# Spiders!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 15, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094 "2012-11-15T16:00:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/21 "2012-11-24T05:01:27Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#):
>
> That’s the spider that bit me, as I mentioned upthread. Once on each foot. One of the bites blistered so bad I scratched at it a lot, causing a scar that’s still there 9 months later. I can understand where the myth comes from.
Wait, it bit you on each foot?
No. Nononononono! They don’t act like that (can they)?
I’m now going to sit on my couch with a clean blanket clenched to my throat.
---
### Author:  [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/22 "2012-11-24T06:48:20Z")
Sparky they travel in pairs and each attacks one side.
Hope that helps.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/23 "2012-11-24T09:14:00Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#):
>
> Wait, it bit you on each foot?
Here’s how it worked for me. I woke up one day with a seriously itchy foot. Over the next few days I scratched at it so much it tore the skin and bled. I dismissed it as just a bug bite of no consequence, but after the itch did not relent, I covered it with a band-aid. This immediately alleviated the itch, but it still hadn’t healed after four weeks or more, and itched again every time I peeled back the band-aid.
About then I was bitten on the other foot. I immediately covered that one with a similar band-aid, and having not torn that blister it healed faster.
A couple of weeks later, after both had fully healed, I went into my bedroom and saw a spider scuttle across the floor. Looking at it closely I saw it was a white-tailed spider, and realised both my bites matched their symptoms. White-tailed spiders hide in clothes or bedsheets, and as I am a scruffy messy type I have unconsciously fashioned the perfect home for them.
I don’t know how many spiders actually were responsible for the bites, one or two, but I have not been bitten since spraying the singular little bastard.
And, as I said, the scar of one still remains.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/24 "2012-11-29T02:06:12Z")
I just killed 8 more of them tonight. They cant just keep appearing, right? I really don’t want to have to call an exterminator.
Only one was on the floor today, all the others were at where the walls meet the ceilings. I hope that’s a good omen.
Now to start googling to see what kind they are.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/25 "2012-11-29T02:08:48Z")
Why no exterminator? Is it the chemicals? You put spices on your food, don’t you!
(Okay, not a great analogy, but…)
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/26 "2012-11-29T02:18:33Z")
you wouldn’t have spiders if you didn’t have bugs.
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### Author:  [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/27 "2012-11-29T02:20:01Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#):
>
> I just killed 8 more of them tonight. They cant just keep appearing, right?
Maybe it’s the spider version of _Highlander_ - next time take its head.
Otherwise, load with [Rat-shot (.22 of course).](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat-shot) 😃
> [@](#):
>
> The maximum effective killing range of rat-shot cartridges is limited, typically being less than 10 to 16½ feet (3 to 5 meters). At this distance, it only has a small chance of tearing through a sheet paper target.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/28 "2012-11-29T02:30:05Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#):
>
> Maybe it’s the spider version of _Highlander_ - next time take its head.
>
> Otherwise, load with [Rat-shot (.22 of course).](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat-shot) 😃
And I do have 10’ ceilings…
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/29 "2012-11-29T02:32:41Z")
You know what would be worse than having a bunch of spiders in your house? _Not_ having a bunch of spiders in your house.
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### Author:  [@PotatoPeeler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PotatoPeeler)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/30 "2012-11-29T04:33:33Z")
When I lived in Taiwan, these were the kinds of spiders we’d find in our house from time to time.
[ ](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1141/1190397020_1c65093716.jpg)
[ ](https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1362/1190397040_8b39001d98.jpg)
Apparently they’re quite adept at controlling the cockroach population.
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### Author:  [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/31 "2012-11-29T13:38:37Z")
Dude, you need to move. This is how those episodes of _Infested!_ start.
Also, your “spider in the bed” story was almost enough to make me pee down my leg. Blargh
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/32 "2012-11-30T01:53:29Z")
> [@melondeca](#):
>
> Dude, you need to move. This is how those episodes of _Infested!_ start.
>
> Also, your “spider in the bed” story was almost enough to make me pee down my leg. Blargh
You’re right. I found two more tonight when I got home. And both in the bedroom :eek!
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### Author:  [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/33 "2012-11-30T14:30:59Z")
Get out while you still can! Leave everything! The spiders have it now.
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### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/34 "2012-11-30T16:17:10Z")
[There’s never been a more appropriate meme](http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/there-was-a-spider-i-panicked.jpg).
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### Author:  [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/35 "2012-12-01T03:52:42Z")
When we had our spiders, I bought bug foggers like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shot-No-Mess-Insect-Fogger/dp/B0054NFWH4/ref=sr_1_fed0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1354333919&sr=8-4&keywords=spider+fogger) and set them off in the house. No more spiders after that.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/36 "2012-12-01T03:53:27Z")
Those damned motherfoggers!
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### Author:  [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/37 "2012-12-01T07:22:21Z")
Maybe they just want to regale you with their folklore?
[ ](https://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/i-shall-play-you-the-song-of-my-people.gif)
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/38 "2012-12-02T01:40:10Z")
> [@phall0106](#):
>
> When we had our spiders, I bought bug foggers like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shot-No-Mess-Insect-Fogger/dp/B0054NFWH4/ref=sr_1_fed0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1354333919&sr=8-4&keywords=spider+fogger) and set them off in the house. No more spiders after that.
That’s exactly what I used - 3 on both levels of the home did the trick. But you have to move fast once you push that first button if you want to get the others before they get you…
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/39 "2012-12-15T02:19:41Z")
Another update…
They kinda subsided after the last post, then only intermittently appeared.
It’s been full on war since last week, though; usually killing at least 3 a night, sometimes more. Last night I had two, 2!, crawling on the ceiling directly above my bed.
Oh, hell no!
I’m hoping to get an exterminator early next week to finally end this.
Anyway, I just killed two more tonight (one made a nest and I got a face full of it, _shudder_). I captured one in a jar of bleach and took a pic, which I’ll post shortly. Hopefully someone here can ID the little bastard.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders/641094/40 "2012-12-15T02:45:05Z")
Ok, here’s a picture of the type of spiders that have been foolishly invading me:
[Spider!](http://dmf109.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-HBt3bZt/0/L/CA_12141221113831-L.jpg)
Can anyone identify it? I’m really curious about what kind it is.
Some interesting things:
They are almost always on the ceiling (phew!)
They are really fast runners
They are quick to drop via web
Also, they look a hell of a lot larger, especially when you’re sitting on the couch, notice movement from the corner of your eye, and see one on the wall about 3 feet from you.
Also, can anyone suggest a good therapist?
Edit: I’m going to post this at GQ, since it belongs there.
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