glue traps where we trapped a lot and we've only trapped one in the past 6 months.

We hope we are winning the battle though it's guaranteed there are still some. There was a study done by one of the universities down here where they simply went into homes looking for them. They found them in over 95% of Missouri houses (or some other large number) and suspected if they spent a little more time looking would have found them in the other 5%.

Reminds me...it's about time to get the crawl space and what not sprayed.

[Suzles]

I like spiders

[You Need a Thneed]

I like spiders. I mean, what's not to like? THEY EAT THE ANNOYING BUGS!

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Matata

I've heard that you're never more than 3 feet away from a spider in your life.

3 feet? Chances are you have a colony on your face at this very minute

Demodex is a genus of tiny parasitic mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. About 65 species of Demodex mites are known; they are among the smallest of arthropods (class Arachnida). Two species living on humans have been identified: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both frequently referred to as eyelash mites.

Both species are primarily found in the face, near the nose, the eyelashes and eyebrows, but also occur elsewhere on the body.

Older people are much more likely to carry the mites; it is estimated that about 1/3 of children and young adults, 1/2 of adults, and 2/3 of elderly people carry the mites.

It is quite easy to look for one's own Demodex mites, by carefully removing an eyelash or eyebrow hair and placing it under a microscope.


source: wikipedia

feels...so...itchy...

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Matata

I kill the spiders I see, if they can't work behind the scenes, they got to go. Don't worry, there's plenty,

I'm with you on that. Me and the spiders in my house have an agreement - I let them live rent free, but they must remain hidden from my view at all times. Breaking this agreement results in death.

[Luder]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

[FlamingStuffedTiger]

^^^ You know, I'm actually curious how people deal with spiders that big... Here, a newspaper or tissue will usually do the trick, but its probably not gonna cut it for guys the size of Godzilla... And not everyone's got a spare flamethrower lying around...

[NSFL]

This thread is pretty sweet man.