Yellow Sac SpiderBY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com
Spiders are our friends.
That's the message Anju Lucas wants to get out.
They're creepy. They're crawly. They can make grown men jump. But as long as they stay where they belong, Lucas says, they can be a big help.
Still, as summer comes to a close, spiders are hard to ignore.
This is the time of year people start to notice spiders more, said Charles Baker, an entomologist and professor emeritus with the department of biology at Boise State University.
"Some are going into their breeding season now," Baker said.
And while a lot of attention is given to the three most poisonous spiders in the Valley - the hobos, black widows and yellow sacs - most spider species you'll see in your home and yard are harmless and are beneficial because they can help control pesky insects.
At home and at work at Edwards Greenhouse in Boise, Lucas has her share of run-ins with spiders.
"I live in a log house," Lucas said. "They're everywhere. But they eat insects and I leave them alone."
Spider webs in the eaves or entry of a house are common around the Treasure Valley, especially this time of year when spider families are on the move.
Wait - spiders have families?
Female hobo spiders carry their hatched young on their back, so when you smush one on your doorstep, you might notice a dozen or so tiny specks scattering in all directions.
Hobos - those are the really creepy ones you can find in your tub or crawling along the baseboards of your home - have increased in numbers in Idaho over the last 20 years, Baker said.
"In August they start making their appearance," Baker said. "The females don't usually go inside, but the males wander everywhere."
The infamous black widow spider, like the hobo, has a painful bite that can debilitate a human with nausea and headaches. The spider, with its recognizable red hourglass markings, likes cramped, dark spaces.
If you're doing any kind of yard work around woodpiles or damp areas such as inside your irrigation system box, a good pair of leather gloves is the first line of defense from these arachnids.
But perhaps the yuckiest of the batch is the yellow sac spider.
These stealthy critters are known for more bites than any other kind of venomous spider, experts say. They also have necrotic venom, which means when they bite, they actually kill skin cells.
And of Idaho's venomous trio, yellow sacs are the most comfortable living in your house and will thrive in homes with lots of insects.
Another venomous spider, the brown recluse, doesn't live in Idaho, although it can be carried in from other areas, Baker said.
"While some may get transported to the state once in a while, they don't stay here long," he said.
Jim Martin, a manager at Zamzows on State Street in Boise, said he gets lots of spider questions in August and September. He doesn't think there are any more spiders, just that people become more aware of them this time of year.
"I like most spiders," Martin said. "They catch mosquitoes and everything else."
He said people who want to keep spiders outside could use a perimeter spray outside the house or spider traps inside.
"Spider traps are good for catching hobo spiders because they prowl around a home's baseboards," Martin said.
David Kennard: 377-6436
HOBO SPIDERS Scientific name: Tegenaria agrestis
Size: About as big as the end of your thumb.
Habitat: Fields, gardens, woodpiles.
History: First appeared in the United States in the 1930s in the shipping district in Seattle.
If you are bitten: Hobos don't always inject venom. If they do, you'll know by the itching and redness. Use an ice pack to reduce swelling.
BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS Scientific name: Latrodectus mactans
Size: Can be as large as your big toe.
Habitat: Almost always in protected areas such as woodpiles or sprinkler valve boxes.
History: Native to North America.
If you're bitten: Widow bites cause severe pain at the bite and can cause cramping and body pain. Treat with ice packs at the wound and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Source: Spiderzrule.com
YELLOW SAC SPIDERS Scientific name: Chiracanthium
Size: About as big as your pinky fingernail.
Habitat: Mostly outside, but common inside houses as well.
History: First appeared in the United States in the early 20th century in the Northeast.
If you are bitten: Yellow sacs are blamed for more bites than any other spider. Their venom kills skin cells. Treat the wound with antibiotics to prevent infection.
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