# So, releasing spiders outside kills them?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 18, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184 "2026-05-18T16:56:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 6
### Author:  [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/101 "2026-05-20T15:43:53Z")
This is why Aunt May never kicks Peter Parker out of her house.
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### Author:  [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/102 "2026-05-20T16:24:01Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#):
>
> What claim is that exactly? I posted that it’s been said by some knowledgeable folks (supported by one of your citations, even) that spiders have evolved to live indoors and would die if released outdoors.
I could not find a place in the New Yorker article that discussed the propriety of throwing out spiders into the cold dark outside world. A close reading of my science cite shows that while some spiders have evolved for an indoor environment, that by no means covers all spiders that are likely to be encountered indoors. The “Don’t toss the spiders”, movement seems to be sourced to a single museum manager whose actual position was exaggerated in the retelling.
FTR, I didn’t have a problem with the OP. Should we or should we not toss spiders outside is frankly a great question for this board. I am a curmudgeon about non-expert You-tube influencers though. They emit mental pollution IM-not-so-HO.
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/103 "2026-05-20T17:15:52Z")
All good then. I was just confused by some of your post, appreciate your clearing it up, thanks.
FTR, I agree about the You-tube influencers, it was just a handy link-to.
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### Author:  [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/104 "2026-05-20T20:14:55Z")
I am in the “out they go” camp, mostly because my wife has a mild phobia about spiders. By coincidence, we noticed a spider crawling across the wall last night which I trapped in a glass and took a picture of. According to the Google Lens app, it was a Cheiracanthium inclusum, which is not poisonous but can inflict painful bites. It is also adapted to live outside as well as in, according to wikipedia. I tossed it out in the backyard.
I took a picture, link spoilered below for anyone with an aversion to spiders.
[https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55282209777\_f3c5a44ed9.jpg](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55282209777_f3c5a44ed9.jpg)
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### Author:  [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/105 "2026-05-20T20:21:36Z")
My guilt is hereby acknowledged. My wife saw one of these on the bedroom wall and asked me to kill it. I did but without looking it up. Shame. Kills pests and no web. I should have thanked it for its service.
(from Google AI) -The largest spider in Hawaii is the **Cane Spider (_Heteropoda venatoria_)**, a type of huntsman that can have a leg span of 4–6 inches, often described as the size of a tuna can or a human hand. While large, they are not aggressive, do not build webs, and are actually beneficial for pest control (eating cockroaches).
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/106 "2026-05-20T20:25:17Z")
I’ve eaten (culinary) spiders, but would put any that were that large out of the house or send them to arachnid heaven, depending where they were at the point of discovery.
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/107 "2026-05-20T21:44:02Z")
> [@susan](#):
>
> I’ve eaten (culinary) spiders
I’ve eaten a lot of thing; rattlesnakes, carp and alligator gar (yuck), squirrels, rabbits, quail… but I pretty much draw the line at insects.
Lonely? How about a spider friend.
> **[The Process of Making Friends With a Tiny Spider](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ucE1cfzmE%2F)**
>
> Jumping spiders are highly intelligent, but is it possible to create a friendship with one? In just 14 days, I found out...WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON EARL - https:...
(sorry no spoiler, it is a spider thread after all!)
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/108 "2026-05-20T21:47:38Z")
I’ve had grasshoppers and ants. Both were tasty.
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/109 "2026-05-21T01:34:04Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> I’ve had grasshoppers and ants
Ants aren’t acrid?
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/110 "2026-05-21T01:44:39Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#):
>
> Ants aren’t acrid?
[The many flavors of edible ants](https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2024/march/the-many-flavors-of-edible-ants.html). Quote:
Weaver ants were characterized as having a nutty, sweet and caramel-like aroma caused by the presence of various pyrazines and pyrroles, but the researchers also detected hay and urine-like off-flavors likely due to high concentrations of amines.
Hmmm…nutty and sweet caramel with just a hint of urine. How could you ever say no 😀?
