Long, thin legs and a delicate body characterize the trembling spider. She prefers apartments as a living space. While useful, not everyone will enjoy this shared apartment. How can one fight the intruder?
Trembling spider
Everyone knows them, because the large trembling spider (Pholcus phalangioides) can be found in almost every house. She lives in the basement or in the apartment behind curtains, under cupboards or beds. The spider species is found almost all over the world. The little trembling spider (Pholcus opilionoides) occurs very rarely in our latitudes. Small and large trembling spiders belong to the family of real spiders. The spider owes its name to the fact that it swings back and forth in the web when threatened. In this way, she irritates her attacker. He can no longer see their outlines exactly and looks for another prey.
Note: For many people, the bizarre insect is frightening. We can give the all-clear here. Pholcus phalangioides is completely harmless to humans!
characteristics
- Color: gray-white or yellowish, partly transparent
- Body size: 10 millimeters
- Leg length: 50 millimeters
- eight legs
- extremely thin
- nocturnal
Huge networks
The small animals are able to weave very large, irregular nets in three dimensions. The spider webs appear unstructured. Long holding threads are noticeable.
Useful species of spider
Before you try to banish the delicate spiders from the house or even fight them with chemicals, you should get to know their useful properties. Trembling spiders catch mosquitoes, flies and wood lice in their webs and consume them.
Note: Make sure you avoid killing the filigree spiders. They protect us from pests, serve birds and small animals as food and make an important contribution to the preservation of the ecosystem.
When mosquitoes become a nuisance in summer, trembling spiders are of great help.Get rid of trembling spiders
If you spot a Pholcus phalangioides in your home, don't be frightened. The insect is not poisonous, it does not bite or sting.
Catch with a glass
Instructions:
- Put a glass on the spider.
- Take a piece of paper. Try to slide this under the glass opening.
- Bring the captured spider to the garden.
Catch with the spider catcher
If you often come across spiders in your home, you can get rid of them with a so-called spider catcher. These consist of two brush parts that interlock like a pair of pliers. With this device, spiders can be caught unharmed and brought into the open.
By the way, it can happen that the trembling spider loses a leg if you want to carry it outside in a glass or with the spider catcher. This reaction is used by many species of spiders when in danger to irritate their enemies and to escape them. The legs have a predetermined breaking point. Pholcus phalangioides can live a long time even with five or six legs.
Note: Do not vacuum the useful spiders away with a vacuum cleaner. You wouldn't get through it.
Fend off
The specialist trade offers anti-spider plugs to ward off the spider species that are common in houses. These are easy to use, just plug them into the socket. The devices send for spiders
emits unpleasant sounds that are imperceptible to humans. After a while, the rooms are spider-free.Prevent
Closing the windows with insect screens in summer prevents spiders and insects from entering, which serve as food. Rooms in which no mosquitoes, flies or other crawling animals can be found are of no interest to trembling spiders. You will quickly run away. Every now and then, clean your home with a vinegar cleaner. The smell is unpleasant for many insects. This way mosquitoes, flies and spiders stay away.
Tip: Not only the smell of vinegar, but also citrus scents banish insects from the house and prevent a nuisance. Put lemon wedges on a plate. Enjoy the fresh scent and look forward to the insect-free apartment.
Regularly remove the cobwebs. Seal the cracks and crevices on the window frame and in the floor. The spiders use these paths to get into the living spaces. Close windows and doors in lighted rooms in the dark.
Confusingly similar
Pholcus phalangioides is often confused with the harvestman. Their filigree physique and long, thin legs are similar. However, the harvestman is rarely found in apartments. He doesn't build networks. In contrast to the harvester, trembling spiders have a two-part body.
