What kind of spiders could they be?

Question

My husband and I just moved into a new house a few months ago...and we have been finding very freaksihly large spiders. They are normally black, no hair from what I've seen, they can swim (my husband put one in the toliet) and are about the size of a quarter or a bit larger legs an all. Just this morning I was in our down stairs living room and one was just running out in the open in the middle of the floor. And then two seconds later there was another one, the largest one that I've seen...except this one had a body the size of a dime and then very large legs, it was brown, no hair and just really nasty! We live in michigan, any idea what kind of spiders they could be? I have a 9 month old baby, just starting to crawl...I'm worried about him getting bitten... we're going to spray but I'd like to know if they could hurt him.... and what they could be?

Answer 1

Regardless of the type of spider people can react differently to a spider bite. Even spiders that are considered harmless can cause serious symptoms, especially in children and elderly. Harmless spiders are called such normally because they are non-lethal or rarely if ever bite. Their bite can be as mild as a very slight burning sensation to as severe as vomiting and severe flu like symptoms.

If it is a black widow know this:

The version found in Michigan is called the northern black widow spider. These spiders are not nearly as large as many people think. The body of the female spider is about ½-inch long (1½-inch long including the legs). Males are smaller. Black widow spiders are black, shiny and have a very round abdomen. Females have a red spot (often shaped like an hourglass) on the underside of its abdomen. The male lacks the red hourglass marking but may have yellow and red bands and spots over the back.

Black widow spiders are common around woodpiles and are frequently encountered when homeowners carry firewood into the house. They may also be found under eaves, in boxes, outdoor toilets, meter boxes and other undisturbed places. While they may bite when touched or harmed, they are not aggressive. Be very careful when working around areas where black widow spiders may live. Wear gloves and pay attention to where you are working. Black widow bites are sharp and painful, and the victim should go to the doctor immediately for treatment. To control the black widow, carefully remove all materials where they might hide. They can be cleaned out of an area simply by knocking down the webs, spiders, and round tan egg sacs with a stick and crushing them underfoot.

Because the brown recluse cannot live in temperatures below 40°F, Michigan is not high on its list of vacation hotspots for this spider. it is VERY unlikly it is a brown recluse.


I would bet it is one of the following based on that description:
Black widow, parsons spider, common black house spider, or a WINDOW spider.

Answer 2

I have simply determined a nest, in my lawn, of what looks to be one hundred's of little yellow and black spiders newly hatched...Never noticeable them earlier than in my existence.... Being a little concerned (Yellow and Black is mostly natures caution signal) I have performed a quantity of searches... After trawling the online it looks it probably be a form of Argiope (black and yellow lawn spider) nevertheless that's a US spider and I am dwelling within the UK... Further browsing indicates their is a 'Wasp Spider' that's determined in Contienial Europe and usually the South Coast of England... Which remains to be a thriller as I are living within the Midlands(England - UK) that's miles from the any coast permit most effective the South Coast.... Should I be charging men and women to return and seek advice from my Garden to peer this infrequent web site or is there a different form of spider out right here? They aren't dangerous to people are they I believe??? - my mum may be very anxiouis!!! Damon

Answer 3

Large dark colored spiders are likely to be some kind of wolf spider. They are typically pretty harmless if that's what they are. Here are some pictures you can check:

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=100&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&q=wolf+spider&btnG=Search+Images

Also, in the United States you usually only have to worry about Black Widows and Brown Recluse. Black Widows are not very common in Michigan. Brown Recluse are not really very big. It's a good bet your spiders are not particularly dangerous. You can check on the brown recluse, which would be the most likely dangerous spider for you to run into, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_recluse_spider

Also, most spiders can swim very effectively.

To ID them properly we would need a good picture of one to reference.

~Kyle

Answer 4

Sounds like "Daddy Long Legs".
If so, perfectly harmless.