Have you come across a brown garden spider in your garden or backyard and were wondering – is the brown spider a real threat? Well, it is necessary to have such information about the spiders in your garden in order to be safe. Let us find out the answer to this question.
What Does A Brown Garden Spider Look Like?
The Brown Garden Spider is a common garden spider in North America. These spiders are brown in color and sometimes have black and yellow stripes and spots on their abdomens. They are often found near gardens, fields, and other grassy areas.
These spiders prefer to build their webs close to the ground. They are not considered dangerous and will usually only bite humans if they are provoked. Females are significantly larger than males, with a leg span of up to 3″ (7.5 cm).
As already stated by me, these spiders are usually harmless to humans, but they can look quite menacing because of their camouflage or prey deterrence abilities.
Male Brown Garden Spider Vs. Female Brown Garden Spider
Male Brown Garden Spiders are generally smaller than female spiders and more reclusive. Female Brown Garden Spiders are typically larger, and they build webs near the ground.
Interestingly, male brown garden spiders can be distinguished from female brown garden spiders by their markings. The males have black and gold stripes, while the females have yellow stripes.
Types of Brown Spiders found in the garden.
There are various types of brown spiders that can be found in gardens. These spiders generally fall into two categories: web weavers and hunters.
Web weavers create webs to capture their prey while hunters actively search for their food. Let us learn about them in detail.
Web Weaving Brown Spiders
Web weaving brown spiders are common in gardens and yards. They spin webs to capture insects, which they then eat. These spiders are not generally considered a threat, but they can bite if threatened.
The web that they spin is typically maze-like or intricate funnels. While they may look threatening, these spiders are not typically harmful to humans and will generally only bite if provoked.
Wolf or Hunting Brown Spiders
The brown garden spider is a type of wolf spider. They are large, hairy, and jump or leap at prey. They can be a threat to small animals and should be avoided.
What Does the Brown Garden Spider Eat?
The brown garden spider is a predator that feeds mainly on insects. They are not considered to be a major threat to humans or pets and typically only bite humans if they feel threatened.
Female spiders eat their own webs at night in order to store food for the next day. This is a way for them to conserve energy, and they will also consume any prey that gets caught in their web.
Life Cycles of the Brown Garden Spider
A similar life cycle is experienced by almost all brown garden spiders. The brown garden spider’s life cycles have a cyclical structure.
Fall
Garden spiders, like many other spiders, mate in the fall. This is because the colder weather signals to them that it is time to start looking for a place to overwinter.
These spiders lay their eggs among fallen leaves, under logs or tree limbs, or among garden plants.
Winter
Brown Garden Spiders will lay eggs in the late summer and early fall. The eggs will remain dormant during cold weather and will hatch in the spring.
Even though brown garden spiders are generally considered to be non-threatening to humans, they may become aggressive if their eggs are disturbed. Eggs may also be eaten or damaged if the spider is disturbed.
Spring
As the weather warms up and the days get longer, spiders will start to appear more frequently. This is because many different spider species are born during the springtime.
While most spiders are harmless, it is important to be aware of any spiders that may pose a threat.
Summer
Spiders are a part of the arachnid family and have a life cycle that includes different stages.
The hunting stage is when they search for prey to eat, and the mating stage is when they find a mate and reproduce.
In the summer, wolf spiders can be seen carrying their egg sacs on their backs. The baby spiders cling to their mother until they are ready to hunt or mate.
Does the Brown Garden Spider Bite?
Garden spiders are timid and rarely bite humans. They will usually only bite if they feel threatened or are being squished. Brown garden spiders are an important part of the garden ecosystem, as they help to control the population of other insects.
The brown garden spider is not aggressive and will only bite humans if disturbed. In fact, they are more likely to run away than to bite someone. However, if bitten, their venom can cause some pain and swelling, so it is best to avoid them if possible.
Is the Brown Garden Spider a real threat?
The brown garden spider is not considered to be a real threat to humans. They are generally timid and will avoid contact with humans if possible.
The agony and swelling are akin to a bee sting, although there are often no problems from their bite.
In fact, the vast majority of spiders are not harmful to humans. Garden spiders generally build webs in areas where they can easily catch prey, such as near doors or windows.
Other species of Spiders Found in the Garden
There are many types of spiders that can be found in US gardens. In fact, there are over 3,000 different species! Some of the most common spiders in gardens include the common yellow orb spider, the wolf spider, and the black widow.
However, you might find other types of spiders in your garden as well. It’s important to be aware of these spiders and know how to deal with them if they become a problem.
Let us learn about these spiders in a little detail now.
Orb Weaver Spiders
Orb Weaver spiders are common in North America. They can be identified by their circular webs and markings. These spiders are generally not a threat to humans, but they can bite if they feel threatened.
This species of the spider typically prey on insects, but some larger species can also take small vertebrates like lizards and frogs.
They have zigzag or striped abdominal patterns, long spindly legs, and a bulbous abdomen. These spiders get their name from the fact that they build orb-shaped webs.
Banana spiders
Banana spiders are large, black spiders that have yellow or white stripes on their legs. They are found throughout the United States and can be a real threat to people and pets.
The brown garden spider is a type of banana spider. They are distinguishable by their oblong, square body rather than the rounded body most spiders have.
They are generally not considered to be a threat and are more beneficial in gardens as they prey on pests.
Their legs are not grouped in pairs but are evenly distributed around the body. They are generally considered to be harmless to humans.
Banded Garden Spider
The banded garden spider is a North American spider that is typically found in gardens and yards. It has yellow, white, and brown-black bands on its legs and body. This spider is not considered to be a threat to humans.
They are easy to identify because of their characteristic brown or black bands on their tan-colored abdomen and legs. While they may look intimidating, banded spiders are generally harmless and will only bite if provoked.
Sac Spiders
Sac spiders are common garden spiders that can be yellow or light brown in color. They derive their name from the sac-like webbing they build to catch prey.
These spiders are not considered a real threat to humans, but they can bite if threatened. In cold weather, sac spiders often enter homes in search of warmth.
They are also known for their painful bite and their ability to run quickly. and they build their webs in dark, quiet places and often prey on other spiders.
Grass Spider
Grass spiders are small and fast-moving and can be distinguished by their long, spindly legs. They build their webs in tall grass or other dense vegetation, where they wait to ambush prey.
While they are not generally considered to be a threat to humans, they can bite if provoked.
It has a brown body and head with two dark lines. It is harmless to humans and typically preys on insects.
These spiders live outdoors and rarely venture indoors. They build webs in tall grass or other dense vegetation and wait for prey to become ensnared.
Are baby yellow spiders poisonous?
There is no danger posed by baby yellow garden spiders. Even the adult ones are fairly docile and won’t bite unless they are pushed to their breaking point, like being repeatedly prodded in the face. One of the reasons they bite is because they are trying to defend their offspring.
A mother yellow garden spider will do all in her power to ensure the well-being of her offspring while they are still within their sacs. To put it another way, if you come across one of them in your backyard, you shouldn’t bother it. In such a case, the mother could well bite you!
Summary
Hopefully, now you would have learned enough about the brows spiders in your garden and must have realized that they are not really a threat. Nonetheless, it is never a bad idea to maintain your distance from these pests.