- Garden spiders are not aggressive. They are much, much more likely to run than to attack.
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They are typically found in gardens, meadows and clearings….not in your bed.
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If you do happen to find a garden spider in your house, its most likely in search of disease carrying flies.
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There are approximately 120 known species of garden spiders and none of them are poisonous to humans.
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Brown garden spiders (like the wolf spider) are commonly mistaken by people for a Brown Recluse. Brown Recluse spiders are not easily spotted. They hide reclusive (hence the name). If you were to come across one, don’t let its bad reputation fool you. 90% of people bitten by them will have no adverse reaction.
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Most garden spiders overwinter as adults. This means come springtime, they have an extra hefty appetite and control insect infestation early on.
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Garden spiders eat so many insects in your garden that having them around greatly reduces your need for pesticides. By using less pesticides, you increase survival of bees and other pollinators.
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They will not eat your plants.
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They will eat nearly any other type on insect.
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If you get too many spiders, not to worry! They will attract hungry birds. Birds add a cheerful touch to gardens and they will eat excess spiders and other insects as well.
10 Reasons Not To Be Afraid Of Garden Spiders
Updated : June 17, 2024
Amen to this post and the others as well. I leave everything alone and it all turns out well. The other day I spied a wasp eating aphids on the stem of one of my poppy flowers. I have also seen them carrying off the little green “inch worms.” Wasps rock and won’t hurt you at all if you mind your own business. They are also busy pollinators. Remember to leave weedy borders so they all have good things to pollinate and eat. Spiders are amazing. As Mike said, they won’t hurt you a bit. I had a big one in my greenhouse one time and accidentally touched it. It was very soft. They don’t want to be bugged by us either and will hide. There are some amazing insects out there, doing their thing. Thanks for this great post.
Amen to this post and the others as well. I leave everything alone and it all turns out well. The other day I spied a wasp eating aphids on the stem of one of my poppy flowers. I have also seen them carrying off the little green “inch worms.” Wasps rock and won’t hurt you at all if you mind your own business. They are also busy pollinators. Remember to leave weedy borders so they all have good things to pollinate and eat. Spiders are amazing. As Mike said, they won’t hurt you a bit. I had a big one in my greenhouse one time and accidentally touched it. It was very soft. They don’t want to be bugged by us either and will hide. There are some amazing insects out there, doing their thing. Thanks for this great post.
Don’t bother tarantulas in your garden, either. They eat destructive mice and moles.
I am a reformed gardener thanks to you mike. I have stopped using pesticides, except the organic and home remedies. I have stopped squishing my spiders too. I read that the first bugs you kill with those nasty chemicals are the praying mantis. Then the pollinators. Since I have stopped using the pesticides my apple trees are covered in baby apples like I have never seen before! The pollinators have returned to my garden! I also have found stick bugs and last week one lonely praying mantis female! I gave her an honored spot on my youngest apple tree. I’ve been kicking around the idea of using a refined kaolin product on my fruit trees though. What are your thoughts and experiences on this method of control? I like the idea of not killing the bugs and instead just hiding the fruit from them.
Wasps are another ally to a gardener they eat eggs of insects before they hatch and raise havoc on your garden plants. If you see them while gardening don’t swat them because they excrete a chemical that tells other wasps to attack, they are your friends and are good for the enviornment. thanks for listening post