Why Are Spiders Important?
Most people aren’t the biggest fans of spiders, often seeing them as creepy or unsettling creatures. However, despite their reputation, spiders actually play a vital role in our ecosystem and can offer some surprising benefits. While many would prefer not to share their space with them, spiders help control other pest populations and can even contribute to advances in medical and technological fields.
In this post, we’ll explore why spiders are important, what benefits they bring, and why, despite their unsettling appearance, they deserve a little more appreciation.
The Benefits of Having Spiders at Home
Spiders, for the most part, are not aggressive creatures that really will only bite humans if threatened. If you see them around and decide to let them live, don’t try to touch them because some species may bite if they feel threatened. Most spider bites don’t do much damage to humans, and many don’t have strong enough venom or fangs to hurt us, however there are some that can be dangerous.
The biggest reason spiders are essential is that they eat other pests. They aren’t the most effective pest control, but they can help reduce the number of different pests in your home. Spiders eat other spiders and pests such as flies, moths, centipedes, fleas, and even cockroaches. However, if you see a lot of spiders, there is an ample food source for them, which means you have other pest issues around your home.
Spiders Are Great for Crop Pest Control
With the ever-rise popularity of organic foods, natural pest control has become a more significant issue. Besides chemical treatments, natural pest control through spiders is one of the few options available. Without spiders as a major predator, many pests would be free to eat our food crops without a threat. This could cause significant famine and food shortages around the world.
Spider Venom Could Be More Than Just a Danger
Everyone knows about the dangers of spider venom from spiders such as the black widow, but did you know there are a lot of possible benefits that can come from spider venom?
According to the Washington Post, “Researchers at several institutions are testing many of these chemicals [in spider venom]. Scientists at Yale, for example, are examining whether chemicals in the venom of the Australian funnel-web spider could be used to improve pain-control medications.”
There is a lot we don’t know about spiders and their venom, and with so many species worldwide, there is no telling what kind of potential spider benefits we may not yet know.
The Future Benefits of Their Silk
Another reason why spiders are essential is that they produce silk, which can have a lot of potential benefits as well. It’s an astounding fact that spider silk is inch for inch stronger than steel. It is also flexible and could create more substantial building materials, such as bulletproof vests and other things like flexible suspensions and supports for bridges to withstand earthquakes and high winds.
Spiders don’t usually play well with others of their own kind, which makes farming of their silk very difficult, however scientists have recently been combining spider genes into silk worms and these worms are able to spin spider like silk as well.
Spider Control Services for Homes and Businesses From Rove Pest Control
While spiders can be beneficial by reducing other pests, their presence in your home or business may signal an underlying pest problem. If you’re noticing an increase in spiders, there is likely a larger food source attracting them—other pests you may not be aware of. If you’re dealing with a spider infestation or simply want to prevent one, Rove Pest Control is here to help. Our team can assess your property, identify the root cause of the problem, and implement an effective spider control plan. Don’t let a spider infestation take over—contact Rove Pest Control today to schedule a thorough inspection and take control of your pest problem!