The book Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, features a barn spider named Charlotte. The spider’s full name is Charlotte A. Cavatica, a reference to the barn spider’s scientific name Araneus cavaticus. Just like the fictional character was good to have around, so are real barn spiders. Barn spiders are a good thing to have around a barn, shed or any sheltered space. Even better, barn spiders pose no threat to humans or animals. They are beneficial to have around because of their big appetites that include flies, mosquitos, small moths and other flying insects.
Barn Spider Identification
Barn spiders are gray in color, but the color can vary among this species. They have a rounded abdomen with small bumps towards the front of it. The legs are banded with an interspersed gray and dark color and their entire body, including the legs, is covered with hair. The female is quite a bit bigger than the male with a female barn spider getting as big as ¾ of an inch. The males don’t spin webs and will wander around most of the time searching for a female. So, if you see a barn spider in a web it’s a female.
Orb Weaver Spiders
Barn spiders are orb-weaving spiders. The webs are flat, rounded and orb-shaped and are made of sticky threads to catch prey and silk that is less sticky that is used to protect the structure of the web. These webs can be very big, as big as several feet across. They are nocturnal and make a new web every night. They can even go a few days before making a new web and will reuse the silk to conserve it. The female will hide during the day to avoid predators and spend evening hours waiting for prey to become ensnared in her web.
Araneus Cavaticus Lifespan
Many barn spiders die in the fall after they have produced an egg sac but there are some that will live through the winter. When the weather gets warm the baby spiders will hatch but there are some that will hatch during the fall and winter. On average a barn spider egg sac will hold about 100 eggs, but some larger spiders can have up to 2,000 eggs!
Barn Spider Bites
Barn spiders are shy spiders and only become aggressive if they are mishandled or they are overtly threatened. If you get bitten there might be some irritation and redness at the localized site of the bite. The bite may feel like a bee sting at worst. The bite is not toxic, so it just needs to be cleaned and taken care of just like you would any the insect bite. You may have been bitten by a spider that is poisonous if you experience severe pain, cramping or an ulcer where the spider bit you and you should get medical help right away.
Spider Control in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
The only time you should think about getting rid of barn spiders is if they interfere with your work or daily routines because they are great for pest control and pose no real threat to you. Try and leave them alone and be thankful for the free pest control they offer. Call A Five Star Termite & Pest Control for all your pest control needs.
