References Adams RJ (2014). Field Guide to the Spiders of California and the Pacific Coast States. University of California Press. Akre RD, Myhre EH (1991). Biology and medical importance of the aggressive house spider, Tegenaria agrestis, in the Pacific Northwest (Arachnida: Araneae: Agelenidae). Melanderia 47, 1-30. Bennett RG, Vetter RS (2004). An approach to spider bites: Erroneous attribution of dermonecrotic lesions to brown recluse or hobo spider bites in Canada. Canadian Family Physician 50, 1098-1101. Binford GJ (2001). An analysis of geographic and intersexual chemical variation in venoms of the spider Tegenaria agrestis (Agelenidae). Toxicon 39(7): 955-968. Blest AD, Taylor PW (1995). Cambridgea quadromaculata n. sp. (Araneae, Stiphidiidae): A large New Zealand spider from wet, shaded habitats, New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 22:3, 351-356, DOI: 10.1080/03014223.1995.9518051 Bolzern, A., Burckhardt, D., & Hänggi, A. (2013). Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 168(4), 723-848. Bristowe, WS (1958). The World of Spiders. Collins. Faundez E, Carvajal M, Asplanato N, Raffo F, Vargas CJ (2019). Contribution to the knowledge of Tegenaria domestica (Clerck, 1757) (Araneae: Agelenidae) in Southern Patagonia. Anales Instituto Patagonia (Chile) 47(3):43-47. Fisher RG, et al (1994). Necrotic Arachnidism. Western Journal of Medicine 160(6):570-572. Foelix RF (2011). Biology of Spiders, 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press. Gaver-Wainwright MM, Zack R, Foradori M, Lavine LC (2011). Misdiagnosis of SPider Bites: Bacterial Associates, Mechanical Pathogen Transfer, and Hemolytic Potential of Venom from the Hobo Spider, Tegenaria agrestis (Araneae: Agelenidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 48(2):382-388. Land MF (1985). The Morphology and Optics of Spider Eyes. In Neurobiology of Arachnids (pp. 53-78). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. McKeown N, Vetter RS, Hendrickson RG (2014). Verified spider bites in Oregon (USA) with the intent to assess hobo spider venom toxicity. Toxicon 84, 51-55. Nentwig W, Gnadinger M, Fuchs J, Ceschi A (2013). A two year study of verified spider bites in Switzerland and a review of the European spider bite literature. Toxicon 73, 104-110. Oxford GS, Bolzern A (2018). Molecules v. Morphology - is Eratigena atrica (Araneae: Agelenidae) one species or three?. Arachnology 17(7):337-357. Rose, S (2022). Spiders of North America. Princeton University Press. Vallet AM, Marion-Poll F, Trabalon M (1998). Preliminary electrophysiological study of the contact chemoreceptors in a spider. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences-Series III-Sciences de la Vie 321(6): 463-469. Vest DK (1987). Envenomation by Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer) spiders in rabbits. Toxicon 25(2):221-224. Vest DK (1987). Necrotic arachnidism in the northwest United States and its probable relationship to Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer) spiders. Toxicon 25(2):175-184. Vetter R, Antonelli A. (2002). How to identify (or misidentify) the hobo spider. Washington State University, Puyallup, WA. pep. wsu. edu/pdf/PLS116_1. Pdf. Vetter RS, Isbister GK (2004). Do Hobo Spider Bites Cause Dermonecrotic Injuries? Annals of Emergency Medicine 44(6):605-607. Vibert, Samantha, et al. (2017). Life-history data for the funnel weavers Eratigena agrestis and Eratigena atrica (Araneae: Agelenidae) in the Pacific Northwest of North America. The Canadian Entomologist 149(3): 345-356. charleyproject.org/case/darwin-kenneth-vest faunafacts.com/spiders/fastest-spiders/
Thank you for your time researching and presenting this and other spiders! Your videos have been helping me to cure my arachnophobia, and for that I'm thankful.
For those wanting to read Bristowe's 'The World of Spiders' but can't track down a hardcopy for a reasonable price the Kindle edition is available on Amazon (and probably other places) now.
I'm from the pnw and have always been afraid of the giant house spider because they were huge and fast, but had found out recently that they're harmless. I was never really told that the hobo spider was anything to be afraid of. I've tried to assuage my arachnophobia by giving them names when I know we'll be sharing space, and even feed them. The last giant I saw I named Frank, fed them a grain moth. They disappeared for a day or so but when they came back, I actually felt happiness. Perhaps my plan is paying off...
😀I was feeding 'Erica' clothes moths, when she lived in our bathroom. I needed to dust so I made her an enclosure, with her very own castle! Giving spiders names has helped me, as has seeing their eyes (best done looking at pics first). To me, knowing a creature's face makes it more relatable. The whole cute-jumping-spiders-helping-people-with-arachnophobia phenomenon seems to be mostly based on their huge eyes.
Spiders are my favorite animals. I always pick them up and take them out when I see them at work. People always freak out when I used to tell them I had 40 different tarantulas, 20 scorpions, 5 whip scorpions, and a handful of true spiders, including western black widows lol. It warns my heart seeing people with arachnophobia learn about them and try to live with them instead of killing them. ❤
From personal experience, I can say confidently that female barn funnel weavers do live for around 7 years. I always catch them when I clean my bathroom (where they love to make funnel webs behind my mirror). I really like them and don't want to kill them while cleaning, which led me to keeping them in small enclosures as pets. They tend to live around an average of 5 years in my care, BUT keep in mind I'm catching them when they're already completely mature, at least a year old and done with molting.
This was so fascinating. I’m a huge spider enthusiast, and this video will help me better identify the many spiders we encounter her in the middle of Appalachia. Thank you.
I’m a presenter at natural history museum, and these videos have given me some really great ideas for how to talk to people about spiders. It’s difficult work trying to change people’s minds about creepy-crawlies. Thank you (and all of your collaborators!) very much for your hard work and diligent research! Edit to add: Seconding consulting with online communities if you find a cool bug and want to ID it. We love iNaturalist at the museum!
Thanks so much, and I'm glad I could be helpful! Yes, it's difficult work. I've found that when I encounter someone who has a genuine deep fear, it's best to respect that fear and not push too hard. It's easy to accidentally make someone feel shamed for being afraid, and that usually makes things worse, so it can be a tricky business. And iNat is great!
@@travismcenery2919 That’s very insightful; I completely agree with your whole comment! In conversations with visitors, I like to make a point to acknowledge that the fear of bugs (or snakes, lizards, etc.) is very real, and while knowledge can be empowering, I understand that I won’t be able to simply talk them out of it. Luckily for me, a great deal of the visitors I encounter are curious, polite, and open-minded - despite possibly being afraid, or having preconceived judgements of some of our specimens. I find that very admirable.
Spiders are a strange thing. Etenkin hereillä in Finland where the most venomous spider is only equivalent to a wasp sting and very rare (A. aquatica), people still have an aversion to them.
@singerofsongs468 "Knowledge [is definitely] empowering" My own discomfort around spiders is dwindling, thanks to these videos. Last week, a first for me, I even rescued a (somewhat dazed and smallish) Eratigena sp. male with my bare hands! I'm just a community support worker with The Salvation Army, but collaborate with a local environmental charity. I've twice now given talks on 'creepy-crawlies'. I've been able to use individuals caught in my house - one is even a 'pet' now - as part of my presentation, hoping my curiosity is passed on to the audience.
I've showed your videos to so many people to introduce them to spiders. And I have a Less Wronger is More Better mug on my Christmas wishlist. Thank you for being amazing!
Just woke up the other day here in Maine with a big ol hobo spider on me in my bed. While I appreciate spiders, I couldn't let this particular instance go unpunished however, as the place I discovered said spider sent an absolute chill up my spine for the potential discomfort that could've been. It was promptly fed to my green frog who was very pleased. I have barn spiders I keep in my bathroom ceiling corners and I regularly feed them like pets quite affectionately. But that hobo spider crossed a line. Mainly A belt line. And that sealed it's fate.
I've known about the Hobo Spider not actually being medically significant for a while, but the story of why they're thought of as dangerous and what happened to the man behind it was fascinating!!
