[banf77]

Hi,

I have just noticed a couple of hundred baby yellow spiders on my wheely bin.
I grow vegetables in a patch further up the garden, about 20 yards away.
Does anybody know if spiders are a danger to veg?
Cheers
Steve

[sunshineband]

Spiders are not veggie  and eat bugs so ... friend not foe 

[Trillium]

But do be careful of the adults as some can bite and leave a nasty lump. If the baby spiders are on a regularly used wheely bin, then take a dull stick, carefully scoop off the cluster and move it to a spot where they won't be disturbed.

[scabs]

Friend!!!!!

Especially Sidney and Garfield, my two tarantulas.

Trillium, there's not ever so many native sipders that can pierce skin with a bite and babies are no threat whatsover.

[Roll Roll]

Friend. 
            But i'm sure the wife will disagree, she hates them.

[banf77]

Thanks for the replies.
Friend it is then. A few hundred spiders send their thanks to you for saving their lives!
Cheers
Steve

[scabs]

Sidney says 'you're welcome!'

[sunshineband]

Wow Scabs, he's great isn't he ? Yours?

[Trillium]

Trillium, there's not ever so many native sipders that can pierce skin with a bite and babies are no threat whatsover.

I realize the babies aren't a threat which is why I recommend that they be carefully set somewhere where they're not in the way and can live happily as well.
As for any native spiders, it never fails that the very few around somehow manage to bite when you're happily rooting about in the garden without garden gloves on.

[scabs]

Hi Sunshine, yeah... (s)he's my baby.  Sidney is a Salmon Pink Bird Eater (Lasiodora parahybana), she has a legspan of about 7" or so and she's a bit of a bad tempered one. I also have a Mexican Red Knee (the classic 'James Bond villain') though she is only a baby.

Trillium, you must have lovely soft skin!  Wasn't having a pop, but it is fairly rare for adults to get a proper bite off native spiders (and I realise I am now setting myself up for a fall as everyone on the forum posts stories of their bites!  ) However, having been bitten by spiders, snakes and lizards, rats, hamsters and chipmonks, stung by scorpions, struck ill by poison frogs and pooed on by monkeys, I know that animals can be unpredictable and, well, tetchy. 

I have been campaigning for years against the bad rep of Tarantuas in the press and so forth and I guess I just can't help myself... 

[Yorkie]

Many years ago my brother discovered that the british tarantula society had a section or HQ in our local town.

Mum suddenly decided that the dog he'd been pestering her to get was a good idea, when he cunningly transferred his requests to a spider ... 

[scabs]

 

They make excellent pets for the lazy amongst us! Though not really as 'cuddly' as a puppy!

Trillium, I just realised you are in Canada - I have to be honest, I'm not familiar with your spider species (though I am fairly sure that the 'big boys' don't wander that far north), do you have any 'nasty' types?

[8doubles]

My sister who is an arachniphobe (spelling?) was pleased to hear on the tv that "most british spiders cannot pierce human skin" when the person speaking held her earpiece and said "sorry correction , i should have said can"

I think they just choose not to bite and they have had lots of chances to savage me while i`m rescuing little sis . 

[scabs]

Just the sort of media rubbish that I rail against! 

In fact, most UK species are so small that their fangs are simply not strong enough. Considering that the majority of UK species are under 5mm legspan, you can see what I mean.

Or did I just invent those stats?  :blink:

Well, anyway, you take my point, I'm sure... 

Actually, the defence systems of the 'New World' Tarantulas are amazing and rely heavily on the defensive-don't-bite-unless-you-can-leg-it-first system - barbed hairs that can be kicked off and cause irritation, for instance (the one thing I have found that I am allergic to! Cruel fate).

Many 'Old World' spiders just seem to want to pull your leg off for looking at them the wrong way, though... 

[scabs]

Just to satisfy myself (and because I have nothing else to do at the moment) I thought I'd re-check the figures...

There are about 640 species of spider native to the UK, of wich only 12 or so are capable of inflicting a significant bite (granted, these can be painful and, in the cases of some, dangerous.)


Going back to the original question, spiders are extremely beneficial in the garden - the most important predators on insects, killing more than all other predators combined. They feed on a broad variety of pest insects year-round.