Sometimes you just have to get rid of a spider. For some reason I’ve been having to do it several times a week lately. It could be the hot weather. I don’t know. All I know is that my house has been infested with spiders.
Specifically, Huntsman Spiders.
Not that spiders are bad house-guests. At least not these ones. They’re clean, generally docile unless provoked, and like to eat nasty bugs. Unfortunately they’re not very popular with house-guests of the two legged variety, and also tend to dehydrate and die if they stay indoors for too long. Thus, after having enjoyed their company for a day or two, it is proper to remove them from one’s place of residence. Killing them is unnescessary and, I feel, rather mean. Fortunately there’s a better way. You need a glass, preferably with a wide brim, and a flat piece of sturdy paper (envelopes are ideal).
Huntsman Spiders generally prefer to sit on a flat surface, such as a wall. They can hang around in trickier places such as corners or ceilings. You can try to expel them from these more difficult areas with a broom or other instrument or wait for them to find somewhere new.
When your arachnid pal is on a flat surface it should be fairly simple to slip the mouth of the glass over him. It’s best to do this slowly so that you don’t miss and the spider doesn’t panic. He is now trapped between the glass and the wall.
Then, ever so slowly, slip the piece of paper between the wall and the glass.
Holding the paper in place you can now move the spider around as you wish.
Take him outside, lay the glass on its side on the ground, and remove the paper. Come back later and retrieve the empty glass.
Congrats. You’ve just returned a friendly spider to his natural habitat.
Don’t know about friendly – I have been bitten by one in my sleep!! Little beggar climbed up onto the foot of my bed and got my ankle; I kicked out and found dead spider on the floor the next day. :/
I usually just make sure I spray all the areas around the house to deter them coming in and if I find them, I use the ‘glass and paper’ method too.
Ouch. Yeah. Sometimes they can be bitey. And it hurts!
Never been bitten by one. Tried feeding one mashed potato when I was a rug rat. Didn’t work.
I’ve got a few I have to move outside myself. My youngest brother hates seeing them when he visits.
For those who aren’t used to being around larger spiders (or hate any and all spiders), they’re probably disgusted right now. I love that you take the time to put them outside instead of killing them, though. <3
Agreed with Jessi. I think I just died
Maybe I should put a warning on it.
i looked forgetting what the subject matter was! eeekkk!
Well I’m officially freaked out! I have a reason to be scared of spiders though. I had one bite me and had to get surgery for it! Swelled up all huge like and made it hard to walk. I’m not so friendly to them now. Though when I have kids that’ll have to change because I don’t want my kids to catch that fear from me. Blech.
Ouch. I’d be scared too.
I’ve had on happily living in my bathroom for the past 3 weeks..but alas I caught the little blighter the other day and took him outside…
Better to have a huntsman that a redback or white-tip I say….
Very true.