Glad you thought so. The story of Darwin Vest is worth looking into, there is more to the story, but in an effort to keep the video a reasonable length, I stuck to a few highlights.
Growing up as a kid in BC I used to catch Giant House Spiders with my hands all the time and can confirm that they're super chill - I was never bitten once. It was really cool to learn more about these lovely creatures through your video!! And we definitely had the impression that Hobo Spiders were super dangerous, so I'm glad to learn otherwise. Looking forward to part 2!
Starting with some scientific discussion of spider classification only to go deep into a rabbit hole about someone's mysterious and shady disappearance definitely was an interesting experience.
Thanks to your videos I've had a much better perspective about spiders, fully ending my arachnophobia before beginning my camping endeavors, and even had a hobo in my tent keeping me awake with the frequent skittering about. I hope in part two you'll talk about how hobo spiders don't make webs and can't climb up walls very easily, as it took a solid hour or two to help my night time spider friend leave my tent to catch a dinner that my relatively sterile environment wasn't going to provide. Just the danger of winding up beneath me! I also had a wolf spider hanging out with my socks one morning, and even recently woke up to what I now think was a barn weaver, in my armpit of all places, as in the video it looked much like that, and there are no hobos where I wound up in New Mexico 😥
I'm so glad I've been able to help you move beyond your fears, that's great to hear! And it sounds like you're getting along with spiders quite well now, so great work and congratulations!
Like everyone else, I was eagerly awaiting this video, and it is a hit! Love your mix of science and humor, with true affection for these creatures with so much personality! Thank you!
Your videos are the perfect compromise between actual scientific information and anecdotes that make them delightful to listen to. You're doing such a great job man, cheers!
I understand that technically Harvestmen, or Opiliones, are not spiders, however, I wondered if there would be any chance you could cover these types of spider-things? They are commonly in and around houses, and there is a lot of hearsay about how supposedly deadly their venom is, while being unable to bite a human, this that the other. I think you would do a great service to everyone and Harvestmen if you could gather the most accurate information on these creatures!
I might get to them one day, but there are still so many spiders to cover. I've considered covering some of those fringe topics in shorter videos, though.
These were my gateway to spiders, i caught a tiny Tegenaria domestica (or thats what i was told she was at the time) she was called Tetchy and after watching her and how brilliant she was i fell in love and am now the proud spider mommy to 72 tarantulas and several sp of true spiders 😊 my heart will always belong to these spiders the most ❤️ its great to see such a detailed upload on them , for all they are common i found it difficult to find solid info on them . I really really enjoyed this upload thank you for making it.
I love this video. I almost did a spit take at 11:22. "So it's a completely anonymous survey, right?" After which you immediately identify "Toopy". So, yeah. Just like actual "anonymous" surveys. LOL I also find it amusing that the giant house spider is found mostly outdoors, while the barn funnel weaver is apparently inhabiting my house. Can't wait for part 2!
Glad you enjoyed that part. ;) I had some fun with it. And yes, sometimes common names don't always make all that much sense. That's why they're very limited in their usefulness.
Found one of these guys curled up in a waterfilled pot yesterday. Took her out and put her in our basement. Don't tell my GF... Would they survive outside this time of year? In Sweden it's about freezing point right now. I've always since a small kid handled these, and all other spiders, with my bare hands and never got bitten. Love this channel, thanks!
These spiders naturally overwinter, so as long as they go outside with enough time to acclimatize I would think they'd be fine. I know when the temperature drops they start producing basically a natural antifreeze in their blood, which allows them to survive sub-zero temperatures, but I'm not sure how long that takes - I'd like to read up on that.
They are generally much smaller and happy to be outside their funnel. Much more "friendly" character, and some of em have some pretty patterns and stripes.
@@AaronHendu One lives right next to our backyard door and she's beautiful :) Keeps to herself and occasionally I throw her a moth or an ant to help her out :)
I have a sweet male GHS that I found crawling across my kitchen floor. He was a sub adult and at the time I thought female. "She" molted out male and he lives in an enclosure on top of my Avic. avicularia. I should let him go in my basement so he can find a lady, but I find him so interesting I keep feeding him little crickets and teeny mealworms. These are wonderful spiders and our house is a spider safe zone. :) Great Video! Thank you for posting, looking forward to part 2.
Also, the fighting Jojo Scientists segment made me smile so wide. "I tell you there is only one Eratogena! Only One Eraeraeraeraeraeraera!!" "No, you fool, the crossbreeding has fooled you. There are three Eratogena apart from Agrestis, wryyyyyyyystis!"
while i adore jumpers and your video on them, THIS is the video i have been waiting for. these three species are the ones i encounter the most where i live in the PNW and i am constantly confusing the funnel weaver and the hobo and feel i don't know nearly enough about all 3. thank you~ edit: so years ago in the early 2000s here in Oregon, an old abandoned greenhouse next to my uncle's house was demolished, and an outrageous number of the spiders that had resided there made their way into my uncle's house. there was SO many spiders there that it was pretty difficult for him to avoid them, and he was bit many, many times, and these bites formed necrotic lesions. the bites were so numerous i believe he was even sent to the hospital bc one of his organs (i forget which) were having issues keeping up with the venom or the infections or something. this was blamed, and still is blamed, in hobo spiders and has contributed to my fear of them..... to learn there are NO hobos in the PNW is very interesting. my uncle said all of the spiders looked similar so i suppose there's a chance this was GHS, funnel weavers, and maybe recluses, but i guess i will never really know unless time travel is invented. this story has stuck with me for years and so i will be eagerly awaiting the next video from you on these guys to ponder who it was that terrorized my uncle all those years ago.
I think I explained this badly - the PNW is sort of the ONLY place hobo's DO occur, except southern Ontario. It's the rest of the continent that they don't occur in. They almost definitely wouldn't have been recluses, as those don't live anywhere near the PNW. The question is, did he see these spiders bite him, or were they just diagnosed as hobo spider bites after the fact? These spiders aren't aggressive, so it's hard to figure that he would be bitten that many times. It's amazing to me that there are so many stories about hobo spider bites doing this, but there seem to be no actual medical records of confirmed cases (where we know with certainty that a spider bit the person, and the spider was captured and professionally identified).
how did i not see this reply! thank you for explaining further. i will ask my uncle more about it next time i see him, but of course it was quite a while ago so i'm not banking on great feedback. i will at least ask if he ever witnessed a bite or just assumed. if i had to guess, he was probably doing everything he could to kill them and was having a hard time avoiding them - i think i remember him saying he encountered them everywhere including in bed, so maybe he rolled onto and squished some and that's why they bit, if they did bite at all.
These are by far the most common large spiders where i live and they really do freak me out more than any other spider, but learning about them does make it better and your well researched and high effort videos are the best place to do that.
I only recently saw my first giant house spider… I was so shocked, I didn’t think spiders that big could live in my area (Portland, OR) it barely even fit in the cup I usually use to catch them. Edit: I catch them if they’re upstairs and I put them in the basement or garage; I don’t mind them in the house - they catch all the other bugs - but I’m pretty scared of spiders so I don’t like to see them too much, sorry!
I used to keep E Atricas. One female I had produced three egg sacks in succession and then she promptly died. I reckon that she produced some 100-120 young. She also had a voracious appetite and seemed to enjoy her enclosure clean. I frequently found "garbage bags" dangling from roughly the same spot in her web which made maintenance easy. Love the video and I salute your effort to bring more understanding to these often misunderstood species👍.
I've held several atrica's as pet, in an enclosure, and they are amazing spiders. Very interesting to see how they live. In an enclosed environment they make layers of web on top of each other, like different floors, they can and will fill the enclosure. One was "pregnant" when I caught her, and I witnessed the whole process of making several egg sacs (which were camouflaged with substrate) and the "birth" of the little ones. Another beautiful spider of the Eratigena/Tegenatia is the ferruginea.
Great content, as usual. You are indeed the Bob Newhart of spiders. 😅 Keep up the good work. I'd love to see a video about Grass Spiders. We have a lot of them here in the late Summer.
