Eastern Parson's Spider

With Halloween just around the corner, and autumn well underway, what better creature to write about than a spider. Arachnophobia ranks as the number one most recognized phobia afflicting people. With one in four women and one in three men experiencing some form of the often-paralyzing fear of being faced with a hairy, eight-legged arachnid. I myself am a recovering arachnophobe. Throughout my childhood and a large portion of my adult life I was deeply afraid and creeped out by spiders. I knew how irrational this feeling was, but seemed powerless to stop the overwhelming terror that would sweep over me at the sight of one making its way across the ceiling of my home. I made my husband kill each one I discovered, and he had to show me that he had killed it. I couldn’t bring myself to take his word for it. I needed proof that he had adequately disposed of it. No way could I sleep knowing a wayward spider was roaming my house and would end up sharing the warmth of my bed. What a difference time and education can make. Nearly twenty years ago I became determined to confront my fear and conquer it once and for all. It started with baby steps as I photographed spiders in my yard and then made myself learn about what I photographed.  Eventually I found my fear being replaced by fascination. It took four years, but I felt I had once and for all left the fear of spiders behind me, so much so I bought my first tarantula. I now own four tarantulas and deeply respect all spiders.

This week I am featuring a spider many may have encountered, but few will know what it is. The Eastern Parson’s Spider is common in woodlands throughout Eastern North America, but also finds its way into homes in fall. These are small to somewhat medium sized spiders with a velvety black appearance. The legs are typically chestnut- colored and the abdomen will have a white or pinkish marking that resembles the cravat worn by clergymen during the Victorian era, which earned them the common name of Parson’s spider.

Parson’s spiders are in the family of ground dwelling spiders and as such are generally found speedily moving among leaf litter on the forest floor actively hunting for food. However, being classified as a ground spider doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t climb, because they certainly will. While they can spin silk, they do not spin webs, instead they ambush prey and then rapidly run in for the kill. Nocturnal by nature they hunt for various insects and other spiders during the cover of darkness. In the daylight hours they are secreted away under leaf litter, stones, logs and even in our homes. 

It is these wayward individuals that end up in our home that we are likely to see and then question what this unusual spider may be. When approached they are little speed demons that move in a rapid zig-zag bob-and-weave pattern that leaves us wondering if we actually saw what we thought we saw as this spunky little spider disappears out of sight. You are not likely to find a web in the corner of your living room to advertise this little eight-legged interlopers hiding spot. Instead, it will hide in the dark recesses of our homes, including closets, basements, cellars, under our bed and sinks. Fortunately, they will not breed within our homes, instead these spiders are simply looking for a safe place to spend the winter with ample hiding spots and food supplies available for the taking. Very little is known about their breeding cycle, but it is known that the female will deposit a silken disc-shaped egg sac, usually under the bark of a tree that she guards from predators. This egg sac may contain as many as 170 spiderlings. Because these spiders are found in all seasons, and at all stages of development it is safe to say they are probably a fairly long-lived species.

I would hazard a guess that most people faced with a spider living in their home want nothing more than for it to NOT be there. Some will take the gentle route and escort the uninvited guest outside where it belongs. Others, take a more aggressive approach and apply a size 9 boot stomp to solve the problem. I understand both responses but would encourage the former rather than the later.

These spiders are considered harmless to humans and pets, but with that being said there are exceptions. Like all spiders they possess venom to subdue their prey and help liquefy it for digestion. This venom is almost always harmless to us, but it some extreme cases a bite from this spider may cause reactions that require medical attention. The bite is reported to be painful, with a typical reaction being mild itching, and slight inflammation at the bite sight. This usually lasts for a few minutes to a few hours with no other lasting effects from the unfortunate encounter. On the extreme end of the spectrum of reactions, individuals may experience swelling, nausea, nervousness, elevated temperatures, racing heartbeat, itching, inflammation and necroses of flesh at the bite sight as the venom dissolves skin tissue. If a person were to experience this type of atypical reaction medical care is required. Bites happen when the spider finds itself trapped between your skin and clothing or caught up in your bedding and rolled on. Any self-respecting spider is going to bite when finding itself being smashed. 

Because autumn is the time of year when spiders often move into our dwellings, it is always wise to shake out clothing, and bedding that has been stored, as these make great hiding spots for spiders. Always check shoes or boots before placing your foot inside. To help mitigate populations of spiders showing up within your home, controlling their food sources and hiding spots will go a long way in making your place inhospitable to them.

Halloween is the time of year when we celebrate all things scary, creepy, odd, and mysterious. Spiders seem to fall into each of these categories, and if you dare…… face your fear this year and see the spider in a whole new light.