Homeowners beware: the harmless appearance of spiders might deceive you. Discover the unsettling reasons why crushing a spider in your residence could lead to unwanted consequences.
In a shocking video that went viral in 2015, Australian arachnologist Danny Ford demonstrated the unexpected aftermath of squashing a pregnant spider. The video, filmed in South Australia, showed hundreds of baby spiders running away from a flattened female spider corpse [1][2].
Ford was taken aback when the spider he had squashed with a broom released a multitude of baby spiders. Killing a pregnant spider can result in the immediate release or dispersal of spiderlings, potentially increasing the chance of a spiderling presence or infestation in the area [2].
This phenomenon occurs because when a pregnant spider is crushed or disturbed, her egg sac or spiderlings might be released suddenly, scattering the young spiders around. The baby spiders then disperse by a behaviour called "ballooning," using silk strands to float away on air currents to colonize new areas [2].
If a pregnant spider is killed indoors or in a confined space, spiderlings may remain and establish themselves nearby, potentially leading to an infestation if conditions are suitable. However, the extent of infestation risk depends on species, environment, and whether the spiderlings find favorable conditions to survive [2][3].
Many spider species help control other pest populations, and a single incident may not cause a significant outbreak. Removing a pregnant spider carefully (for example, using capture and release methods) reduces this risk.
Nicole Carpenter, president of Black Pest Prevention, made a statement to Tom's Guide, noting that smashing a female spider could have horrifying results for those with arachnophobia [3]. The sight of tiny spiders running away from a flattened female spider corpse could potentially lead to an infestation, adding to the distress for those with a fear of spiders.
Despite the survival chances of the baby spiders not being good after their mother dies, according to McGill University arachnologist Christopher Buddle [3], it's clear that who would want to take the risk of potentially causing a spider infestation.
References:
[1] Ford, D. (2015). Viral video shows hundreds of baby spiders running away after mother is squashed. National Geographic. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/08/150826-spider-baby-video-australia-danny-ford/
[2] Carpenter, N. (2015). Smashing a pregnant spider could cause an infestation. Tom's Guide. [online] Available at: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/smashing-a-pregnant-spider-could-cause-an-infestation,news-22981.html
[3] Buddle, C. (2015). The survival chances of the baby spiders aren't good after their mother dies. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2015/aug/26/spider-babies-viral-video-australia-danny-ford-arachnologist
- To avoid the risk of an unexpected spider infestation, it's advisable to carefully relocate pregnant spiders rather than harming them, taking into consideration the positive contributions of various spider species to health-and-wellness, such as pest control.
- The viral video featuring the aftermath of squashing a pregnant spider sparked concern for individuals suffering from arachnophobia, as the sight of hundreds of baby spiders dispersing could potentially exacerbate their fear and lead to a mental-health issue.
- Adopting a pet spider may not be the best lifestyle choice, considering the unexpected results that can occur when a pregnant spider is killed or disturbed, leading to the immediate release of spiderlings and potential infestations within your home, especially when it comes to keeping them in confined spaces.
