By Richard Fagerlund
Scripps Howard News Service Question: What kind of spider is living in my house? It is about one-half inch long with a brown rear body and a reddish front body. It seems to have prominent fangs and long front legs, and usually runs for cover on the bathroom or kitchen floor, usually seen at night. My son found one on the outside wall of the house that was about twice as long. Answer: The spider you describe is quite common and quite harmless. It doesn't have a common name, but its scientific name is Dysdera crocata. This interesting spider feeds almost exclusively on pillbugs (roly polys). They normally live under stones or other objects on the ground where pillbugs live, and their long "fangs" are an adaptation for feeding on the pillbugs. These little spiders should never be killed. Unfortunately, many are because of the indiscriminate use of pesticides, especially when people spray chemicals all around their foundation. This method of pest control is not environmentally sound and should be discouraged whenever possible. For every so-called "pest" the pest control industry claims they are controlling with this practice, I can name a dozen harmless and even beneficial organisms they are killing. (Send questions for Richard Fagerlund to University of New Mexico Environmental Services, Physical Plant Department, 1818 Camino del Servicio N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87131-3500 or e-mail him at fagerlun@unm.edu.)
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