With eight legs and eight eyes, some spiders look like miniature monsters. Many of them are completely covered in hair, while others have spooky looking, jack-o’-lantern bodies.
And while it's one thing to spot one of these creepy-crawlies in the woods, it's decidedly more disturbing to find one in your home. There are also copious amounts of spiders in the Lower Mainland, so your chances of spotting one (or many) is high.
In fact, the Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia reports that there have been a whopping 859 species of spider confirmed in B.C. What’s more, the “spider fauna of the province is estimated to be more than 1000 species.”
Many locals also report that they have far more arachnid encounters in the fall than at any other time of the year. A common misconception is that the spiders, much like rats and mice, are moving inside to find shelter from the elements during the colder months.
With this in mind, the Burke Museum notes that spiders don't actually migrate into our homes in the fall and winter seasons. While a few of them might, the majority of them have been cohabitating with you all along - let that sink in.
According to Burke Museum, the spiders you find in your home are completely different than the ones you'd find outdoors (or most of them, at least). For instance, it highlights that of the 170 spider species found in the City of Seattle, only eight of the spider species are commonly found both outdoors and in houses. 137 of them are outdoor species, while 25 are indoor. As such, the whopping majority live rent-free in your abode the whole year-round.
Indoor species have adapted to suit indoor climates, and are used to a constant climate, poor food supply, and very poor water supply.
Which raises the question: why does there seem to be so many more spiders in the fall?
The answer is simple: mates.
Male spiders typically venture from their webs in the late summer and early fall in search of females - and the rest is archnid history.
As for dangerous spiders, British Columbians don't really have to worry; the only potentially harmful spider is the Black Widow, and they are rather reclusive. And while their venom is reportedly four times more potent than a rattlesnake’s, they produce a considerably smaller dose.
The Okanagan has the highest concentration of the tiny, black arachnids, and they tend to be found in cellars, basements, woodsheds, and other dark, hidden places. Their webs aren’t particularly artful – they are known as the “tangle-web” spider. So, if you see a really messy web, exercise caution.
The Nature Conservatory of Canada notes that you're unlikely to find them in your home, however: "Black widows prefer dark, sheltered spots close to the ground, such as wood, trash or rock piles, or even underneath a house. Here, they spin funnel-shaped webs to catch their insect prey."
