moral dilemma

[Rory]

I'm a bit of a science nerd, so I've really enjoyed watching this event unfold in my bathroom window. Here's some background:

My house is older and has been added on to several times in odd ways, and my bathroom window is actually two windows separated by quite a space. That's fine, but someone cut three large holes into the bottom of the outside pane (???) and the space is large enough for birds to get stuck into. Lots of bugs and webs and grass gets in there, and it's nigh on to impossible to clean.

Anyway, I've been watching this spider in the window. Female (bigger than I'd like to squish even with a flyswatter) and very, very hungry. She's been most successful catching the moths and flies that get trapped in there; she picked a great spot for her web...and egg sacs. It's been a neat process and all watching her work, but this morning I noticed something different on one of the sacs.

Yep, little spiderlings are coming out. They seem to come out slowly as if to get their bearings before moving out of the way for the next bunch. I already estimate about 50 to be around the sac. Given the sac's size, I bet there are 200 or so little guys in there. And she laid (?) THREE sacs. My dilemma is that she's obviously of higher intelligence and therefore should reproduce, however I really don't need or even want 600+ spiderlings on my house. And I don't know what kind they are.

How bad would it be to spray some vinegar or (gag!) insecticide up in there? Have DH take down the window or figure out how to get in there to clean it? The holes aren't big enough to stuff one of the chickens in there, darn it.

I feel like, "OK, thanks. Party's over. Here's some poison to kill your babies and you." Maybe I need to get out more.

Advice, please. Comments? Thanks.

[Cabin Fever]

Since the mama spider is "obvisously of higher intelligence" (your words), I would recommend asking her for advice on how to solve this moral dilemma.

[Maura]

Cant you use an implement (like a fork or something) and pull the egg sacs out? Then you could place the little darlings where you want them, well away from your house.

[patnewmex]

Let the spiders be. The babies will most likely leave their birthplace and move out of mama's home. There is no dilema. Or, you could carefully take the remaning egg sacks and put them in a spot that is not near your house if they hatch.

Pat

[Dente deLion]

Mom always says, "spiders are the good guys." She'll do anything to avoid killing or even disturbing them. I don't think she ever had them in the house in the quantity you're talking about, though. So I guess I'd go with a blend of Maura and Patnewmex - If the holes are big enough to maneuver some sort of scooping implement, I'd try forced relocation. If there's no plausible way to do it, then just wait and see... and maybe keep a chicken on standby for bathroom duty!

[trixiwick]

David Quammen wrote an essay about exactly this. I think you can access it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/sitbv3/read...oQboVKUNXeQds= (sorry if you need to log in to see it).

[Michael W. Smith]

I'm guessing the babies will move OUTSIDE. When spiders hatch, it's nature for them to move away from where they were born. I think they will feel the breeze coming from outside and march on out to inhabit the neighborhood.

Since mom has given you so much enjoyment, it just doesn't seem right to kill the mother and babies off now! Now, you could explain to the babies that anyone found INSIDE the house is fair game, so to move inside is doing so at their own risk! (Or perhaps mom has already explained it to her children since she is of "higher intelligence".)

Enjoy nature, don't fight with it!

[chickenmommy]

What is there to consider? KILL THEM!!!!! GET RID OF THEM NOW!!!! For the life of me I cannot understand how you can stand there and watch the little ones come out of the sac and not want to shower. I would be feeling sooooo crawley by now! Can't stand a spider. Don't even like pictures of them in encyclopedias. Definitely won't touch one. OMG!!!!
The whole higher intelligence thing just gives me the skeeves.

[patnewmex]

Originally Posted by chickenmommy

What is there to consider? KILL THEM!!!!! GET RID OF THEM NOW!!!! For the life of me I cannot understand how you can stand there and watch the little ones come out of the sac and not want to shower. I would be feeling sooooo crawley by now! Can't stand a spider. Don't even like pictures of them in encyclopedias. Definitely won't touch one. OMG!!!!
The whole higher intelligence thing just gives me the skeeves.

That's no reason to kill any of God's creatures, certainly.

[Rory]

Thanks for the replies that let me see more sides. I won't feel so bad now if DH decides to exterminate.

She's got her web too high in the window to reach a fork in there, but maybe a hose would squirt them out...and onto the squirter.

Geez, the higher intelligence thing was meant for her species, not ours. Maybe it was just her good luck, but she picked a fabulous spot for her web and babies. Survival of the fittest and all.

Cabin Fever, I've communicated with her telepathically and we've decided to just let her be. No spoken words needed. None of them will survive if they all stay there, so they must plan to move on.

Chickenmommy, the babies are the size of the tittle that dots this /i/ with legs, and you can see them from the shower! Ticks bug me.

[Dahc]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

Since the mama spider is "obviously of higher intelligence" (your words), I would recommend asking her for advice on how to solve this moral dilemma.

Yep. I would say, judging from the original post, that the poster just needs to move out and let momma spider have the house. It is obvious that she has plans to build a great arachnian empire there and the whims of a silly, under evolved human should not interfere with that.

[Oggie]

Considering the circle of life, etc., I think you would be on the morally right side of things should you decide to kill them ...







Of course, you will also have to eat them.

[comfortablynumb]

the spider is reporducing well because there is an abundance of food.... that being bugs, prolly ones you will like even less than the spider.

so kill the spider, youll have all the bugs.

spiders have a job like snakes, leave them alone....and they will leave you alone.

[susieM]

Throw in some maggots, so that when they turn into flies, the babies will have something to eat.

[Trixie]

I have been trying to imagine this thing all this time. It is two windows - one outside and one inside - right?

What kind of spider is it?

Can they get inside the house?

If it is a harmless type spider and they can't get inside the house, why bother? When they leave, I might do something about the holes, however.

[Meg Z]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

the spider is reporducing well because there is an abundance of food.... that being bugs, prolly ones you will like even less than the spider.

so kill the spider, youll have all the bugs.

spiders have a job like snakes, leave them alone....and they will leave you alone.

Bingo!

[RockyGlen]

Raid

[Nancy]

Sounds like you have the old fashioned storm window on with those three holes in the bottom. Had those windows at our house when I was growing up and I well remember the seasonal change when we had to put up the screens and store away the storm windows. Anyway more on subject, I say kill those things. I am currently on antibiotics for a spider bite gone wild! Who needs more of those around and in the house?

[Nancy]

Oh yeh, forgot to say that our storm window "air holes" had a movable cover on them so you could let air in if needed or they could be closed when needed. You might need to consider putting some such device on your storm window.

[patnewmex]

Originally Posted by Oggie

Considering the circle of life, etc., I think you would be on the morally right side of things should you decide to kill them ...

Of course, you will also have to eat them.

Thanks for the laugh of the day.