To quickly determine if your spider is molting or dead, check its leg position and response to gentle stimulation.
Myth: Spiders are most numerous in late summer.
Fact: Actually, August and September are the worst time of year for northern hemisphere spider collectors.
Squishing Can Create More Problems
Unlike some insects, squishing spiders can sometimes: Spread eggs if it's a female carrying young. Leave behind messes or stains. Prevent proper identification.
They typically go into a "death curl" where the legs tuck up and under their body. Spiders don't have muscles like we do, they rely on pressure of liquid, their "blood", to move their limbs. When they're old, or sick, they can't maintain sufficient pressure to keep their legs extended and they curl up.
When a spider dies, its legs curl toward its body because of how its hydraulic system works. Unlike other animals, spiders don't use muscles to extend their legs—they rely on internal pressure from a body fluid called hemolymph.
To kill a spider instantly, use a physical method like a shoe or a hard object, or spray it directly with a contact insecticide (e.g., Hot Shot Spider & Scorpion Killer) or a household degreaser like Windex. The force of a vacuum cleaner or a swift swat also eliminates them immediately.
Yes, spiders can hear you talk. Even though they do not have ears, studies show that certain spiders (such as jumping spiders) can pick up airborne sound waves—including normal human speech and clapping—using the highly sensitive hairs on their legs from up to 10 to 16 feet away.
Spiders strongly dislike the scent of peppermint. They are also highly repelled by other strong, naturally pungent aromas like tea tree oil, eucalyptus, citrus, and vinegar.
💦 Water Consistently, But Don't Overdo It Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Spider plants like slightly moist soil but hate soggy roots. Overwatering causes root rot, while underwatering can make the leaf tips brown. In winter, scale back on watering.
They're conserving energy. Many spiders are ambush predators. They build a trap (their web), and attack prey that falls into the trap. Moving around unnecessarily burns energy they could instead conserve to keep them alive longer between prey, and attack more energetically when it arrives.
Occasionally, a spider could get out of a vacuum. If it doesn't die from the initial trauma, a spider can escape the vacuum – but only if there are gaps big enough for them to get through and a surface they can climb.
The Bible does not explicitly command how to treat spiders, but it references them to teach both positive and negative spiritual lessons:
Is It Safe to Sleep With a Spider in the Room? It's not ideal, but yes—most spiders in our area are completely harmless. They'd much rather avoid you than bite you. In fact, even our venomous species usually only bite if they feel threatened.
Spiders mate in the autumn, lay their eggs in the winter and the next generation hatch in the spring.
To kill spider eggs and the embryos inside instantly, you can either saturate the egg sac with a specialized spray like Web Out, a 50/50 mix of household bleach and water, or household glass cleaners like Windex. Alternatively, vacuuming or physically crushing the sac destroys them immediately.
The average house contains anywhere from 30 to 60 visible spiders. Entomological surveys show that spiders are present in nearly 100% of homes, though most are harmless and naturally regulate insect populations by feeding on pests like mosquitoes, flies, and roaches.
Other bugs tend to gravitate toward bright colors, like yellow, white, or orange. So while green attracts spiders, it repels their food sources. The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don't just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic.
If they're dehydrated from not drinking then it's usually a shriveled abdomen like an old grape.
Spiders spend most of their time sitting still to conserve energy while waiting for prey. Depending on the species, they split their time between ambushing insects, maintaining their webs, sleeping, and—for some males—roaming around to find a mate.
Spider plants benefit from regular feedings, especially when they're actively growing. During spring and summer feed your spider plant once a week with Miracle-Gro® Tropical Houseplant Food, which is specially made to promote lush foliage in tropical plants.
Plants prefer to rest between waterings. Keeping the soil too moist all the time can rot the roots. OVERWATERING is the #1 killer of houseplants.
Yes, coffee grounds are good for spider plants in moderation. They provide a mild nitrogen boost that promotes vibrant, leafy growth. However, because grounds can hold moisture and invite mold, you must use them correctly:
Yes, spiders can hear you talk, even though they do not have ears. They pick up sound waves in the air using the tiny, ultra-sensitive hairs on their legs and bodies. These hairs vibrate in response to your voice and transmit those signals to their nervous system.
Squishing a spider is never a good idea because it can unleash hidden egg sacs, release foul-smelling pheromones that attract other bugs, and destroy a natural, free pest-control system that targets disease-carrying insects in your home.
Spiders can be eliminated using commercial spider sprays, household cleaners, natural remedies, or physical removal. Effective solutions range from fast-acting chemical aerosols to gentle, eco-friendly deterrents.