These are almost the only kind of spider we see in our house. They're translucent and about as big as a fingernail. Does anyone know what they are and if they're dangerous (poisonous?) in any way? They're always in the house, we kill about one a week. I hardly ever see them outside. Thanks for any info, I appreciate it.
~Kristy
Possibly a Yellow Sac Spider Family Clubionidae. They often build thin paper like structures in corners where they "hide" in when resting.
They are very common in North America, it is said that they may bite defensively and reactions to the bite are similar to a Bee or Wasp sting.
Milan
They're POISONOUS?!?!? I saw one today out in the garden while I was planting rhizomes. I thought he was just an ordinary garden spider, so I picked him up on the end of my trowel and moved him several feet away. If I'd known he was poisonous I would have squashed him.
Aw, Jeez! Just what I need. ANOTHER poisonous spider running around.
http://www.srv.net/~dkv/hobospider/yellosac.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_sac_spider
http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest/Articles/YellowSacSpiders.htm
I really hate spiders. To think I was only a couple inches from a poisonous spider, and I was trying so hard to be brave. And people have to wonder why I'm arachnophobic?
Hi Milan,
Thanks for the ID, even though it was bad, as I feared. I think that is probably what "my" house spiders are. And thanks so much for the website links, White Hydrangea. Those are what really make me think that these are yellow sac spiders. There was a part on one of the websites that said they dropped to the ground as a defense when you try to kill them. And the ones in my house ALWAYS do that, which is why I'm always afraid to try and kill them, cause... they can land on you.
I'm arachnaphobic, too. Since I started gardening and "getting used" to having bugs near me, I'm not as bad as I used to be, but I still hate spiders and centipedes. I used to just run away screaming like crazy when I saw a spider, lol, and have my mom or dad kill it. I will actually attempt to kill them now and I'm okay if I get them. But if they get away, then it's major freak out time and I have to take a shower and wash my hair just to make sure it isn't on me! Another thing that makes me think this is a correct ID is because it said they didn't make webs, but just those little sacs. I always thought those were egg sacs and find them mostly on the tops of the curtains, but I guess that's where they live. Good tip of just vaccuuming them up and throwing the bag away outside.
Don't worry White Hydrangea. I'm pretty sure I've been bitten by these before (I have curtains on my bed and got spider bites before) and they were hardly anything. Not as bad as a bee sting and they didn't get yucky or anything. Were mostly like bad mosquito bites. I saw those pix online from brown recluse spider bites and was freaking out... you know, those with the guy's thumb and you could see the bone - ICK! But these don't do that, thank God! And I'm allergic to almost everything, so if I didn't get a bad reaction, no one will! I just wish these things wouldn't get into the house. I hardly ever see them outside. OKay, I'm all itchy now, this is enough spider talk!
~Kristy
Now I'm starting to itch! Maybe they did bite me. I've woken up with spider bites, and they were like bad mosquito bites but different, if that makes sense.
I really am trying to work on my arachnophobia, but having spiders jump out at me every d**n day is NOT helping.
I got out my vacuum Sunday to try to get rid of any bugs, webs, and eggs, and my $200 vacuum stopped working! And no it wasn't under warranty, but it wasn't that old. Less than a year.
It was not one of the best weekends of my life.
But the exterminator is coming back out on the 21st.
