To not know what to do with syd the spider

[capabilityfrowns]

Syd has been resident in my kitchen for at least 6 months now and she's been very welcome, she's never moved , she doesn't drop on my head , she eats all my undesirables.

But today syd has laid eggs . She has is tending her egg sac like an amazing mummy . But I'm a little freaked at the thought of hundreds of mini syds emerging into my kitchen . She's tending her babies like a queen . She's protective and I haven't the heart to hoover the egg sac up.

Dear Mumsnet, what do I do ?

I didn't want her kids really but now she's laid her eggs I just don't have the heart to destroy them .

Oh I don't know I talk to all the spiders! I have 2 living in my parcel box, both have had babies but they stay in their house and me in mine. I have a quick chat when I collect my post say hi hope they're doing ok and sorry to bother them.

She's tiny . She's not a big house spider - her bubs will be the size of fruit flies

Syd mark 2 is in my bedroom and again never been an ounce of bother . Happily lived there 6 months or so .

As a kid I loved all mini beasts but somewhere along the line I got scared of them, so naming them helps me deal with my terror ! These little guys really don't move , they live where they lived and never deviate , so I just leave them be , they don't bother me at all . I'm just a bit freaked at the thought of hundreds of spiderlings then I remember charlottes web and can't hurt them .

I think that spider-hoover device suggested by a previous poster is the best way to go. And a tenancy clause so it doesn't happen again 😁

I might draw up a tenancy agreement and charge rent

Syd looks like a garden spider, we've got one in the kitchen window.

I don't know what advise, come spring, when they hatch.

If they're are garden varieties why are they in the house ? I'd relocate them but they're thriving and really just don't move , I don't ever have to wonder where they've gone , they just stay exactly where they've set up home .

If they're garden spiders 🕷️ I'd happily relocate but I'm sure they're house dwellers? Any spider experts reading ?

Syd 2 is in the bedroom , same species

@Satonmytuffet sorry, I didn't mean to worry you! I didn't mean more spiders - I meant all the mosquitos and other unwanted bugs are also probably baby making, so at least the new spider family members might be able to help keep those folks in check!

Anyone know what species these are ?

It's quite common to get the odd garden spider indoors, just like flies, bees, butterflies etc.

Ahh, I have a Syd, my pal Gladys lives in my conservatory.

I don't mind Gladys, she's similar size to yours and she seems to eat the more bastardy ones.

If these guys can survive in the feeder I'd relocate them

*garden even

But the eggs need to be somewhere dry and sheltered. They always lay them under something over hanging, like a windowsill, or fascia. I'm not sure how you could do that, without damaging them.

I think these guys are house dwellers anyway

They look (as far as it is possible to tell!) like Zygiella x-notata, the missing sector orb weaver (because when they build a web you can see - and they don't always - it has a slice missing)...

If her babies hatch, they will disperse very quickly because to fail to do so is to be eaten by your brothers and sisters, so I wouldn't worry about it. Spiders have many many bebbies because everyone wants to eat a spiderling, including other spiders, even of the same species.

Leave her be, her job is almost done now, you may find one or two set up home nearby but even if you're a nutter like me who really REALLY likes them, you won't be over run (I can count four on one window frame, none on the other for some reason, right next to it, and thats with avoiding cleaning the very top edge of that window for several years!).

If you were lucky enough to catch them between emerging and dispersal, a soft paintbrush and some tissue is a good way to move them.

I'm scared of spiders, but she's been your friend, leave her bw, or move her ... no hoovers

I'm not an expert but is it a False Widow Spider? You won't 100% have babies everywhere. Females still produce egg sacs even if they haven't mated.

Aww, well done Syd. I wouldn't worry, op. The proud mum will probably eat any that don't leg it quick enough. (Imagine if there was an MN for spiders: "DS says he wants a gap year before uni -WIBU to scoff him?"

Just been googling spider dispersal and have now read the lovely term 'spiderlings' enough times for me to start imagining that the little scuttlers are cute rather than the stuff of nightmares.

Think of all those little heartbeats, spiders do actually have a heart. They don't bother me one bit, l would much prefer spiders in the house than flies.

I had one that had babies down the back of my kitchen cupboard between the cupboard and the wall! I just caught them gently as they came out the bottom and relocated the spiderlings to places undercover outside. But having loads of spiders suddenly appearing out the bottom of your kitchen cupboard isn’t ideal 🤣

you can move them, if you get something very thin between them and the wall. The little nests are incredibly tough and hard to damage which is surprising given how delicate they look.

I love this.. just the sort of thing I'd do. I've got similar resident spiders though they are yet to be named. 😄