Just took a barn funnel weaver out of my bath tub and let it go outside. All my instincts were 'big biting spider. gotta either leave forever or get it gone.' But I thought of ur videos and it shambled so cutely against the side of the tub that I couldnt bring myself to kill it. A good 20 minutes of working up the nerve to catch it and trying to be out of jumping distance when releasing it, it scurried off into the bushes. Probably a weird experience for the spider but a happy one for me. Thanks for making me take the time to research what a recluse Actually looks like and release a lil arachnid whos only crime was being small 🕷❤
If I had any influence on this video being made I'm extremely honored. If I didn't I'm still very very happy you're covering the giant house spider. Thank Mr. Travis McEnery.
I have started quite recently to really love spiders and your channel is helping me so much to learn about them and I cannot thank you enough for how much your videos mean to me thank you!!!
I live in Washington State, and we’ve got tons of giant house spiders. When I was a kid, I used to handle them all the time, and have never been bit. I love those spiders.
"Lucky you Toronto" earned a good laugh from me. But seriously, thank you so much for your videos. They've been incredibly helpful for me to get over an old fear.
The behavior at 28:40 when you're handling the Giant House Spider matches what I've observed. I'm scared to death of those things, but do recognize it as an irrational fear. I have a couple friends that can handle handling them and I've never seen one act anything other than docile while handled. I always dread September because a few males will inevitably find their way into my house. I also always find really large females in my garage since there's lots of good homes for them there.
I'm in the UK and live next to ancient woodland, we get the giant house spiders, (Eratigena Saeva), coming into the house around this time of the year. We also get a lot of the Long-bodied Cellar Spiders in the garage and attic. I've started to notice an increase of small jumping spiders showing up over the years, I didn't think they were found in the UK.
We live in Michigan. I have found a male Wolf spider that was so lethargic I thought it was going to die. We got a small top of a juice bottle & put some bottled water in the bottle top. I put the top on the floor near the wall & sure enough, he started drinking the water after that he trusted us. Stay safe Sir & everyone.
I'd like to see you do a video about the Joro Spider. They are not native to the US, but have made their way to Georgia in the last 7 years, and are spreading to South Carolina and other neighboring states. They are VERY invasive, but beautiful. I've been studying them a few years, and sending some to Universities to study. In the Fall, I usually collect around 100 of them, and don't even put a dent in the population around my property.
I am in new brunswick, and im not sure why but we only see the empty nests and only 2 in the past year for the yellow sac spiders. We clean up their little beds and move on. Both of them are abandoned and have been empty😅 Although our home is so old, its actually a 1800s barn converted into a farm house. We own one of the actual oldest homes downtown moncton. When we moved in here with our mother in law the upstairs was not overly habitated by humans as she is disabled and her room and accessible bathroom is right by the kitchen so she had no use for the upstairs. Including 2 large rooms and a large bathroom, with a large storage closet. When we first moved in the yellow sac spiders were everywhere. The sacs were all over. I kept finding cellar "spiders" in my tub and the top of the shower... just chillen. Id find them a lot more if our walls werent light grey with white mouldings. Ive now gotten the yellow sac spiders under control but ive oops and left a window open on the back of the house where the sun shines on the siding..... the back of the house is rarely touched. So I am SURE some spiders have taken a climb in😂 Before here i lived in the basement of an apartment bulding and it was absolutely impossible to control the yellow sac spiders and the cellar spiders. Their homes were all over the place. Hahah i moved out within a year because I have slight arachnaphobia but as a child id handle any spider 😂 i want to get a pet jumping spider to try to combat the fear😅. Do you reccomend this? Also where would i look in moncton n.b for a regal jumping spider? I know in the spring they will start to come out in the sun right?
I found two of these giant guys in my house last year. One was slow moving and compliant when I went to relocate it. The other, which was also much larger, moved super quick and scared the shit out of me when I tried to get it out of the cup, crawling towards my hand.
Many laughs, and much delightful information! You've done it again! (Also, it's partly thanks to you that I now have a little Phidippus regia living in a custom suite in my home, with regular fruit fly meals.)
So, I have this theory that any subject, if presented well, can be engrossing. I have never had a thought about spiders other than killing them when seen in my house. I sat through this and subbed.
Hi, its Saturday, full sun here in my cabin,, time to look for my pet Spiders! Also it's getting cold & my friends from outside are all coming in so winter is alot of fun for me, that's why my friends love but not my choice of pets. I am especially fond of Daddy Long Legs. I started to Binge on youtube favorites but needed to prepare for winter arrival. So happy 😊 I found you on youtube. I'll be back ❤
Thank you so much for these videos! You help feed my spider interest and are a model of excellent sharing your references, both of which I greatly appreciate.
I love these videos. I'm binge watching them all in one sitting. I've come across a lot of Mouse spiders in my house, and would love to know more about those? Thank you for the interesting videos! Can't wait for part 2 of this!
Every class I have ever done well in was 99% due to the instructor. Enthusiasm for the subject matter and presentation of the info was everything. I think If I were younger, I might have been identified as having ADD or ADHD. But that didn't really exist yet when I was a kid. 😂 basicly... if I don't care, I can't learn something. Thats why I know more about Middle-Earth than actual Earth, and more about a Galaxy Far Far Away than our own. 😂 This channel is presented in a way that makes such mundane stuff interesting and entertaining. You are a good teacher, sir. At the right time of year, my hedges have 100s of these little funnels in them, and it cracks me up cus I will be mowing the lawn or cooking on the grill, and they all pop in and out of the tunnels like Whack a Mole.
I cant wait for part 2. Ive seen all of your videos now, and you are the absolute BEST at making all this easy to understand and FUN to learn!!! You are extremely good at these videos. I could listen to you all day.
My favourite spider! If you find one in a chilled out mood they're quite nice to pick up as they'll wander about or sometimes just settle on your hand.
What's this? A spider channel? OH HELL YEAH. Fastest click I've ever had on youtube. Watching a bit more, I have to say how fond I am of Hobos. I used to have an "infestation", my house in Montana had seriously 50 of them. Never a bite, you could just pick them up and they were so mellow. I'm glad the entire myth about them being medically significant is finally going away. Even medically significant spiders don't like to bite, but hobos? Hobos are awesome. They'll walk right on you and let you play with them.
Thanks for your videos. I used to feel uneasy around spiders, then I got a yellowjacket nest in my house and discovered I had a wasp phobia and that took precedence. After going through that and seeing how many of those bastards the spiders killed, we're best friends now. No vacancy for wasps, spiders welcome!
Very interesting and informative so far, always love a murder mystery, sure it wasn't the Brown Hobo out of revenge for slander lol. But one thing that's got my curiosity up, and I don't know if you'll touch on it in part 2, is did they ever figure out what critter was responsible for the rash of necrotic bites, was it brown recluse or something else?
Just wanted to say I love your videos. I'm a Big Spider Respecter (I think they're very cool animals, but also get very freaked out if anything bigger than a little sling touches me... I'm working on it) and have always had a hard time finding the information that you present in your videos. Including your sources gives me tools to identify the little fangy guys I find in my yard and my house and that helps me feel much more comfortable with their presence. Thank you!
Spiders creep me out. However, I have a great deal of respect for the work they do. I live with all three of these guys and can confirm they would rather run than fight.
I used to use these in spider demos as part of a spider silk stem outreach project. I'm in Scotland and we get loads. My 10 year old catches them in a glass and puts them outside. I've never had one try to bite... Very friendly unless scared, in which case they run away very fast.
Haven't even watched it yet but man I was JUST thinking about you and the channel and wondering when the next vid would be, Travis! Not even hours later do I wake up to see the man has dropped another amazing video for me to enjoy. Liked, shared and the play button pressed. Away we go for another arachno-deep dive. :)
Incredible work as always. I love when you focus on the actual scientific process around these little guys. It's nice to see the scientific method in action.
Greetings from southwest BC! I am a new watcher that would for sure label myself as spider adverse- but trying to get better- and I just wanted to say I appreciate the detail and way you speak about the spiders. It's fall and so I am finding a great number of spiders in the house but if I can instead view them as something interesting and worth learning more about the specimens I encounter, I find it less scary! Also Cheese Test??? I am incredibly out of the loop on how this works/what is being tested with the cheese but I will for sure tune into the next video when it comes out so I can find out!
