Hobbies And Interests
Northern Black Widows (Latrodectus variolus)
The northern black widow is highly venomous to human beings and will bite if threatened or if its nest is disturbed. The female is the one that is most dangerous, though the male can deliver a bite as well. Black widows are found throughout Michigan outside and only come into homes via accident. Often they gain entry by hitching a ride on firewood when it is brought inside or by coming in through holes in the foundation of homes. They spin haphazard webs in places undisturbed by humans. You might find them in crawlspaces, attics, closets, shelves and under kitchen sinks around the plumbing. Females and males look very different with the female being larger at about 1 1/2 inches long including the legs. Females are jet black with bulbous abdomens. Underneath these abdomens females have red hourglass markings. Males are similar but smaller. They lack the red hourglass markings and have yellow or red bands across their backs. The northern black widow should be avoided and left to professionals to eradicate.
Yellow House Spiders (Chiracanthium inclusum)
Yellow house spiders are found in Michigan, though they are not original inhabitants of the U.S. They range from white to yellow and even green in color with the abdomen being lighter than the rest of the spider. When things start to cool off in the fall, yellow house spiders will make their way toward the warmth and safety of homes. They then spin their webs to spend the winter molting into adults the following spring. Yellow house spiders are notable because they are known biters that can have a neurotic effect similar to the notorious brown recluse. Though the yellow house spider is not nearly as serious of a bite as a recluse, some people have reported lesions after a bite. For most people, the bite is like a typical bee sting.
Crab Spiders (Thomisidae)
Crab spiders are so-called because of their walk--a sideways or backwards strut that utilizes only their undersized rear legs. The front legs of crab spiders are used for grasping their prey. Crab spiders can be a whole rainbow of different colors depending upon their habitat. They usually are the same color as their surroundings. Crab spiders are generally found among flowers and foliage outside but are sometimes brought into Michigan homes on cut flowers or by accident. They are harmless to human beings and reluctant to bite even when cornered.
Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae)
Wolf spiders are large, hairy spiders many people mistake for tarantulas. They are actually nowhere near as large as tarantulas and bear little resemblance under close scrutiny. Among Michigan spiders, however, the wolf spiders are among the largest. Wolf spiders are generally outside spiders, but they are wandering spiders. This means that they do not spin webs and instead go out and actively hunt and ambush prey. This inevitably leads to the occasional wolf spider heading inside to chase its favorite insects or to grab a minute of warmth. Once inside a home, the wolf spider will generally stay on the floor and try to stay in the shadows. This can lead to some particularly startling moments for homeowners and spiders alike.
Jumping Spiders (Salticidae)
Jumping spiders also are wandering spiders and, like wolf spiders, sometimes come inside in search of food or shelter. What makes jumping spiders unique is their jumping ability. In reality, they are bungee jumping. They tether themselves to whatever they are standing on with some silk webbing, then jump off using the line as a safety valve. If they miss their target, they simply climb up their safety line and try again. Jumping spiders have great eyesight to hunt with. They are often found in homes near windows where insects naturally come toward the light. Once they zero in on an insect to eat, they take a leap and paralyze them with a venomous bite. Jumping spiders are not likely biters, but they are a nervous species. Jumping spiders are the largest group of spiders on the planet with nearly 5,000 species recorded.