Frequently asked questions
The questions people actually ask about spiders, answered with citations from arachnologists and university extension services.
- FAQ
What spider is in my house?
The most common indoor spiders in North America are cellar spiders, common house spiders (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), and in the Pacific Northwest, giant house spiders.
- FAQ
Do spiders actively hunt or seek out people?
No. Spiders are not predatory toward humans. Bites occur when a spider is pressed against skin (in clothing, bedding, or shoes) and bites defensively.
- FAQ
Should I kill spiders I find in my house?
For most species the practical answer is no: indoor spiders consume other pest arthropods. Catch and release outdoors is appropriate when the species is not medically significant.
- FAQ
How do I know if I was actually bitten by a spider?
You almost certainly do not, unless you saw the spider bite you. Most presumed spider bites are bacterial infections, tick bites, or other dermatologic conditions.
- FAQ
I found a spider in my bed - is that a problem?
Spiders do not seek out beds or sleeping people. Most bed sightings are individual males wandering during fall mating season. Move the spider outdoors and review entry points around the room.
- FAQ
How can I tell if a spider is a brown recluse?
Diagnosis rests on three combined features: six eyes arranged in three pairs (dyads), a uniformly colored abdomen with no pattern, and legs that are also uniform with no banding or spines. A violin marking alone is not enough.
- FAQ
Is it normal to have spiders in my basement?
Yes. Basements provide the cool, humid, low-disturbance microhabitat that cellar spiders (Pholcus) and several other synanthropic species need. Their presence indicates the room is not currently dry enough to dehydrate them.
- FAQ
Do spiders recognize people?
Spiders have small nervous systems and short-term learning, but no evidence supports individual recognition of humans. Apparent recognition is usually a response to location, vibration, or scent cues rather than identity.