It's a test for defensive behaviour that I've done with several other species... see the video on the Yellow Sac spider for the first use of it. th-cam.com/video/U29F4mE7okk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=248rC_pbvk1Wr4FX
Travis, you’re the best person to help defend us weird, spider people. Thank you, for all your hard work, research, and hands on experience with these wonderful creatures. Also, yeah, as an Oregonian, it’s always perplexed me as to why we have people that STILL try to make it seem like Hobo Spiders are dangerous, and refer to any brown spider as a Recluse. I’m interested in your second part, but I’d like to throw my 2 cents in, as an Oregonian. I grew up constantly hearing the same story: “I had an uncle named Billy Willy, who got bit by a Hobo Spider/Brown Recluse, and lost his x (usually leg or hand)…” but when I took spider research seriously in my teen years, I discovered it was just hyperbolic, hillbilly dribble. Hobo Spiders are neither dangerous, aggressive, or medically significant. Maybe I’m prove wrong, with your research results, but, I’ve never had issues with them, ever.
Thanks so much! Spider bite data is so hard to come by, as so few people have the presence of mind to actually capture the spider that they actually see biting them, which is what we need to actually learn anything. But until we have that data, it is safer to assume that they don't cause it, because incorrect diagnosis can lead to making the problem worse.
@@travismcenery2919 Agreed. Ages ago, I was a total arachnophobe, and most of it was because of stuff like what I described. I used a lot of exposure therapy techniques to get comfortable with spiders, to the point where I now don’t feel any discomfort, knowing the truth, and how little danger spiders pose. Ha, always cracked me up that one of my exes was TERRIFIED of spiders, but bred and raised ball pythons and sand boas, which… I love snakes, but, man, snakes are actually something not to play with, without experience, and their bites can be super-infectious. I’ve only ever been snapped at by a ball python, once, and it was when me and her were helping him loosen up a bad shed, and he was in a bad mood. Never been bitten by any spiders, consciously, and I always show people at work (much to their chagrin) how non dangerous spiders are when they get in, because we have massive wolf spiders and grass spiders that wander in during mating season. Also, I’ve shown 2 people at work your stuff, and they love it! Always a good time when you drop a new video, as it helps make my day at work less monotonous, and thanks for the reply! :)
Something similar is happening with boas (Boa constrictor, imperator, sigma, and subspecies like amarali, longicauda, etc) that I think will be either the inverse, or similar to the Giant House Spider. Species are becoming new species but others are lumped in with the same species but a sub species, and they all can interbreed and probably do more than we think, especially on distribution borders or overlaps. Your breakdown helped me understand that a bit more considering im not as familiar with genetic mathematics as Id like to be lol. Getting there tho.
Need more footage of Tegenaria? LMK. Not the best but I have stuff from all life stages, including mating lol Also a ton of observation time with the cuties 😁 27:00 *I have observations that they are more dynamic than just that!* I paired 2 well fed individuals and after they mated they communicated and the female fled the web and the male took over after laying down some of his own silk. I have witnessed similar web-swapping events in the "wild" which has some interesting implications!!
I'm from the uk (west), and only your pictures of E.atricia looked familiar to me, although supposedly where I live I'd be seeing E.saeva. They can bite. My colleague was bitten by one. I once touched the web of a large one with a zip-tie, and felt the "recoil" of the bite through the plastic zip-tie. From the reaction of my colleague, I'd say the bite was less than a wasp sting in severity. But I played with them a lot as a child, and was never bitten.
I don't like spiders, but this has been delightful, especially hearing W.S. Bristowe's antics of chasing spiders with pencils and measuring the results.
Oh yes!! It absolutely did!! I love the touches of humour, it makes what can sometimes be seen as "boring" information much more interesting and keeps attention from wandering. You are doing an excellent job! Looking forward to part 2 now!! 😁
References
Adams RJ (2014). Field Guide to the Spiders of California and the Pacific Coast States. University of California Press. Akre RD, Myhre EH (1991). Biology and medical importance of the aggressive house spider, Tegenaria agrestis, in the Pacific Northwest (Arachnida: Araneae: Agelenidae). Melanderia 47, 1-30.
Bennett RG, Vetter RS (2004). An approach to spider bites: Erroneous attribution of dermonecrotic lesions to brown recluse or hobo spider bites in Canada. Canadian Family Physician 50, 1098-1101.
Binford GJ (2001). An analysis of geographic and intersexual chemical variation in venoms of the spider Tegenaria agrestis (Agelenidae). Toxicon 39(7): 955-968.
Blest AD, Taylor PW (1995). Cambridgea quadromaculata n. sp. (Araneae, Stiphidiidae): A large New Zealand spider from wet, shaded habitats, New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 22:3, 351-356, DOI: 10.1080/03014223.1995.9518051
Bolzern, A., Burckhardt, D., & Hänggi, A. (2013). Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 168(4), 723-848.
Bristowe, WS (1958). The World of Spiders. Collins. Faundez E, Carvajal M, Asplanato N, Raffo F, Vargas CJ (2019). Contribution to the knowledge of Tegenaria domestica (Clerck, 1757) (Araneae: Agelenidae) in Southern Patagonia. Anales Instituto Patagonia (Chile) 47(3):43-47.
Fisher RG, et al (1994). Necrotic Arachnidism. Western Journal of Medicine 160(6):570-572. Foelix RF (2011). Biology of Spiders, 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press.
Gaver-Wainwright MM, Zack R, Foradori M, Lavine LC (2011). Misdiagnosis of SPider Bites: Bacterial Associates, Mechanical Pathogen Transfer, and Hemolytic Potential of Venom from the Hobo Spider, Tegenaria agrestis (Araneae: Agelenidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 48(2):382-388.
Land MF (1985). The Morphology and Optics of Spider Eyes. In Neurobiology of Arachnids (pp. 53-78). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
McKeown N, Vetter RS, Hendrickson RG (2014). Verified spider bites in Oregon (USA) with the intent to assess hobo spider venom toxicity. Toxicon 84, 51-55.
Nentwig W, Gnadinger M, Fuchs J, Ceschi A (2013). A two year study of verified spider bites in Switzerland and a review of the European spider bite literature. Toxicon 73, 104-110.
Oxford GS, Bolzern A (2018). Molecules v. Morphology - is Eratigena atrica (Araneae: Agelenidae) one species or three?. Arachnology 17(7):337-357.
Rose, S (2022). Spiders of North America. Princeton University Press.
Vallet AM, Marion-Poll F, Trabalon M (1998). Preliminary electrophysiological study of the contact chemoreceptors in a spider. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences-Series III-Sciences de la Vie 321(6): 463-469.
Vest DK (1987). Envenomation by Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer) spiders in rabbits. Toxicon 25(2):221-224.
Vest DK (1987). Necrotic arachnidism in the northwest United States and its probable relationship to Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer) spiders. Toxicon 25(2):175-184.
Vetter R, Antonelli A. (2002). How to identify (or misidentify) the hobo spider. Washington State University, Puyallup, WA. pep. wsu. edu/pdf/PLS116_1. Pdf.
Vetter RS, Isbister GK (2004). Do Hobo Spider Bites Cause Dermonecrotic Injuries? Annals of Emergency Medicine 44(6):605-607.
Vibert, Samantha, et al. (2017). Life-history data for the funnel weavers Eratigena agrestis and Eratigena atrica (Araneae: Agelenidae) in the Pacific Northwest of North America. The Canadian Entomologist 149(3): 345-356.
charleyproject.org/case/darwin-kenneth-vest
faunafacts.com/spiders/fastest-spiders/
It's hobo mating season, and they seem to LOVE me!!!! They JUMP, and make NOISE when they jump!
Thank you for your time researching and presenting this and other spiders! Your videos have been helping me to cure my arachnophobia, and for that I'm thankful.
For those wanting to read Bristowe's 'The World of Spiders' but can't track down a hardcopy for a reasonable price the Kindle edition is available on Amazon (and probably other places) now.
