When my daughter was visiting yesterday, she went to grab something downstairs when she suddenly noticed something on the carpet in our family room. Could it be?
A SPIDER!
Not your average little house spider. This one was massive. Its legs stretching out like skeletal fingers. It stood motionless. She yelled; I yelled...all the while her son, Jayden had no idea what the commotion was all about. For a moment we froze!
My heart thudded in my chest; I wasn’t about to let an eight-legged intruder take over. But we were both so scared and there was no knight in shining armor to come to our rescue.
Armed with a glass jar and a piece of cardboard, I approached him. The spider didn’t flinch. It just stared at me—or at least, I imagined it did. With a swift motion and a shaky hand, I trapped it.
VICTORY. Sort of. I still had to flip the jar over and screw the lid on. I did it! He was captured.
We both breathed a sigh of relief as we put the jar and its creepy contents outside.
Later my husband released the unwelcomed visitor (far away from our house I told him) watching it skitter into the darkness. But the victory felt hollow. Because now, every corner of the room feels suspicious. Every tickle on my arm sends a jolt of panic. I keep glancing at the ceiling, the baseboards, the shadows under the couch.
If there was one… there could be more. In fact, there was another one just like this one only a week ago in my living room. I actually saw it hiding by the fireplace as I walked down the stairs! Hubby was home that time.
And that’s the part that really gets under your skin. Not the spider itself—but the idea that it has friends. Quiet ones. Just waiting to make their appearance.
YIKES!
I always think there are more spiders around this time of year - and it turns out there are!
There are Seasonal Surges in Spider Activity.
Spiders are most frequently observed indoors during late summer and early autumn. This period, often called “spider season,” typically spans from August to October, with peak activity in September. During these months, a significant increase in spiders is often noticed in homes.
The heightened visibility during this time is largely due to male spiders actively moving about. They become more mobile as they search for mates, often venturing from secluded spots. This increased wandering makes them more likely to be seen by humans.
Yikes! That is one long legged spider. So glad you trapped it and released it outside. That was interesting to read that spiders come in late summer, as I've seen one or two myself lately. The other day, I saw one in my room, and it crawled under the bed. My bed is high, and I read that spiders don't usually get in beds and such because they are very sensitive to movement, and they really want to be left alone from people, so they usually go in corners or ceilings, etc. You were brave to get that spider, Carrie. Good for you.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Yessss.....I am glad I am not the only one who feels this eerie suspicious feeling once you find one. You just know deep down there are more. Haha@
ReplyDeleteYikes is right! I'm not a fan of bugs of any kind. Good job on the capture.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really scared of spiders but I don't want them in my personal space. I get that creepy feeling when every little thing makes you feel like there is one crawling on you.
ReplyDeleteEeek! I would smush him I will admit it.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Interesting information!!
ReplyDeleteAlong with cleaning the house in September,
because schools are opening, we are staying home more,
we definitely need to watch out for spiders!!
Holy crap!! That thing is ginormous!! I once had a wolf spider in my bedroom (think large like that, but furrier and big eyes on top). It was terrifying! I had my kiddos to come help me deal with it, thankfully. I have also seen large water spiders by the dock. Being on a bay by the woods, it's kind of inevitable they're around. But I agree...I have no problem with spiders doing their thing as long as it's far away from the house!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to get him/her in the jar. It was a big spider.
ReplyDeleteNice catch, I am brutal...I usually kill them:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh same situation here, but it was one of those thick hairy ones, those scare me even more. I left it in the jar for my hubby to see. I am getting better about not minding them as much as long as their bodies aren't too big, LOL! My Cats just bat them around they don't take care of them for me.
ReplyDeleteNo thank you!! That is the kind of spider nightmares are made of...yikes. You are your daughter are very brave. When we moved into our current home, the bushes had grown up and all around the house. We removed them all and for weeks, we kept finding these kinds of spiders all over the house. Not fun!!
ReplyDeleteOOOH - that's a big spider! I do the same - trap them and let my husband deal with them later, unless I feel particularly brave. It's definitely spider season around here. I spray peppermint oil around windows and doors to repel them. It seems to mostly work.
ReplyDeleteI shiver to think of putting the jar over it. I've been there though. Saw a big spider on the back of the couch, of all places! I managed to knock it off and put a large yogurt container over it and with a piece of cardboard covered it and carried it outside. I can't kill them. But I tore the couch apart removing cushions and pillows and anything I could get off, like you, thinking there might be others. :) took me a while to sit comfortably on the couch again.
ReplyDeleteI am mostly ok with small spiders but not so fond of the ones with long legs. I can deal with them, just not my favourite thing to do. Yours was quite a big one, so well done for dealing with it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really big spider!
ReplyDeleteBjxxx,
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That is a creepy looking spider! I'm glad you trapped and released it! I would have the creepy crawlies for a while too! I usually won't kill anything that comes in my house if I can help it, except flies! Gross little buggers!
ReplyDeleteI am not scared of them but yes I dont like finding one creeping around and that one is huge!
ReplyDelete