Spiders May Give You Creeps but Researchers Claim They Have Been Saving Humans From Many Other Harmful House Pests
Spiders are not everyone's cup of tea. For most people, these creatures would possibly be a source of disgust. However, experts believe that despite the discomfort, these creatures are not ones that humans should hate; rather, they should collaborate with them, stated IFL Science. Moreover, the actual danger these creatures pose may not be as great as popularly believed.
Spiders are great allies when it comes to keeping pests away from precious household items. Estimates suggest that spiders kill around 400-800 million metric tons of prey every single year. Amongst the spider's prey are creatures like moths, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies, all of which are menaces in several households. Certain experts believe the listed prey are more dangerous to humans than the spiders.
Researchers claim that of the 50,000 plus global species of spiders, only a handful are dangerous. Although the majority of them are venomous, very few have fangs that can pierce through human skin. Moreover, the spiders don't have the natural tendency to attack humans. They would much rather stay in the hidden corners, waiting for their preferred prey. "Spiders are not out to get you and actually prefer to avoid humans; we are much more dangerous to them than vice versa. Bites from spiders are extremely rare. Although there are a few medically important species like widow spiders and recluses, even their bites are uncommon and rarely cause serious issues," said Matt Bertone, Extension Associate in Entomology, North Carolina State University, stated The Conservation.
Despite the best efforts put forward by humans, most homes have spiders. This assertion was supported by a survey of 50 North Carolina homes conducted by a team of experts. "People like to think of their dwellings as safely insulated from the outside world, but many types of spiders can be found inside," Bertone added. "Some are accidentally trapped, while others are short-term visitors. Some species even enjoy the great indoors, where they happily live out their lives and make more spiders. These arachnids are usually secretive, and almost all you meet are neither aggressive nor dangerous. And they may be providing services like eating pests – some even eat other spiders." Considering their expansive presence, it makes sense for humans to make them allies rather than enemies.
Controlling the insect population is crucial for humans as it causes infestation, which eventually leads to property damage, severe allergies, and food contamination, all of which are harmful to the population, stated IFL Science. By hunting these insects, spiders aid the human population in avoiding such consequences.
The eight-legged creatures also have a positive contribution towards maintaining local biodiversity. Through their hunting, spiders regulate the number of bugs in the ecosystem. If these numbers go out of control, then it could disrupt the natural balance and inflict damage on a healthy environment. "Although they are generalist predators, apt to eat anything they can catch, spiders regularly capture nuisance pests and even disease-carrying insects – for example, mosquitoes. There’s even a species of jumping spider that prefers to eat blood-filled mosquitoes in African homes. So, killing a spider doesn’t just cost the arachnid its life; it may take an important predator out of your home," Bertone explained.