Spiders actually have 10 legs. There’s 2 more that grow out of their heads. Horrible disgusting creatures.
Just bought the book The World Of Spiders W.S.Bristowe 1st edition
I'm not that into spiders, and Im in the UK. But his voice is perfectly melodious for bedtime. I wake being a US spider genius.
umm ackshually all of these are found in the UK too 🤓
I cannot overstate how much I missed Travis and his excellent deep dives into spider species. ❤
His patreon has frequent background stories and updates.
Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying the channel.
I think the case of Darwin Vest tells us that it's much more rational to fear people than spiders! Excellent work, Travis!
Haha, that's very true!
Agreed! 😂
It was the Hobo spiders, they didn't like his theory on them so they made him sleep with the fishes.
I live in the range of the Brown recluse. Anything large and brown, and arachnid gets smushed
@@ReleasedHollow They probably hired a human assassin to cover their eight-legged tracks. Vendetta for tarnishing their reputation!
i love spiders so much and it's really refreshing seeing someone use actual scientific sources to talk about them instead of fearmongering, thank you!
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A person could have a full time job re-educating people on "dangerous" creatures.
I'm glad Travis is doing the good work!
You're most welcome, and thanks!
Spiders actually have 10 legs. There’s 2 more that grow out of their heads. Horrible disgusting creatures.
Idk which spider documentary-style shows you're viewing, but maybe they arent -in fact - documentaries if theyre fearmongering with house spiders.
if they cross-breed... then even the spiders can't tell themselves apart
I can tell a m ix race white person lol.
@@zionistinspectionday6566Everyone can, he tried to be woke.
Look up the definition of species
@@zionistinspectionday6566How're you going be racist to a comment about spiders lmfao gotta think about your life my guy it'll get better.
@@lsoDidact creepy video I watched 7 months ago.
I'm from the pnw and have always been afraid of the giant house spider because they were huge and fast, but had found out recently that they're harmless. I was never really told that the hobo spider was anything to be afraid of. I've tried to assuage my arachnophobia by giving them names when I know we'll be sharing space, and even feed them. The last giant I saw I named Frank, fed them a grain moth. They disappeared for a day or so but when they came back, I actually felt happiness. Perhaps my plan is paying off...
Perhaps! For a lot of people, learning more about them lessens their fear, so you can try that, too. Thanks for the comment!
😀I was feeding 'Erica' clothes moths, when she lived in our bathroom. I needed to dust so I made her an enclosure, with her very own castle! Giving spiders names has helped me, as has seeing their eyes (best done looking at pics first). To me, knowing a creature's face makes it more relatable. The whole cute-jumping-spiders-helping-people-with-arachnophobia phenomenon seems to be mostly based on their huge eyes.
Spiders are my favorite animals. I always pick them up and take them out when I see them at work. People always freak out when I used to tell them I had 40 different tarantulas, 20 scorpions, 5 whip scorpions, and a handful of true spiders, including western black widows lol. It warns my heart seeing people with arachnophobia learn about them and try to live with them instead of killing them. ❤
From personal experience, I can say confidently that female barn funnel weavers do live for around 7 years. I always catch them when I clean my bathroom (where they love to make funnel webs behind my mirror). I really like them and don't want to kill them while cleaning, which led me to keeping them in small enclosures as pets. They tend to live around an average of 5 years in my care, BUT keep in mind I'm catching them when they're already completely mature, at least a year old and done with molting.
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This was so fascinating. I’m a huge spider enthusiast, and this video will help me better identify the many spiders we encounter her in the middle of Appalachia. Thank you.
Glad it helps, and thanks!
I’m a presenter at natural history museum, and these videos have given me some really great ideas for how to talk to people about spiders. It’s difficult work trying to change people’s minds about creepy-crawlies. Thank you (and all of your collaborators!) very much for your hard work and diligent research!
Edit to add: Seconding consulting with online communities if you find a cool bug and want to ID it. We love iNaturalist at the museum!
Thanks so much, and I'm glad I could be helpful! Yes, it's difficult work. I've found that when I encounter someone who has a genuine deep fear, it's best to respect that fear and not push too hard. It's easy to accidentally make someone feel shamed for being afraid, and that usually makes things worse, so it can be a tricky business.
And iNat is great!
@@travismcenery2919 That’s very insightful; I completely agree with your whole comment! In conversations with visitors, I like to make a point to acknowledge that the fear of bugs (or snakes, lizards, etc.) is very real, and while knowledge can be empowering, I understand that I won’t be able to simply talk them out of it. Luckily for me, a great deal of the visitors I encounter are curious, polite, and open-minded - despite possibly being afraid, or having preconceived judgements of some of our specimens. I find that very admirable.
Spiders are a strange thing. Etenkin hereillä in Finland where the most venomous spider is only equivalent to a wasp sting and very rare (A. aquatica), people still have an aversion to them.
@singerofsongs468
"Knowledge [is definitely] empowering"
My own discomfort around spiders is dwindling, thanks to these videos. Last week, a first for me, I even rescued a (somewhat dazed and smallish) Eratigena sp. male with my bare hands!
I'm just a community support worker with The Salvation Army, but collaborate with a local environmental charity. I've twice now given talks on 'creepy-crawlies'. I've been able to use individuals caught in my house - one is even a 'pet' now - as part of my presentation, hoping my curiosity is passed on to the audience.
I've showed your videos to so many people to introduce them to spiders.
And I have a Less Wronger is More Better mug on my Christmas wishlist.
Thank you for being amazing!
The mug makes things like coffee, tea, and hot cocoa taste so much better!
Thanks so much for sharing the videos, it helps me out! And I hope you find the mug under the tree. ;)
"is it coffee or hot cocoa?" " well i can tell you its certainly not tea!"
The way you explain some of those complicated science nomenclatures and topics really differentiates you from other creators. Thanks for what you do!
Glad it helps, and thanks!
Just woke up the other day here in Maine with a big ol hobo spider on me in my bed. While I appreciate spiders, I couldn't let this particular instance go unpunished however, as the place I discovered said spider sent an absolute chill up my spine for the potential discomfort that could've been. It was promptly fed to my green frog who was very pleased. I have barn spiders I keep in my bathroom ceiling corners and I regularly feed them like pets quite affectionately. But that hobo spider crossed a line. Mainly A belt line. And that sealed it's fate.
Well, you didn't just squish it, you fed it to a frog, so... circle of life, I guess?
freaky ass spider
@@kernel-pult What would it be like to do things to a human sized spider silk hole
I've known about the Hobo Spider not actually being medically significant for a while, but the story of why they're thought of as dangerous and what happened to the man behind it was fascinating!!
Glad you thought so. The story of Darwin Vest is worth looking into, there is more to the story, but in an effort to keep the video a reasonable length, I stuck to a few highlights.
If you think about it logically they are native to Europe and nobody in Europe is even aware of them beyond the generic “house spider” bracket.
Growing up as a kid in BC I used to catch Giant House Spiders with my hands all the time and can confirm that they're super chill - I was never bitten once. It was really cool to learn more about these lovely creatures through your video!! And we definitely had the impression that Hobo Spiders were super dangerous, so I'm glad to learn otherwise. Looking forward to part 2!
Great to see you back, what a lovely video to watch before bed.
You is first
Your humor always gets a solid chuckle out of me. I really appreciate your work.
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Thanks so much, glad you enjoy it!
Starting with some scientific discussion of spider classification only to go deep into a rabbit hole about someone's mysterious and shady disappearance definitely was an interesting experience.
Yeah, it was a bit of a weird path, but I thought it was interesting.
So excited for a new video and having it be these particular spiders!
The Jojo figure bit was a complete curveball that knocked the wind out of me
Hehe, I had fun making that part. Thanks!
Thanks to your videos I've had a much better perspective about spiders, fully ending my arachnophobia before beginning my camping endeavors, and even had a hobo in my tent keeping me awake with the frequent skittering about. I hope in part two you'll talk about how hobo spiders don't make webs and can't climb up walls very easily, as it took a solid hour or two to help my night time spider friend leave my tent to catch a dinner that my relatively sterile environment wasn't going to provide. Just the danger of winding up beneath me!
