All About Giant House Spiders

An informational video about Giant House Spiders (Eratigena atrica).

Attributions:

[andygray]

Years ago, you'd know I'd seen a giant house spider because suddenly a hole would open up in the plasterboard. Then I took the time to understand them, I learnt they are rather tidy house critters, they benefit your health by eating the bacteria carrying flies and other dirty bugs, and they genuinely try to stay out of your way. I understand they will also not fare well if released because they are used to being in the protection of a house or shed. So now days, I always keep one around the house somewhere. When I see one dart across the carpet I know he's just off to get his end wet.

"Where do you think you're off to at this hour Mr?"

This is all usual taking place as or after the Mrs has put a hole in the plasterboard.

[bdy]

Indeed, we have these big boys and girls in and around the Seattle area. And every Autumn they scared the wits out of the unsuspecting locals when the males start to wander. My wife once observed a specimen she thought as big as a pony and ever after we've referred to them simply as ponies! An impressive spider and a fine video on your part. Thanks!

[tiiohmd]

Sun Tzu said "know thine enemy" That's why I watched your video, very informative but I'm still terrified of them. I'm off to watch a kitten video😂

[victoriareffin]

These guys used to scare the hell out of me, but a few years ago I started keeping jumping spiders to help with my arachnophobia. Since then, I can now safely relocate house spiders without having a meltdown 😂
Loved this little mini info video on them, thanks!

[filipborch-solem]

Worst thing about these is how they just wander into the open like they own the place. Other spiders don't do this.

[Bananadiva]

I've got one living in my house. I happened to notice it drinking from some water that was spilled from my cats water bowl. I've since left a Pringles lid full of water out for it and it happily comes out most nights for a drink. I love spiders but I have to admit it can freak me out when it decides to do a dash across the floor ... especially as I tend to sit on floor cushions rather than the sofa. Despite this I'm rather happy to have this little lodger.

[stevencoale]

I've heard one of these buggers running across the linoleum in the kitchen, not kidding I could HEAR it lit it had on some frigging tap shoes on lol made my skin crawl! Happy they do good work but not in the house thank you!

[Catonzo]

I live in Norway. Generally the spiders here do not get big. However there are some who are the exception to this rule.
Just a month ago I was in my grandmothers home where we are cleaning things out to sell it since she cannot really maintain the house and it is much to big for her anyway. In the cellar there is one back storage room. As we opened this door there was the most massive spider I have ever seen of the native type. It hung on the door. It is tough to say the measurements, but it is safe to say this was the queen of all living things down there. Had no rivals and no contest for food. Probably lived like royalty down there. I would say it had a legspan of way larger than average.

[philipspence]

I'm so glad spiders aren't the size of bears.

[bunnyeclair]

I have giant house spiders in Portland Oregon, USA. They patrol my house and take care of the bugs! I love to see them walk around and they are so fast when they want to be. Not aggressive at all, just startling when they run out suddenly.

[spooksbukowski]

These spiders are really really gentle and they even walk away if you’re walking too loud. Please don’t kill them they will 100% stay out of your way!

[antonycoe]

First one I've seen of you, I laughed several times which is good! Very interesting too .
Thanks for a great vid.

[ragdoll]

Just started a tiny habitat for a young Giant House Spider we found in the sink. Thank you for your information. It’s very appreciated ❤️

[fizgak]

About 20 years ago I lived in an upstairs apartment right next to the trash shoot. Well you can imagine down that trash shoot there were dumpsters, and where there's dumpsters full of trash there are flies, and where there's flies, well... In the fall, those spiders would come all the way upstairs to my apartment, looking for some boogie time. They were huge and hairy and sometimes a couple of them would just be sitting on the wall in the sunlight when I got home (pre or post coitus?), and I recall at least one occasion where one crawled across my leg while sleeping. I remember watching one dash across the carpet... I could actually HEAR it...

[kevinconnery]

If you see a giant house spider you can identify it by the sight of me running at the speed of light 😟

[zpgeypo]

I love these guys, the patterns on their abdomens are really cool.

[real_Fabiot]

These guys really get massive where I live in Germany, literally saw 2 big boys about 8-9cm (3-3.5 inches) in diameter outside the house yesterday

[enscroggs]

Nice to see a Youtuber following the naming conventions. Too many don't understand the second part of a binomial name is not capitalized.

[Shovelfighter]

I am terrified of spiders and suffer their mating season every year. clicked this video in hopes of learning how to deal with them. INSTEAD, the uploader's accent is from an area very close to me. and i now know. every spider in this video is likely much closer to me than id like.... cool,

[misschieflolz]

seen a few of these in my day, I wouldn't say I'm a complete arachnaphobe, but I think most of my uneasyness stems from my mothers reaction as an arachnaphobic when I was growing up. For context, my dad has poor sight and is registered partially blind so he struggles to see these kinds of things, so I got stuck with the hysterical screaming adult and fix things myself.

I'd have to take time to handle some bigger docile species, I'm not too fond on actually physically picking them up, but I'm fine to trap and release. Not too bad considering responses to spiders I witnessed growing up.

Funniest case of this was I was working in an office and it was autumn, getting chillier and that's when these guys start setting up shop indoors. One day I'm working and my boss (6'4, full beard, tattoos etc) suddenly looked up kinda nervously. I didn't know what was going on. Then it happened again and I caught a faint movement on the carpet. Took a hot minute for me to see this female house spider against the carpet.

Now.... my boss couldn't handle them and was working on his phobia, I'm just like lemme grab a plastic up and some paper. Had to be fast because jesus could this thing move. I mean it's leg span was wider than that of the cup itself. He admired it up close until I offered for him to take it out and it moved. He freaked out again. I went out through reception and had half a dozen people as well as the receptionist skitter away in terror.


I'm like, chill. I got this. I was called on for other critter releases since I was the only person in the damn building that seemed to have 'no fear'