IF YOU SEE A LONG LEGGED SPIDER INSIDE YOUR HOME DON’T REACH FOR THE VACUUM CLEANER

IF YOU SEE A LONG LEGGED SPIDER INSIDE YOUR HOME DON’T REACH FOR THE VACUUM CLEANER

In autumn, as the weather gets colder, small spiders with long and thin legs begin to appear more and more often in the corners and ceilings of apartments, to the great annoyance of homeowners.

Most people instinctively reach for the vacuum cleaner. But when it comes to harvest spiders, it’s best not to do this, Kertvar writes. The harvest spider is not a spider, but a type of arachnid. It does not weave webs, so it does not leave traces of webs in your apartment.

It can easily be confused with another species of spider called the “false harvest spider.” It also has long legs, but it is a real web-weaving spider.
Why can’t it be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner?
Harvest spiders have scent glands. They secrete a foul-smelling liquid when they feel threatened or crushed. If you vacuum this liquid, the smell may spread inside the vacuum cleaner. This causes the vacuum cleaner to emit an unpleasant odor and requires thorough cleaning.

This liquid is harmless to humans. However, it can paralyze or even kill predators. That’s why the spider uses this liquid as a defense mechanism.

A helpful neighbor
Spiders feed on aphids, thrips, larvae and dead insects. Therefore, they help repel small pests from your apartment. It is completely acceptable to have such a neighbor in your apartment.
If you still don’t want it in your apartment, the gentlest way to get rid of it is this: Cover the cobweb with a glass, carefully slide a piece of cardboard underneath and take it out.

You can also remove it carefully with a soft cloth. When threatened, the spider may lose one of its legs. A lost leg never grows back. Therefore, treat it carefully.