I also had a wolf spider hanging out with my socks one morning, and even recently woke up to what I now think was a barn weaver, in my armpit of all places, as in the video it looked much like that, and there are no hobos where I wound up in New Mexico 😥
I'm so glad I've been able to help you move beyond your fears, that's great to hear! And it sounds like you're getting along with spiders quite well now, so great work and congratulations!
Ngl probably one of the best series on TH-cam
Thanks so much!
Like everyone else, I was eagerly awaiting this video, and it is a hit! Love your mix of science and humor, with true affection for these creatures with so much personality! Thank you!
You're most welcome, and thanks!
Your videos are the perfect compromise between actual scientific information and anecdotes that make them delightful to listen to. You're doing such a great job man, cheers!
I understand that technically Harvestmen, or Opiliones, are not spiders, however, I wondered if there would be any chance you could cover these types of spider-things? They are commonly in and around houses, and there is a lot of hearsay about how supposedly deadly their venom is, while being unable to bite a human, this that the other. I think you would do a great service to everyone and Harvestmen if you could gather the most accurate information on these creatures!
Good idea. Harvestmen don't even have any venom and they are commonly confused with cellar spiders (which are also completely harmless to humans).
I might get to them one day, but there are still so many spiders to cover. I've considered covering some of those fringe topics in shorter videos, though.
We call those Daddy Longlegs here in Canada. Confused yet?
@@vovin8132That's what we called them in Wisconsin, too. Though, it gets cold enough in Wisconsin that it might as well be Canada. 😂
@@anyascelticcreationsit's pretty warm right now on Dec 30 in Vancouver Canada, it's like spring. Not all of Canada is cold
These were my gateway to spiders, i caught a tiny Tegenaria domestica (or thats what i was told she was at the time) she was called Tetchy and after watching her and how brilliant she was i fell in love and am now the proud spider mommy to 72 tarantulas and several sp of true spiders 😊 my heart will always belong to these spiders the most ❤️ its great to see such a detailed upload on them , for all they are common i found it difficult to find solid info on them . I really really enjoyed this upload thank you for making it.
I love this video. I almost did a spit take at 11:22. "So it's a completely anonymous survey, right?" After which you immediately identify "Toopy". So, yeah. Just like actual "anonymous" surveys. LOL I also find it amusing that the giant house spider is found mostly outdoors, while the barn funnel weaver is apparently inhabiting my house. Can't wait for part 2!
Glad you enjoyed that part. ;) I had some fun with it. And yes, sometimes common names don't always make all that much sense. That's why they're very limited in their usefulness.
NEW UPLOAD WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Someday I'm going to sit down and binge watch every spider video that you've posted. I look forward to that day.
Hope you enjoy it! Make snacks for the False Widow video, it's a marathon...
Been looking for a research video on spiders like this for years! I always enjoy your videos. Great work.
Thanks so much!
yesssssss, never change that intro, it is just too catchy!!!!
before it is too cold, any cool garden spiders with giant webs?
i wonder if this is the spider that was living behind the painting on my wall..... not a wolf spider, we get a number of types in the midwest
I've got some nice orb weavers I'm going to try to film before it gets too cold. Had to get this video out first, though!
I'm glad to see these videos again, and especially on a spider I caught and put in an enclosure
Found one of these guys curled up in a waterfilled pot yesterday. Took her out and put her in our basement. Don't tell my GF...
Would they survive outside this time of year? In Sweden it's about freezing point right now.
I've always since a small kid handled these, and all other spiders, with my bare hands and never got bitten.
Love this channel, thanks!
These spiders naturally overwinter, so as long as they go outside with enough time to acclimatize I would think they'd be fine. I know when the temperature drops they start producing basically a natural antifreeze in their blood, which allows them to survive sub-zero temperatures, but I'm not sure how long that takes - I'd like to read up on that.
I'd love to see a video on grass spiders :) We have them all over our property. They're a type of funnel weaver as well
They're very similar to these, but tend to inhabit different spaces. I might get to covering them at some point.
They are generally much smaller and happy to be outside their funnel. Much more "friendly" character, and some of em have some pretty patterns and stripes.
@@AaronHendu One lives right next to our backyard door and she's beautiful :) Keeps to herself and occasionally I throw her a moth or an ant to help her out :)
Finally a real naturalist not a doofus. You just got another sub, sir.
I have a sweet male GHS that I found crawling across my kitchen floor. He was a sub adult and at the time I thought female. "She" molted out male and he lives in an enclosure on top of my Avic. avicularia. I should let him go in my basement so he can find a lady, but I find him so interesting I keep feeding him little crickets and teeny mealworms. These are wonderful spiders and our house is a spider safe zone. :)
Great Video! Thank you for posting, looking forward to part 2.
Thanks so much! I like keeping the GHS's I've got, too.
Also, the fighting Jojo Scientists segment made me smile so wide.
"I tell you there is only one Eratogena! Only One Eraeraeraeraeraeraera!!"
"No, you fool, the crossbreeding has fooled you. There are three Eratogena apart from Agrestis, wryyyyyyyystis!"
another excellent video, i love just listening to these while i do things i don't need to think abt. best way to learn abt spiders fr
Glad you're enjoying the channel, and thanks!
while i adore jumpers and your video on them, THIS is the video i have been waiting for. these three species are the ones i encounter the most where i live in the PNW and i am constantly confusing the funnel weaver and the hobo and feel i don't know nearly enough about all 3. thank you~
edit: so years ago in the early 2000s here in Oregon, an old abandoned greenhouse next to my uncle's house was demolished, and an outrageous number of the spiders that had resided there made their way into my uncle's house. there was SO many spiders there that it was pretty difficult for him to avoid them, and he was bit many, many times, and these bites formed necrotic lesions. the bites were so numerous i believe he was even sent to the hospital bc one of his organs (i forget which) were having issues keeping up with the venom or the infections or something. this was blamed, and still is blamed, in hobo spiders and has contributed to my fear of them..... to learn there are NO hobos in the PNW is very interesting. my uncle said all of the spiders looked similar so i suppose there's a chance this was GHS, funnel weavers, and maybe recluses, but i guess i will never really know unless time travel is invented. this story has stuck with me for years and so i will be eagerly awaiting the next video from you on these guys to ponder who it was that terrorized my uncle all those years ago.
I think I explained this badly - the PNW is sort of the ONLY place hobo's DO occur, except southern Ontario. It's the rest of the continent that they don't occur in. They almost definitely wouldn't have been recluses, as those don't live anywhere near the PNW. The question is, did he see these spiders bite him, or were they just diagnosed as hobo spider bites after the fact? These spiders aren't aggressive, so it's hard to figure that he would be bitten that many times.
It's amazing to me that there are so many stories about hobo spider bites doing this, but there seem to be no actual medical records of confirmed cases (where we know with certainty that a spider bit the person, and the spider was captured and professionally identified).
how did i not see this reply!
thank you for explaining further. i will ask my uncle more about it next time i see him, but of course it was quite a while ago so i'm not banking on great feedback. i will at least ask if he ever witnessed a bite or just assumed. if i had to guess, he was probably doing everything he could to kill them and was having a hard time avoiding them - i think i remember him saying he encountered them everywhere including in bed, so maybe he rolled onto and squished some and that's why they bit, if they did bite at all.
These are by far the most common large spiders where i live and they really do freak me out more than any other spider, but learning about them does make it better and your well researched and high effort videos are the best place to do that.
Thanks so much, glad I could help!
I only recently saw my first giant house spider… I was so shocked, I didn’t think spiders that big could live in my area (Portland, OR) it barely even fit in the cup I usually use to catch them.
Edit: I catch them if they’re upstairs and I put them in the basement or garage; I don’t mind them in the house - they catch all the other bugs - but I’m pretty scared of spiders so I don’t like to see them too much, sorry!
Hehe, fair enough! All three of these species occur in that area, but the Giant House spider is by far the largest.
What!! I'm way to scared to capture them. You're much braver than me.
