Spider identifier

[twayblade]

I live in a old house downtown that is in rough shape. I cannot afford to live elsewere and the location is great so moving is not an option.

When I moved to my current house 4 years ago I discovered some spiders with long clear legs and small brown torso. I thought they were 'daddy long legs' but they are a little different. The legs and torso are both 'thicker' than a daddy long legs. They like dark places ( I have found them in my kitchen cupboards) and as they get bigger the clear legs take on a pale brown hue.

I now have a white spider that has become prominent. It is more of a cream colour that white and it has no markings and it moves very fast. This spider doesn't seem to prefer light or dark spaces, they come out whenever they want. I would like to take a pic. but I don't wan't to get that close.

Can anyone give me any ideas on what they are and how to get rid of them? I would really appreciate it thank you.

[Fancy]

Try this site:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/46085

[mexi cali]

I don't know exactly what they are based on your description but I can say that it's unlikely that they/it are poisonous if that's your concern.

We do have Black Widows as most know and occasionally Brown or Recluse spiders which are poisonous but that is really about it.

Most of the dangerous spiders in the world require warmer climates than what we have to offer.

Both Widows and Browns are skittish and prefer to not interact with people.

Spiders are good problems to have. hey eat lots of other stuff that are way worse.

[Lizard]

Probably Cellar Spiders.

[Fancy]

http://bugguide.net/node/view/340551/bgimage
Lizard beat me to it - my thought as well.

[Lizard]

We do have Black Widows as most know and occasionally Brown or Recluse spiders which are poisonous but that is really about it.

Brown recluse spiders are not indigenous to Canada. Their range is the South Eastern United States and have been reported as far west as Texas. I'm not saying the Brown Recluse spider has not been seen in Canada, but if it has it has been a hitchhiker.

I know people who will argue vehemently that the Brown Recluse spider now makes it's home in Canada, but that is totally incorrect. I also know people who claim to have been bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider in the Okanagan, as that was the diagnosis from their doctor, however when test results came back, it was bacterial infection, probably from an encounter with a prickly pear cactus.

Sorry for the rant, however when people say the Brown Recluse spider is in Canada, I have to respond.

Now as far as venomous spiders in the Okanagan, MD is correct about the Black Widow, which is easily identified, and we also have the Hobo Spider, both of which are quite toxic to humans. All spiders are venomous, however most have mandibles that are too weak to pierce human skin, or their venom is not toxic to humans.

If your spiders are not bothering you, other than creeping you out, I would leave them alone, as MexacaliDreamer says, they are quite good at insect pest control.

[featfan]

wolf spiders

[Lizard]

Not wolf spiders.

[featfan]

yup

http://www.google.ca/search?q=wolf+spid ... 80&bih=897

[Lizard]

Hardly fits the description, and rarely found indoors.

[gordon_as]

Our house was filled with black widows when we bought it. As we cleaned the junk and clutter out of the basement destroying their prefered habitat , we saw less and less of them. The hoover took care of any that stuck around. Now with a finished basement and no little nooks and crannies , we hardly ever see any spiders.

[Graham Adder]

Brown recluse spiders are not indigenous to Canada.
...when people say the Brown Recluse spider is in Canada, I have to respond.

There sure seems to be a lot of people willing to disagree with you.
I'm no spider expert, so I can't say with certainty whether or not they exist here. Can you say with certainty Lizard?
Are you a spider expert? If so, can you explain why so many people believe Canada does have brown recluse spiders here?
http://www.brown-recluse-spider.com/content/distribution.php
http://pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/spiders.htm
http://www.rentokil.ca/pest-guides/insects-and-spiders/spiders-and-scorpions/brown-recluse-spiders/index.html
http://www.misc.uniquedetox.com/Spider.html
http://cottagecountrypestcontrol.blogspot.ca/2012/03/brown-recluse-spiders.html

Twayblade, I think the posts identifying the cellar spider as your present pest are correct. Then again, I'm no spider expert.

[LyricalOne]

Re: Brown Recluse....had a lot of people bitten by these very same and they are identified in this article....your call though...

http://archive.okinhealth.com/articles/ ... an-bc.html

[janalta]

There sure seems to be a lot of people willing to disagree with you.
I'm no spider expert, so I can't say with certainty whether or not they exist here. Can you say with certainty Lizard?
Are you a spider expert? If so, can you explain why so many people believe Canada does have brown recluse spiders here?
http://www.brown-recluse-spider.com/content/distribution.php
http://pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/spiders.htm
http://www.rentokil.ca/pest-guides/insects-and-spiders/spiders-and-scorpions/brown-recluse-spiders/index.html
http://www.misc.uniquedetox.com/Spider.html
http://cottagecountrypestcontrol.blogspot.ca/2012/03/brown-recluse-spiders.html

Twayblade, I think the posts identifying the cellar spider as your present pest are correct. Then again, I'm no spider expert.

From your own links...

They are rarely ever seen west of the Rockies, and if they are here, they have been transported.

In Mexico, the Brown Recluse Spider tends to hang around the border, and does not extend too far south into the country. As for Canada, this spider stays around southeast Ontario, and in the southern parts of Quebec.

Lizard is correct in saying that the Brown Recluse is NOT indigenous to the area.
Just like the revolting Giant European House Spiders that live in my shed...not native to the okanagan, but have survived here when accidently transported.

[twayblade]

A big thank you to everyone who responded to my thread. I looked at all the links and I am 99.9% sure that it is the cellar spider. If it is that benefical and not venomous, then I guess I will leave them alone, even though it creeps me out a bit.

The white (or cream) colour spider is now a mystery. it is not very big, maybe the size of a quarter in total and it moves very fast.I thought it had no markings but one I saw tonight has some grey on the very end of it's lower torso. It is also very bold, it is not afraid of people or lit up areas.

I am just hoping it is not poisonus. I have a cat who loves to hunt and eat bugs, I just don't want to see him hurt.

Thanks again to everyone, all of you were very helpful.