Typical spider bites...

Fart

Hey guys,

Just noticing an increase in spider activity in my house, now that it's nearing Winter.

You know those really ugly (may not be ugly to some) brown spiders that appear around this time of the year. I do find them near skirting boards, sinks and in the bath.

I saw a huge one in the bath a few days ago. He had 5 legs, so he must have lost one on the way. At the front of his head (face?) there were two smaller looking legs that he was using to feel the area infront of him, so I'm guessing they were somthing like antennae, feelers, or some sort of sensory bit of him, or perhaps nippers/teeth of some sort.

Anyways, I've gotten a few bites near my ankles. I notice them when I wake up and they seem irritated. What is it in their bites that make them itchy and red or slightly swollen looking?

Do they use teeth or pincer-like things? Why do they do it? Is there a taste off my skin? Did I move and they went to protect themselves?

Obviously it doesn't hurt too much, considering that I don't wake up from the bites.

Also, is it actually these big spiders that I'm talking about biting me or is it a much smaller one?

Sorry if the information is a bit vague, but I reckon it is a common occurance here in Ireland.

Cheers .

Jumpy

Fart wrote: »

I saw a huge one in the bath a few days ago. He had 5 legs, so he must have lost one on the way.

:rolleyes:

I think he lost more than one my good friend.

Pugzilla

Fart wrote: »

Hey guys,


You know those really ugly (may not be ugly to some) brown spiders that appear around this time of the year. I do find them near skirting boards, sinks and in the bath.

They're called Domestic House Spiders http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegenaria_domestica

They're pretty harmless and I doubt that they are what's causing these marks to be honest if it's happening this often. If they are biting you it's purely for defensive reasons and they aren't trying to suck you dry! Maybe there's another reason behind it.

Fart

Jumpy wrote: »

:rolleyes:

I think he lost more than one my good friend.

They have 8 legs?

Pug, that looks like the guy. Maybe he only had 7 legs then.

I won't sleep tonight.

Jimoslimos

You should really check your bed for bedbugs - much more likely than spider bites.

DrIndy

No spider in ireland is capable of penetrating human skin - so i don't think its that causing the problems.

Moire likely midges or mosquitos - they like out of the way places where they won't be noticed.

Merch

Pugzilla wrote: »

They're called Domestic House Spiders http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegenaria_domestica

They're pretty harmless and I doubt that they are what's causing these marks to be honest if it's happening this often. If they are biting you it's purely for defensive reasons and they aren't trying to suck you dry! Maybe there's another reason behind it.

I have a seen few huge spiders, well what I call huge. One I caught in a glass was 85mm in diameter (the glass) but the spider looked like it would have been bigger than the glass if it stretched out, thats almost half the size of an A4 sheet! :eek:
I was actually going to do a thread to ask is that normal but found this recent one so thought I'd keep it together for reply convenience. Usually I leave them alone as I go on the basis that they are killing other bugs,but having seen that big one in my living room I decided to move it (him/her?) into the shrubs in the front garden.

edit cant attach image, as its too large, cant seem to save jpeg as a png to reduce size, when I do I will upload image

DrIndy wrote: »

No spider in ireland is capable of penetrating human skin - so i don't think its that causing the problems.

Are you sure? according to both the domestic house spider and the giant house spider, both suggest biting is possible??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_house_spider