Many of us will have garden spiders in gardens, but we do not appreciate their presence due to their intimidating appearance. These black, yellow, and big spiders reach maturity in summer, and their size and color make them hard to miss. Sometimes, it feels like they appeared at night and built a large circular web. Whenever we see such a presence in our gardens, we want to eliminate it. However, these creatures are good guys and deserve to build their homes in your garden.
Garden spiders are recognizable from their yellow and black markings. These markings appear as spots or bands on their abdomens. When it comes to sizes, females are larger than their male counterparts. Also, they will have gray or white cephalothorax along with yellow markings. The male garden spiders are smaller with a dull red-brown color and thinner abdomen. Female garden spiders are more noticeable for their size and distinct appearance.
Where Do Garden Spiders Go in the Winter?
Many believe that garden spiders die in the winter, but some species can survive well in different climate conditions. Many things will depend on the climate they live. When they live in summer, they mature more quickly, and their lifespan is for a year only. They die after laying eggs in autumn, and they do not need to adjust to cold conditions. When spiders live in a cooler climate, they grow slowly and do not mature fast. In winter, they spend their time in diapause, a condition you will find similar to hibernation.
Their lifespan will be more while living in cold climates. They can live up to two years and spend one winter in the adult form. However, they find a little to eat and struggle to survive. The cold weather does not favor them, and they can die due to extreme weather conditions. In winter, garden spiders look for a warm place to live and survive. They hide in a warm shelter to stay safe and avoid the frost. You will find them in cracks of the stone and under a woodpile. Some explore garages, sheds, and other possible places to stay warm and protected.
Many garden spiders will have one adaption while waiting for the summer. There will be an accumulation of a chemical in their blood, and this change will enable them to survive at a freezing temperature. The chemical will work as an anti-freeze and support their survival in harsh conditions.
Garden spiders adopt different behaviors to stay safe in the winter. Some spiders do not look for a resting place to keep them warm. Instead, they hide in the stone, wood, or leaves. They will spin a little nest and take shelter during the winter months. Their tiny silken homes offer them extra warmth, and they can survive even if the outside temperature is extreme.
Additionally, some spiders do not try to hide and spin a shelter. They keep exploring in the winter months and stay active. But these creatures are cold-blooded and wait for the heat to get energy. They wait for warmer days to get their food.
In brief, different species will adopt different behaviors in winter. When the lifespan of some will not allow them to live in winter, others look for a favorable shelter to stay warm in cold climates. A few can be active in the winter, but they come out only on sunny days. Some species will enter the hibernation stage during the winter. Once they enter this phase, they cannot grow, and their heart rate and breathing will not be proper. But they can survive and grow well when the climate condition develops.
We think that garden spiders cannot live in winter since the cold climate creates unfavorable conditions for their survival. However, most of them do not die in winter, but they wait for the sunnier days and hideaway somewhere in wintertime. You will find garden spiders throughout the year, but they are the most visible in summer. The warm climate favors these tiny creatures, and they can grow well and stay active on sunny days.
Are Garden Spiders Poisonous?
No, most garden spiders are not poisonous, and they will not harm you in any manner. If you find a sizeable garden spider in your garden, you do not need to be afraid. You might be aware that garden spiders are not hostile, and they will not notice your presence until you provoke them. If you cause problems for them, they might bite you, but this is rare, and you will not have any severe effect even if the creature bites you. You will feel like a bee sting, and you might experience swelling and mild pain. But the venom is not poisonous, and it will not cause any threat to you and your pet. Hence, you do not need to worry if a garden spider bites you and others in your household.
However, there might be some exceptions, and if you are allergic to the venom of a spider, you might experience allergic reactions. If you have this condition, you might experience swelling or breathing issues after having a spider bite. It is a medical emergency, and you will have to contact your doctor immediately. You can also get to an emergency room or call 911. But if you are not allergic to spiders, you can consider the following after a bite.
- Wash the biting area with water and soap thoroughly to prevent infection
- Apply an ice pack to the affected area
- Use an antihistamine ointment on the bite to heal the itching
- Elevate the affected area to reduce swelling
Also, some species are dangerous, and they can cause you harm. If you have the brown recluse, hobo spider, tarantula, Brazilian spider, and black widow species in your garden, you will have to take medical assistance immediately after a bite. These species are poisonous, and you cannot ignore them.
Are Garden Spiders Friendly?
Yes, most garden spiders are friendly and beneficial. Instead of considering their looks, you will have to understand how they help you in your garden. Your garden will have many pests, grasshoppers, bees, wasps, and other insects. All these are detrimental to your plants’ health. If you want a natural solution to keep these insects away, you will have to consider having spiders in your garden, and the garden spider is the most beneficial. Here are some advantages that inspire many gardeners to have these spiders in their gardens.
The key benefit of having garden spiders is that they will eat most of the insects present in your garden. They can eat as many as they can find and catch. Once you have this creature in a garden, you can control moths, mosquitos, wasps, beetles, flies, and other insects without relying on pesticides. Garden Spiders will keep your garden free from harmful insects, and you can expect the proper growth of your plants. In addition to plants, you will get natural protection from insect bites. There will be no fear of insect bites while exploring your garden. Your family can spend time in your landscape without worrying about bees and other harmful insects.
More importantly, you can expect seasonal control when your garden looks like a safe place for insects. You can get the pest control benefits in the early season when insects find a favorable climate to start appearing. You might be thinking that your garden is not safe in the winter since spiders cannot survive in cold conditions. However, some species will be there, and they wait for the surroundings to be warm enough to come out. You can get pest control benefits throughout the year. Also, it will minimize your effort in pest control.
Once spiders are in your garden, you will not have to bother about the insects and your plants’ health. You do not need to use pesticides often to control pests. Spiders will take care of it, and it can be the best for those who want organic solutions for pest control. They will not have to use chemicals in the garden, and they can grow fruits and vegetables safely. With fewer chemicals, they can expect more benefits from vegetables. You can find out more ways to get rid of insects in your garden in our post here.
How Big Do Garden Spiders Get?
Garden spiders are recognizable from their sizes and distinct marks. They are large, and you can differentiate them from other spiders easily. They will have yellow and black markings across their abdomens. When it comes to the size, males are noticeably smaller than females. Female garden spiders will range from 19 to 28mm (0.75 to 1.1 inches) long, and the males are a quarter of the female. The size of a male garden spider is 5 to 9 mm (0.20 to 0.35 inches) long. All will have small eyes and eight legs, like other spiders. You might find more female spiders in your garden due to their sizes and marks. However, there might be many male garden spiders, and you cannot see them for their sizes.
Garden spiders are beneficial, and most are not dangerous. They can support your gardening and minimize pesticide requirements. You can welcome their presence in your garden.
