While you're working in the garden, have you ever seen a large, beautiful yellow and black spider among the flowers or near the window? Many people get scared when they see this spider. But should we really be afraid of this spider? Today we're talking about this Garden Spider, which is commonly seen in our gardens, but which many people don't know about.
Who is this Garden Spider?
Simply put, this spider belongs to the family of orb-weavers. Some people also call this spider the "Writing Spider." This is because this spider creates a zig-zag pattern in the middle of its web, as if writing letters. To identify this spider, let's take a look at its appearance.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | The female is quite large. It can be about an inch long without legs. But the male is much smaller, about an inch long. |
| Color & Pattern | The abdomen is oval in shape, with a beautiful pattern of yellow and black. There is a large black stripe running down the middle of the abdomen, with about four white dots visible above it. There is a silvery stripe on the side of the head. |
| Legs | The part of the legs that comes closer to the body is red-orange, and the tip is black. |
What do these spiders eat?
These spiders make their beautiful, round webs to catch insects for food. This web is very strong. It is believed that the zigzag pattern (X-shaped pattern) in the middle allows animals like birds to pass through without getting caught in the web.
When an insect, such as a mosquito, fly, or grasshopper , gets caught in the web, the spider bites the insect and injects a poison into its body. It then wraps the insect in silk threads and stores it for later consumption.
Think about how good this is for us. This spider itself controls the annoying creatures in our garden, such as mosquitoes and flies that spread diseases . That's why many people prefer not to remove these spiders from their gardens.
Is this spider really a danger to us?
This is the biggest question everyone has. The short answer is no . The Garden Spider is not a threat to humans. Let's be clear about that.
Do these spiders bite?
Usually not. These spiders are very shy. If they sense danger, they don't attack, but quickly hide somewhere. However, if you try to forcefully grab one of these spiders or squeeze it , it may bite you out of fear.
Are these spiders poisonous?
Yes, these spiders have venom. But they only use it to kill their insect prey. The venom is not dangerous to humans at all. Since the spider is large, a bite can cause some pain. But it won't cause any serious harm.
Simply put, the Garden Spider's venom is not dangerous to humans. It's like a mosquito bite.
But here we need to be careful about one thing. That is allergic reactions. Some people can have an allergic reaction to any insect sting, like a bee sting. Also, very rarely, someone can have an allergic reaction to this spider bite.
What to do if you get bitten by a spider?
This doesn't happen often. But let's say you accidentally get bitten by a spider. Don't panic. Here are some things to do.
| Opportunity | What to do |
|---|---|
| If it's a normal bite | 1. Wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water. 2. You may experience some pain, redness, or itching. If you have itching , do not scratch the area. Doing so may cause the wound to become infected . 3. Before taking an antihistamine to reduce itching, talk to your doctor and get advice. |
| When to see a doctor immediately (allergy symptoms) | If you have one or more of the following symptoms, it could be a sign of a serious allergy. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department (ETU) immediately.
|
Do I really need to get rid of these spiders from the garden?
It's not really necessary. These spiders are like harmless friends who provide a very important service to our ecosystem. Since they control the annoying insects in our garden, it's best to leave them alone.
However, if the spider builds its web in a place where people often walk, for example near a door, you can carefully move it to another location. Wearing a pair of gardening gloves, carefully pick up the spider without scaring it and place it near another bush in the garden. If you are afraid to touch the spider, remove the web with a broom when the spider is not in the web. The spider will then build a new web in a different location.
Take-Home Message
- The Garden Spider is a beautiful spider that is commonly seen in our gardens.
- This spider is not dangerous to humans. Their venom is not harmful to us.
- They bite very rarely, but only if they fear danger.
- They are very beneficial to us because they eat annoying insects like mosquitoes and flies in our gardens.
- If you are bitten by a spider, do not panic and wash the area clean. Only seek immediate medical attention if you develop serious allergic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments have been posted yet. Add your comment here for the first time.
Add your comment