What kind of spider is this, and should I release it or dispatch it?

[Mr. Ree]

I dont know if its true, but I heard on Discovery Channel that most spiders to fear are the ones that dont make visible webs to catch their food?


~Casey

 

[Oblio13]

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The kid's going to be at a serious competitive disadvantage when he gets out into the big wide world and mom's not there to check for spiders.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

 

[Oblio13]

With my kids, I simply didn't indulge the behavior. It goes away pretty quickly when they figure out it's not rewarding.

"I can't go in my room unless you check for spiders!!"

"Okay."

(long pause)

"Are you going to check?"

"No."

"But I can't go in my room, then."

"Okay."


Sort of like how I dealt with picky eaters. "This isn't a restaurant. This is what's for dinner. You can eat it or not eat it."

 

[Jimagination]

That is definitely a wolf spider. We get them all the time. Huge, creepy spiders. But I am pretty sure they are harmless.

 

[funkychicken]

thats what I was going to say...wolf spider...harmless spider but has been known to make you hurt yourself trying to get away..lol

 

[Panhead9]

We call that a wood spider around here not piosonous but will bite

 

[Oblio13]

It's not a wolf spider.

 

[smith2]

Without seeing the web I can't tell you, but if he is garden spider sized and weaves a regular pattern in the web, he is an orb weaver. Orb weaver is a general class of spider that includes most large, garden type spiders. They weave at night, can grow very large, and can totally creep you out. They are harmless. Their coloring and banding goes all the way to the ends of their legs (like your picture). They are rather fun to watch, difficult to relocate, and will return to the same spot just about every night and start their web over. They are known by several names: barn spider, cross spider, marbled spider, etc. Down south they grow huge (2-3 inches). I have walked into their webs several times at night and it really freaks me out.

 

[amystours]

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