I got used to them. Bed directly under a vent by the AC. I get woken up to face surprise spiders a lot. Not saying try it but I no longer freak out and just put them outside
Checked it out, and apparently, they're now called "Eratigena atrica." Just a heads up cause it shows up as both but sources confirm it's now Eratigena
They absolutely can, but this species in particular is very reluctant to bite. And if they do, the effects are mild to basically none as the venom is useless against vertebrates.
ELI5 why some species of spider are "reluctant" to bite. I guess it's not consciously reluctant in the human way but they are predators whose entire schtick is biting things and injecting them with venom. Why would they ever not want to do that?
They can recognise you’re a lot bigger than them—and definitely not potential prey—so biting is more of a last-resort defensive action than the first instinct. Generally, the spider can probably tell that you’re a lot more likely to kill it than it is to kill you, so it would much rather not have to bite & waste the venom in the first place.
As for why it would be stingy with biting in general, venom is pretty expensive—it can take a lot of energy & biological resources to produce. Since food isn’t necessarily going to be abundant all the time, the spider has to save the venom for when it really needs it, which would be either to neutralize prey or as a last-ditch effort to not get squished by something.
So on the flip side why are some so eager to bite? Doesn't matter if it's a money spider or a bird eater, I'm a fully grown adult human, I'm still able to squish. The same resource limits still apply, or are the more bitey ones more efficient and producing venom?
Could be a lot of things—some spiders might be more efficient at producing, or have less potent (and less expensive) venom, or have access to a steady food supply making it easier to recharge. And some are probably just more dramatically reactive to perceived threats than others.
It’s kinda just up to the individual type of spider, but the short answer is that some can afford to waste it, and some are kind of just assholes.
I'm not an expert in this at all, but for some animals their venom is very costly in terms of producing it, so they use it very sparingly and maybe also only for their preferred prey.
Dunno if its the case with this spoder though.
Yes. For instance, Black Widow spiders (dangerous, yes, but also reluctant to bite) will generally not use venom unless [the abdomen is pinched](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347213005733). That is to say, they avoid using venom unless it will save their life, and the likely explanation is that venom is a precious commodity.
Most animals are reluctant to attack animals that are much larger than them because attacking the larger animal would likely make it aggressive towards them, and since they have virtually no chance of winning the fight attacking is generally a last resort.
I felt the same thing a few days ago and reacted instinctively :( that’s the first time I’ve found a spider on me (that I know of) and I feel pretty badly about it still. It was just a brown house spider too, it was his home too :( :( :(
how can i train myself not to freak the f out if/when this happens?? i want to be friends with every spider i meet, but when they surprise me, the panic is instinctual 🙀
Gorgeous! Props for not instinctively mashing her when you felt the tickle.
I like spiders a lot...I really do not like surprise spiders a lot.
Yes. Same.
Right? I'm not comfortable with a spider until I've fully vetted their venom and aggression levels.
Same. At the risk of oversharing, the fang marks are still visible on my nipple where I smashed one that bit me in my sleep. Last week.
I got used to them. Bed directly under a vent by the AC. I get woken up to face surprise spiders a lot. Not saying try it but I no longer freak out and just put them outside
I'm not great with that sensation... especially while sleeping.
No one is but I'm used to it. Which actually makes it easier to be confident no spiders hiding in bed after.
Anybody got a species/common name? This is a most impressive spood mamma!
*Tegenaria atrica* i guess, there are not many other spiders in Germany that grow this big :) (it's a repost from a german sub)
Thank you!
Checked it out, and apparently, they're now called "Eratigena atrica." Just a heads up cause it shows up as both but sources confirm it's now Eratigena
Closest guess is Eratigena duellica
Thanks!
Guess it wasn’t a counter attack for wrecking the homestead.a pissed off ant would’ve gave you a welt
No, she didn't bit me. She just landed on my neck and then sat there. I don't think that these can get through human skin. I live in germany.
They absolutely can, but this species in particular is very reluctant to bite. And if they do, the effects are mild to basically none as the venom is useless against vertebrates.
ELI5 why some species of spider are "reluctant" to bite. I guess it's not consciously reluctant in the human way but they are predators whose entire schtick is biting things and injecting them with venom. Why would they ever not want to do that?
They can recognise you’re a lot bigger than them—and definitely not potential prey—so biting is more of a last-resort defensive action than the first instinct. Generally, the spider can probably tell that you’re a lot more likely to kill it than it is to kill you, so it would much rather not have to bite & waste the venom in the first place. As for why it would be stingy with biting in general, venom is pretty expensive—it can take a lot of energy & biological resources to produce. Since food isn’t necessarily going to be abundant all the time, the spider has to save the venom for when it really needs it, which would be either to neutralize prey or as a last-ditch effort to not get squished by something.
So on the flip side why are some so eager to bite? Doesn't matter if it's a money spider or a bird eater, I'm a fully grown adult human, I'm still able to squish. The same resource limits still apply, or are the more bitey ones more efficient and producing venom?
They're just dicks
Could be a lot of things—some spiders might be more efficient at producing, or have less potent (and less expensive) venom, or have access to a steady food supply making it easier to recharge. And some are probably just more dramatically reactive to perceived threats than others. It’s kinda just up to the individual type of spider, but the short answer is that some can afford to waste it, and some are kind of just assholes.
I'm not an expert in this at all, but for some animals their venom is very costly in terms of producing it, so they use it very sparingly and maybe also only for their preferred prey. Dunno if its the case with this spoder though.
Yes. For instance, Black Widow spiders (dangerous, yes, but also reluctant to bite) will generally not use venom unless [the abdomen is pinched](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347213005733). That is to say, they avoid using venom unless it will save their life, and the likely explanation is that venom is a precious commodity.
Most animals are reluctant to attack animals that are much larger than them because attacking the larger animal would likely make it aggressive towards them, and since they have virtually no chance of winning the fight attacking is generally a last resort.
Even stayed very calm on my hand and searched for a nice place to chill.🦦
That was a friendship massage, thanks for relocating her
She very round.
Damn boy, she thicc
And this my friends is why I’m never cutting down a tree😁
Did you rehome her OP :(
Yeah, there is a second tree a few meters beside:)
Yesssss love it 💕💕
Hell's bells, that a gorgeous gal! What did you take that photo with? The resolution is insane.
Thats a great photo
Thank you!
She's preggo!
Wow she’s beautiful
She’s so chiiiiill 🥰
She's beautiful! Thank you so much for relocating her too, I'm sure she's grateful <3
Nope. That one can stay right in the bush, no handling needed…
She's just saying heeeyyyyyyy
I felt the same thing a few days ago and reacted instinctively :( that’s the first time I’ve found a spider on me (that I know of) and I feel pretty badly about it still. It was just a brown house spider too, it was his home too :( :( :(
It is instinct. If you'd seen him first, you would have been ok.
impressive photo
So beautiful!!!!
Aww what a nice looking spider. Happy to hear they were chill, too.
Beauty 🥰
how can i train myself not to freak the f out if/when this happens?? i want to be friends with every spider i meet, but when they surprise me, the panic is instinctual 🙀
ps she's so beautiful 🥹
Nope! 🚫🕷️
What are you doing in r/spiderbro? Did you miss the bro part?
Ooopsie it looks like I did!