I’m not especially concerned; I find spiders like this (or maybe the same one over and over, heh) in my house all the time and I haven’t had a problem with them. They’re usually about this size, sometimes a little larger, occasionally a lot larger. It’s startling to see them dashing up a wall or across the floor; they’re fast little buggers. But since I’m not worried about them, I just catch 'em and stick 'em down in the basement. (I’ve heard that going outside is a death sentence for house-adapted spiders, so I don’t put 'em out.)
Even though I’ve been seeing them for years, I’ve never known exactly what kind of spider this is, and I’m definitely curious. They’re almost like mini-pets at this point. They’re only marginally less trainable than my cat (;)), and seeing them up close, the delicate pattern and fine hairs are actually kind of pretty. I’ve tried looking in books and on websites for identification, but have had no luck.
So… what kind of arachnid is this, exactly? I’d like to get to know my housemates a little better.
By the way, arachnophobes definitely don’t want to click on this link, because it’s too easy to interpret the image as capturing that split-second moment where you happen to look up and realize that this dude is banzai-ing straight down onto your face. Just a word of warning.
I believe it’s “Non aggressive house spider”. At least that’s what the exterminator told me. I’m also in the PNW (Beaverton). If I recall correctly, the little bands around the leg distinguish it from a poisionous spider.
Our house is full of those damn Wolf Spiders! The cats have a big time with them (they like to bat them around. Sort of like a living-toy type thing), but I just usually scream, make a weak attempt at killing them, then go find someone who will get the job done for me. I’ve not been bitten by any…so far…watch. I’ve just jinxed myself.
The cats seem to have no problem with them, either. The dogs seem to think the spiders are crunchy or something, since they chew them up when they catch one. They don’t have a problem with them, either.
I think I’m the only one with issues.
. . . And they will bite you, in case you were wondering.
House acclimated or not, any spider I find is going outside and can thank its little spider gods I didn’t give it a burial at sea in the porcelain pond.
I live in Philomath (a little south of Portland), and we get them all the time, too. I don’t think it’s a wolf spider – they only get about as big as the one pictured, and they never get the large body you associate with wolf ones.
Cervaise if you keep them as pets you can have mine…if you can get them before the cats eat them.
I think it depends on where you are located. The spider you pictured is called a wood spider in Ohio…found in any wood pile…What we call a wolf spider is much bigger and very hairy… Both are called dead if I see them…
For whatever reason, my cat isn’t particularly interested in munching these guys. He’ll snap to attention when he sees the movement, but as soon as he recognizes what it is, he does the cat equivalent of shrugging and going back to his magazine. Maybe he ate one once and had a ptui ptui reaction. Not being a bug-eater myself, I don’t know what they’re like, but I’d imagine a venomous critter would probably be fairly bitter.
Now, those big fat late-summer moths, on the other hand; he’ll tear the house apart to catch 'em. Doesn’t even play with 'em, either. Just leap, snatch, crunch, and gone.
When I was about 12 a spider about 1/4 inch long was walking on my arm. I said live and let live. When it got about 1 inch from my elbow it gave me a bite I still remember. I live in Michigan and critters are safe. Man that hurt, After I ran cold water on my arm I spent hours looking for that thing. I was going to squish it and like doing it.It was a hairy little thing.
Your spider looks exactly like this female hobo spider. They have a nasty bite that can cause significant pain and local necrosis, as well as headaches and other nasty stuff. You definitely want to be careful around these guys. I understand they do look very similar to a non-poisonous house spider, but it would probably be best to be careful all the same.