However yep, I’ve seen people praise acridness in edible ants. I hung out with several entomologists in college and unsurprisingly a couple of them (but definitely not all of them) were fascinated with edible insects. I have a book on the topic I got as a gift from one of them one year.
Not my thing, personally. But whatever spins your beanie I say.
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/111 "2026-05-21T02:13:37Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> However yep, I’ve seen people praise acridness in edible ants.
When on the rare occasion I squish one, that acrid smell I smell doesn’t have me salivating. But different strokes…
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/112 "2026-05-21T02:30:26Z")
Not acrid at all. Sour. But also a little sweet. We joked that they tasted like sweet tarts. There are a lot of species of ants. I imagine they taste different.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/113 "2026-05-21T02:50:57Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> Hmmm…nutty and sweet caramel with just a hint of urine.
Kidney ‘n’ Praline Surprise?
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### Author:  [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/114 "2026-05-21T16:27:51Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#):
>
> I’ve eaten a lot of thing; rattlesnakes, carp and alligator gar (yuck), squirrels, rabbits, quail… but I pretty much draw the line at insects.
Lucky spiders ain’t insects then really… 😉
I’ve tried a few different ants- most notably an African species (don’t know what, was given it dried) which tasted a bit like blue cheese but with more legs, and South American lemon ants, which, well, you’ll never _guess_ what they taste like. Never knowingly eaten a spider though.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/115 "2026-05-21T16:36:26Z")
The spiders I get in the house are the same assortment of species I see in the woodshed, the garden shed, the greenhouse etc. I believe they may have some requirements regarding habitats that are relatively sheltered and dry, but I don’t believe those requirements are so very specific as to only be met by a house.
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/116 "2026-05-21T16:46:03Z")
Whenever spider-related threads pop up I’m reminded of former(?) poster Lynne42 who overcame her arachnophobia and went on to write a book about it: [Spiders: learning to love them](https://www.lynnekelly.com.au/?page_id=11)
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/117 "2026-05-21T16:53:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> The spiders I get in the house are the same assortment of species I see in the woodshed, the garden shed, the greenhouse etc. I believe they may have some requirements regarding habitats that are relatively sheltered and dry, but I don’t believe those requirements are so very specific as to only be met by a house.
Yes, I’m pretty sure those “house spiders” evolved to live in human-built sheltered spaces, like sheds. Not in modern climate-controlled houses.
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/118 "2026-05-21T18:02:43Z")
Accepted that the species “house spider” - which is smallish spider that stays near its web usually - is synanthropic, evolved to live with us in shelters. What fraction of spiders that I see routinely in my house are that species vs other spiders just wandering through?
I can’t find anything searching. Anyone with better … web skills … than I have?
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/119 "2026-05-21T18:33:33Z")
> [@DSeid](#):
>
> other spiders just wandering through?
Oh, that’s a visual.
[This maybe?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasteatoda_tepidariorum)
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-releasing-spiders-outside-kills-them/1030184/120 "2026-05-21T18:47:30Z")
The Vermin Protective Association is very active on social media these days.
I recently got an unsolicited Facebook post extolling the virtues of wasps, which included their “slender, graceful bodies” and supposedly eating ticks.
Leaving aside waspian beauty 🤔, tick consumption apparently isn’t something associated with large stinging wasps, but instead involves tiny parasitic wasps which don’t sting humans. Sorry wasp lovers, but when full-sized wasps or hornets build nests on my porch or on/in the garage, they’re getting sprayed and eliminated.
Good news on the ant invasion front: after unsuccessful efforts with standard borax traps, I found an anticide called Advion, which comes as a translucent gel. Apply it near ant invasion/iinfestation points, and ants will feast on it and bring it home to their colony, where all will die in a Jonestown-like cataclysm. Our ant problem appears solved.
There are probably ant-o-philes who deplore such measures and urge us to live in peace with our multifooted mini-brethren, but mua-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
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