I used to keep E Atricas. One female I had produced three egg sacks in succession and then she promptly died. I reckon that she produced some 100-120 young. She also had a voracious appetite and seemed to enjoy her enclosure clean. I frequently found "garbage bags" dangling from roughly the same spot in her web which made maintenance easy. Love the video and I salute your effort to bring more understanding to these often misunderstood species👍.
Awesome! Been waiting to hear about these guys. ^_^
Happy to deliver, and thanks!
I've held several atrica's as pet, in an enclosure, and they are amazing spiders. Very interesting to see how they live. In an enclosed environment they make layers of web on top of each other, like different floors, they can and will fill the enclosure. One was "pregnant" when I caught her, and I witnessed the whole process of making several egg sacs (which were camouflaged with substrate) and the "birth" of the little ones. Another beautiful spider of the Eratigena/Tegenatia is the ferruginea.
Great content, as usual.
You are indeed the Bob Newhart of spiders. 😅
Keep up the good work.
I'd love to see a video about Grass Spiders. We have a lot of them here in the late Summer.
Thanks so much! Might get to covering grass spiders next spring or summer, maybe.
Just took a barn funnel weaver out of my bath tub and let it go outside. All my instincts were 'big biting spider. gotta either leave forever or get it gone.' But I thought of ur videos and it shambled so cutely against the side of the tub that I couldnt bring myself to kill it. A good 20 minutes of working up the nerve to catch it and trying to be out of jumping distance when releasing it, it scurried off into the bushes. Probably a weird experience for the spider but a happy one for me. Thanks for making me take the time to research what a recluse Actually looks like and release a lil arachnid whos only crime was being small 🕷❤
This is so nice to hear, and well done!
YIPPEE!!!
If I had any influence on this video being made I'm extremely honored. If I didn't I'm still very very happy you're covering the giant house spider. Thank Mr. Travis McEnery.
"Giant" "house" and "spider" is the most horrifying name of any animal
Super excited as always to learn more of these misunderstood fellas
Happy to help!
The unparalleled best series on TH-cam and it’s not even close
I have started quite recently to really love spiders and your channel is helping me so much to learn about them and I cannot thank you enough for how much your videos mean to me thank you!!!
It is so good to have fresh spider content! Especially around Halloween time :)
Guess it's a good time for it! Glad you're enjoying the channel.
I live in Washington State, and we’ve got tons of giant house spiders. When I was a kid, I used to handle them all the time, and have never been bit. I love those spiders.
The more I work with them, the more I like them. I loved how gentle Gary was when I pinched his legs. So mild mannered!
"Lucky you Toronto" earned a good laugh from me.
But seriously, thank you so much for your videos. They've been incredibly helpful for me to get over an old fear.
About time for a new video! As always it was excellent!
Sorry for the wait, and thanks!
I love your videos. It's great to be able to get updated information from what I learned growing up
Thanks so much, glad you enjoy them!
Great episode Travis! As always! I’m happy to see how much your channel is growing! Great job! Thank you for sharing!
The behavior at 28:40 when you're handling the Giant House Spider matches what I've observed. I'm scared to death of those things, but do recognize it as an irrational fear. I have a couple friends that can handle handling them and I've never seen one act anything other than docile while handled. I always dread September because a few males will inevitably find their way into my house. I also always find really large females in my garage since there's lots of good homes for them there.
I've watched quite a bit of educational animal content from a wide variety of sources. Travis is easily the best.
Thank you, I am truly flattered.
That hobo spidey 🕷🕸 pic is great😂! It really needed more airtime
There will be more in Part 2, promise!
I'm in the UK and live next to ancient woodland, we get the giant house spiders, (Eratigena Saeva), coming into the house around this time of the year. We also get a lot of the Long-bodied Cellar Spiders in the garage and attic. I've started to notice an increase of small jumping spiders showing up over the years, I didn't think they were found in the UK.
Thank you for the banded legs identifier for barn weavers 🙏 I've been struggling to tell hobo vs barn weaver for FOREVER
Ive been afraid of spiders all my life but its facinating to see them explained by an expert
Haha! I'm not exactly an expert, I just hunt down and compile the information from actual experts, but I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!
Ah, yes, the Giant Barn Hobo. Excellent.
We live in Michigan. I have found a male Wolf spider that was so lethargic I thought it was going to die. We got a small top of a juice bottle & put some bottled water in the bottle top. I put the top on the floor near the wall & sure enough, he started drinking the water after that he trusted us. Stay safe Sir & everyone.
I'd like to see you do a video about the Joro Spider. They are not native to the US, but have made their way to Georgia in the last 7 years, and are spreading to South Carolina and other neighboring states. They are VERY invasive, but beautiful. I've been studying them a few years, and sending some to Universities to study. In the Fall, I usually collect around 100 of them, and don't even put a dent in the population around my property.
I am in new brunswick, and im not sure why but we only see the empty nests and only 2 in the past year for the yellow sac spiders. We clean up their little beds and move on. Both of them are abandoned and have been empty😅
Although our home is so old, its actually a 1800s barn converted into a farm house. We own one of the actual oldest homes downtown moncton. When we moved in here with our mother in law the upstairs was not overly habitated by humans as she is disabled and her room and accessible bathroom is right by the kitchen so she had no use for the upstairs. Including 2 large rooms and a large bathroom, with a large storage closet. When we first moved in the yellow sac spiders were everywhere. The sacs were all over. I kept finding cellar "spiders" in my tub and the top of the shower... just chillen. Id find them a lot more if our walls werent light grey with white mouldings.
Ive now gotten the yellow sac spiders under control but ive oops and left a window open on the back of the house where the sun shines on the siding..... the back of the house is rarely touched. So I am SURE some spiders have taken a climb in😂
Before here i lived in the basement of an apartment bulding and it was absolutely impossible to control the yellow sac spiders and the cellar spiders. Their homes were all over the place. Hahah i moved out within a year because I have slight arachnaphobia but as a child id handle any spider 😂 i want to get a pet jumping spider to try to combat the fear😅. Do you reccomend this?
Also where would i look in moncton n.b for a regal jumping spider? I know in the spring they will start to come out in the sun right?
I found two of these giant guys in my house last year. One was slow moving and compliant when I went to relocate it. The other, which was also much larger, moved super quick and scared the shit out of me when I tried to get it out of the cup, crawling towards my hand.
Many laughs, and much delightful information! You've done it again! (Also, it's partly thanks to you that I now have a little Phidippus regia living in a custom suite in my home, with regular fruit fly meals.)
So, I have this theory that any subject, if presented well, can be engrossing. I have never had a thought about spiders other than killing them when seen in my house. I sat through this and subbed.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the support!
7:45 I found that sarcasm way too funny
Glad you enjoyed that!
Hi, its Saturday, full sun here in my cabin,, time to look for my pet Spiders! Also it's getting cold & my friends from outside are all coming in so winter is alot of fun for me, that's why my friends love but not my choice of pets. I am especially fond of Daddy Long Legs. I started to Binge on youtube favorites but needed to prepare for winter arrival. So happy 😊 I found you on youtube. I'll be back ❤
Glad to have you here, and thanks!
Always a nice morning when this channel posts.
Glad I could make your morning, thanks!
Thank you so much for these videos! You help feed my spider interest and are a model of excellent sharing your references, both of which I greatly appreciate.
I love these videos. I'm binge watching them all in one sitting. I've come across a lot of Mouse spiders in my house, and would love to know more about those? Thank you for the interesting videos! Can't wait for part 2 of this!
Every class I have ever done well in was 99% due to the instructor. Enthusiasm for the subject matter and presentation of the info was everything. I think If I were younger, I might have been identified as having ADD or ADHD. But that didn't really exist yet when I was a kid. 😂 basicly... if I don't care, I can't learn something. Thats why I know more about Middle-Earth than actual Earth, and more about a Galaxy Far Far Away than our own. 😂
This channel is presented in a way that makes such mundane stuff interesting and entertaining. You are a good teacher, sir.
At the right time of year, my hedges have 100s of these little funnels in them, and it cracks me up cus I will be mowing the lawn or cooking on the grill, and they all pop in and out of the tunnels like Whack a Mole.
I cant wait for part 2. Ive seen all of your videos now, and you are the absolute BEST at making all this easy to understand and FUN to learn!!! You are extremely good at these videos. I could listen to you all day.
