When we see a spider in a corner of the ceiling or running along the floor wall, The instinctive reaction is usually to run away or chase her. to delete it.

But, according to biodiversity and pest control experts, that is a mistake. Spiders play a key role in the domestic ecosystem, and its presence is more useful than harmful.

House spiders help keep the insect population under control by acting as natural predators of mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and other bugs more problematic than them.

Whether you feel that you should kill them for reasons of hygiene or safety or because you feel an irrational fear of seeing a spider or other insects, remember this: by killing a spider you may be unbalancing that small ecosystem that, without realizing it, protects your home.

Entomologist Matt Bertone, a professor at North Carolina State University, is clear about this. His advice is direct: «Next time you find a spider in your home, don’t kill it.»

What does a spider do inside the house?

The entomologist’s recommendation is not motivated only by his passion for these insects. Matt Bertone explains that the spiders you find in your home They have often been trapped against their willsince most prefer to be outdoors, but they adapt and can play a role as pest controllers.

One of the most persistent myths is supposed possibility of swallowing spiders while we sleep. Fortunately, there is no serious scientific study to support this idea.

The spiders They avoid contact with humans and prefer quiet areas, such as poorly lit corners, storage rooms, basements or the backs of furniture.

Why not kill spiders that enter the house

1. natural pest controllers

He main reason not to kill spiders is its role in biological pest control. It is estimated that, globally, spiders consume between 400 and 800 million tons of prey per year, mainly insects. a spider can eat up to 20 mosquitoes a day.

In the home environment, this translates into concrete benefits:

• They feed on annoying and often more dangerous insects, such as mosquitoes (which can transmit diseases), flies (carriers of bacteria), moths, and small cockroaches.
• Its presence reduces the risk of infestations that could compromise the hygiene and health of the home.
• Help minimize the use of chemicals or insecticides.

2. Silent guardians of ecological balance

Beyond insect control, spiders are part of the biodiversity of the immediate environment. They fulfill their role within the microecosystem of each home.

By limiting the growth of populations of other species, They avoid imbalances that could have consequences in the long term.

Common spider species in Spain

Many of the common spiders in Spanish houses are completely harmless:

• common house spider (Tegenaria domestica): It lives in corners and basements, it does not represent any danger.
• long legged spider (Pholcus phalangioides): Very common, it usually hunts other insects and even other spiders.
• European garden spider (Araneus diadematus): It can enter the house when seeking shelter in the fall, but it is not dangerous.
• giant house spider (Tegenaria gigantea): Larger and more visible, but shy and not aggressive.
• Jumping spiders (Salticidae): Small, active during the day, precision hunters.
• Recluse spider or corner spider (Loxosceles reclusa): Very rare in Spain, it can be dangerous if handled, but avoid human contact.
• Tarantulas (Theraphosidae): They only appear as pets, not naturally, in Spanish homes.

Harmless, solitary and very scary

Most spiders They don’t want to bite the human being. Although they all have poison, they use it exclusively for hunting and defense.

Only a few species have fangs capable of piercing human skin, and even then, bite cases are extremely rare and rarely serious.

Are solitary, silent and elusive animals. They only bite if they are crushed or handled directly. And, in most cases, the effect is similar to that of a mosquito bite.

A necessary change of mentality

Killing a spider out of fear or misinformation is not only unnecessary, but counterproductive. The ideal is to leave it alone or, if its presence is uncomfortable, move it carefully to the outside without damaging it. You can do it using a glass and paper or cardboard to transport them. Thus, you allow them to continue fulfilling their ecological function, but outside your space.

If many of them enter your house and that worries you, you can always resort to harmless remedies to scare away spiders or put plants that act as deterrents and keep them away from the house.

Must start seeing these small animals as allies more than as invaders. By understanding its function and respecting its place, we promote a more conscious coexistence with nature that also inhabits our homes.

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