Wow, thank you!
My favourite spider! If you find one in a chilled out mood they're quite nice to pick up as they'll wander about or sometimes just settle on your hand.
Yeah, I quite enjoyed handling Gary. He was very relaxed!
What's this? A spider channel? OH HELL YEAH. Fastest click I've ever had on youtube.
Watching a bit more, I have to say how fond I am of Hobos. I used to have an "infestation", my house in Montana had seriously 50 of them. Never a bite, you could just pick them up and they were so mellow. I'm glad the entire myth about them being medically significant is finally going away. Even medically significant spiders don't like to bite, but hobos? Hobos are awesome. They'll walk right on you and let you play with them.
Thanks so much for the support! Glad you're enjoying the channel.
Thanks for your videos. I used to feel uneasy around spiders, then I got a yellowjacket nest in my house and discovered I had a wasp phobia and that took precedence. After going through that and seeing how many of those bastards the spiders killed, we're best friends now. No vacancy for wasps, spiders welcome!
Haha! Yup, they keep the stuff you REALLY don't want away. Very hard working, helpful creatures!
We had a hornet nest this year, and the spiders staight up moved in and wiped em out. Orb weavers are the best, man.
Wasps also kill spiders so it can go both ways.
I appreciate knowing that there is not a good reason to eat one.
Glad I could clear up that burning question for you. ;)
Very interesting and informative so far, always love a murder mystery, sure it wasn't the Brown Hobo out of revenge for slander lol. But one thing that's got my curiosity up, and I don't know if you'll touch on it in part 2, is did they ever figure out what critter was responsible for the rash of necrotic bites, was it brown recluse or something else?
Just wanted to say I love your videos. I'm a Big Spider Respecter (I think they're very cool animals, but also get very freaked out if anything bigger than a little sling touches me... I'm working on it) and have always had a hard time finding the information that you present in your videos. Including your sources gives me tools to identify the little fangy guys I find in my yard and my house and that helps me feel much more comfortable with their presence. Thank you!
Spiders creep me out. However, I have a great deal of respect for the work they do. I live with all three of these guys and can confirm they would rather run than fight.
Yup, they don't often choose violence.
I used to use these in spider demos as part of a spider silk stem outreach project. I'm in Scotland and we get loads. My 10 year old catches them in a glass and puts them outside. I've never had one try to bite... Very friendly unless scared, in which case they run away very fast.
That's cool! What did you do with them in the demo?
Haven't even watched it yet but man I was JUST thinking about you and the channel and wondering when the next vid would be, Travis!
Not even hours later do I wake up to see the man has dropped another amazing video for me to enjoy. Liked, shared and the play button pressed. Away we go for another arachno-deep dive. :)
Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks!
@@travismcenery2919I did, thank you kindly!
Incredible work as always. I love when you focus on the actual scientific process around these little guys. It's nice to see the scientific method in action.
Glad you enjoy it, and thanks!
Greetings from southwest BC! I am a new watcher that would for sure label myself as spider adverse- but trying to get better- and I just wanted to say I appreciate the detail and way you speak about the spiders. It's fall and so I am finding a great number of spiders in the house but if I can instead view them as something interesting and worth learning more about the specimens I encounter, I find it less scary!
Also Cheese Test??? I am incredibly out of the loop on how this works/what is being tested with the cheese but I will for sure tune into the next video when it comes out so I can find out!
It's a test for defensive behaviour that I've done with several other species... see the video on the Yellow Sac spider for the first use of it.
th-cam.com/video/U29F4mE7okk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=248rC_pbvk1Wr4FX
Travis, you’re the best person to help defend us weird, spider people. Thank you, for all your hard work, research, and hands on experience with these wonderful creatures.
Also, yeah, as an Oregonian, it’s always perplexed me as to why we have people that STILL try to make it seem like Hobo Spiders are dangerous, and refer to any brown spider as a Recluse.
I’m interested in your second part, but I’d like to throw my 2 cents in, as an Oregonian. I grew up constantly hearing the same story: “I had an uncle named Billy Willy, who got bit by a Hobo Spider/Brown Recluse, and lost his x (usually leg or hand)…” but when I took spider research seriously in my teen years, I discovered it was just hyperbolic, hillbilly dribble.
Hobo Spiders are neither dangerous, aggressive, or medically significant. Maybe I’m prove wrong, with your research results, but, I’ve never had issues with them, ever.
Thanks so much! Spider bite data is so hard to come by, as so few people have the presence of mind to actually capture the spider that they actually see biting them, which is what we need to actually learn anything. But until we have that data, it is safer to assume that they don't cause it, because incorrect diagnosis can lead to making the problem worse.
@@travismcenery2919 Agreed. Ages ago, I was a total arachnophobe, and most of it was because of stuff like what I described. I used a lot of exposure therapy techniques to get comfortable with spiders, to the point where I now don’t feel any discomfort, knowing the truth, and how little danger spiders pose.
Ha, always cracked me up that one of my exes was TERRIFIED of spiders, but bred and raised ball pythons and sand boas, which… I love snakes, but, man, snakes are actually something not to play with, without experience, and their bites can be super-infectious.
I’ve only ever been snapped at by a ball python, once, and it was when me and her were helping him loosen up a bad shed, and he was in a bad mood. Never been bitten by any spiders, consciously, and I always show people at work (much to their chagrin) how non dangerous spiders are when they get in, because we have massive wolf spiders and grass spiders that wander in during mating season.
Also, I’ve shown 2 people at work your stuff, and they love it! Always a good time when you drop a new video, as it helps make my day at work less monotonous, and thanks for the reply! :)
Something similar is happening with boas (Boa constrictor, imperator, sigma, and subspecies like amarali, longicauda, etc) that I think will be either the inverse, or similar to the Giant House Spider. Species are becoming new species but others are lumped in with the same species but a sub species, and they all can interbreed and probably do more than we think, especially on distribution borders or overlaps. Your breakdown helped me understand that a bit more considering im not as familiar with genetic mathematics as Id like to be lol. Getting there tho.
Need more footage of Tegenaria? LMK. Not the best but I have stuff from all life stages, including mating lol Also a ton of observation time with the cuties 😁
27:00 *I have observations that they are more dynamic than just that!* I paired 2 well fed individuals and after they mated they communicated and the female fled the web and the male took over after laying down some of his own silk. I have witnessed similar web-swapping events in the "wild" which has some interesting implications!!
I always knew my nodding familiarity with Latin would come in handy. *Shouts at screen "That doesn't mean aggressive!" *
This is seriously my favorite show! I can't wait to get home and watch, I've been waiting on the GHS!
Happy to be able to deliver, and thanks!
Ah yes, it's always a good day when there's a new Travis McEnery video
I very much agree
Glad I could make your day, thanks!
It's always great to see another of your fascinating spider videos come out. Thank you for all your hard work!
Thank you for saying so, I'm always glad to see my work appreciated.
I'm from the uk (west), and only your pictures of E.atricia looked familiar to me, although supposedly where I live I'd be seeing E.saeva. They can bite. My colleague was bitten by one. I once touched the web of a large one with a zip-tie, and felt the "recoil" of the bite through the plastic zip-tie. From the reaction of my colleague, I'd say the bite was less than a wasp sting in severity. But I played with them a lot as a child, and was never bitten.
Yeah, they seem pretty chill, honestly. Still can't believe how gentle Gary was when I had his leg trapped between my hands.
I don't like spiders, but this has been delightful, especially hearing W.S. Bristowe's antics of chasing spiders with pencils and measuring the results.
Love the names...I'll bet there are a ton of spiders named Gary
I'm sure there's a few out there. Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks!
Yay!!! Been waiting impatiently for a new video!!! Really going to enjoy this!!!
Hope it lived up to the anticipation, and thanks for the comment!
Oh yes!! It absolutely did!! I love the touches of humour, it makes what can sometimes be seen as "boring" information much more interesting and keeps attention from wandering. You are doing an excellent job! Looking forward to part 2 now!! 😁
You know its going to be a good day because Travis released a new spider video!
Happy I could make your day!