Every new video that you put out just reminds me of how thrilled I am that you've made PRECISELY the spider channel I have always wanted to watch. You're taking the ordinary lil ho-hum spiders I see in my house and you're explaining them in copious detail. THANK YOU and please don't stop.
I can't tell you how much it means to hear this. This is exactly what I set out to do, so it is great to hear that the channel is hitting its mark. Thanks so much for this. I hope to keep going with it, if I can build the channel enough.
@@travismcenery2919 It really is super cool that you're doing this on a level that it could be sourced in Papers, even as an amateur you're collecting data that sometimes no one has. Including video footage! That's such a big deal in terms of recording species.
Scientific terms like "Biteyness" and "practically ninjas" are what make this the superior spood channel. I also enjoy explaining how "I saw this Canadian dude chasing after a spider with a piece of cheese." *There's also some random frames changing, split second, especially during the chasing of said spider with said cheese.
Yes, those frames are cuts in the footage - if you watch, you can see the timer in the corner skip. The entire cheese test was five minutes long, so I chopped it up, and used those frames to indicate the cuts.
Man's really out here leading research on spiders that have gone largely ignored for centuries and discovers that they're actually cool as ice. I always start the video wishing it was about jumping spiders or brown recluses but never ending it disappointed. Love Colleen and Stephanie, love your videos, love your work, keep it up this is great.
Thanks so much! I haven't covered jumping spiders or recluses because jumpers don't usually show up IN my house (unless I bring them in - I've got four in captivity right now), and recluses just don't exist where I live. I'll cover recluses at some point, but that one will take a LOT of research. Rick Vetter is probably the leading authority on them and wrote a book bout them, if you're interested in the meantime.
@@travismcenery2919 Yep. I usually find jumping spiders ON my house, not in it. Generally, they're somewhere near a door or window and they're nearly always the really tiny little black and white ones. I'd call them zebra spiders, but the description for those has even the males much larger than the ones I see. The ones I find are usually 3 to 4 mm long, including the legs. They could be juveniles I suppose, but I never see any larger than that. I'll be interested to see what you do on recluses. I'm pretty convinced that they get a bad rap. I rarely see reports of a recluse bite that has any actual proof that it was a recluse or even a spider bite. I know there are real cases, but I really doubt there are as many as reported.
@@travismcenery2919oh I'm quite familiar with recluses, being from the Midwest. I've known about them and dealt with them for my entire life, but I know a lot of people with similar levels of experience who fall for a lot of wives tales about the old fiddleback and it's got me curious about how pure my own knowledge is.
Im very impressed that you so casually made the ground work to further investigate these spiders behaviour. Your discovery about the hunting "Bungee Lines" is very astounding. Please keep doing your videos.
21:59 This webbing tecniche is quite fascinating, i have seen wall spiders(Oecobius) do this quite frequently, it's amazing how effective and safe it is for the spider to catch prey this way and it's amazing the speed in which they spin around their target, you should do a video on wall spiders they are extremely common in homes.
these dapper little dudes are surprisingly unique. i always figured they were another "haul ass and chase it down" hunting species when i saw them around, but the detail about how they might be using silk to tangle up prey and then absorb the shock from their kicking is extremely cool. i also thought it was surprising how a species that literally attacks other spiders for food and drags its catch around by the throat isn't trigger happy about biting in self-defense, like. at all. i've gotten more attitude from cellar spiders over brushing up against their web.
Same lmao, I have one I keep seeing in my bedroom and I thought it was a wolf spider for the longest time. I just got the chance to see it up close without it running away and was able to actually identify it as a parson spider. Pretty cool lil fella, hope he keeps the flies and silverfish away lol
“This is a spider you’ll see for a brief moment and then it’ll be gone. They’re maddeningly quick and if you try to catch one, they’ll often dodge and weave and generally outmaneuver you LIKE A TODDLER WHO JUST MADE OFF WITH YOUR PHONE.” 😂😂 Sounds like you speak from experience. 🤣
I love that you're doing legit research on spiders now, I'm excited to see where it leads in the future. I also find this species really cool looking! So velvety, and such stylish b&w coloring.
Yup, these are beautiful up close. And I kind of stumbled into doing actual research, just because there was actually so little study done on them, I could barely make a video out of it.
I' have been awaiting this very episode and had intended to search for your study of the EPS this weekend, but no need; "The Spiders in Your Home" and the Eastern Parson Spider found me 😊 I could not have been more delighted! Thank you❤🕷️
When I moved into my home in September 2022 (east central MN), there were a TON of these in my house. I would see multiple individuals a day and while sleeping on ground the first couple of days, I had to gently shake them out of my bedding. I did experience a couple of bites during this time. A bit uncomfortable, but much less so than that of yellow sac spiders and others I have experienced. The high quantity of them really surprised me, but that said, I still miss them since they've moved out. Cute little friends.
@@Pennali Yes! Creepy. I want to kill them!! Although jumping spiders are my absolute favourite. I love them, handle them, and let them out into the big outdoors. To me jumpers just have this cute vibe that doesn't strike fear in me (unless they are big). They feel like little pets.
Indeed. They'll come screaming across your furniture (i.e. the chair you're sitting in!), camp out in your cabinets, etc. They don't do so well inverted, so the ceiling will be a rare location to spot them. If they get pinched, they can give you a nip, but I've never known such a nip to be noteworthy.
I have a picture of a massive one i found un my bed. Im not even lieing this thing was exactly an inch and a half long. It was unbelievable would love to share the picture
I am absolutely cracking up that you chose to do this spider next. I just caught one a couple of days ago and spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to identify it. It was very small and ridiculously fast. I probably wouldn't have trapped it at all if my cat hadn't cornered it first.
Seriously, they always jumpscare me with how fast they are! Only faster spider I have personally encountered was togo starburst tarantula...but those also have a nasty bite and are MUCH larger.
I’m here because I’ve just captured a Parsons spider. I wanted to comment on biteyness: I found the lil guy on my floor, I’ve seen him around the house, but I love having them around as I have a ton of plants and they’re super beneficial. This guy was just curled up in the dead middle of the floor. I immediately assumed something was wrong, turns out he was just dehydrated (quickly slurped up the water I gave him after capture) WELL… when trying to coax him into my glass jar, he bit the pen I was using probably 3 times. I’ll be honest, my usual preach is to use my hands to do the coaxing, but noticing something was wrong, I figured id use the pen. He turned to bite IMMEDIATELY. Lil bro was not playing around. Just feeling the vibration of the pen tip next to him set him into defense/offense mode. Maybe he’s starving? Maybe he’s in fight or flight mode, idk but he was not happy about that pen.
Outstanding presentation, as always. The "cheese test" is a telling one really as if that's what you're doing to a spider and get bit, I will not be blaming the spider anyway. I'd argue most common spiders are hard to get to bite you if you wanted them to. They're almost domesticated at this point.
I just had one of these little guys crawl on me while watching TV this weekend! He was a polite gentleman and didn't enter defensive pose no matter how much we pestered him. 10/10 spider. Cute, friendly, and tidy.
I'm a big fan of the detailed explanations and clear well-read scripts! I'm always excited to see these videos in my notification feed. I always share them in my groups of friends
Love your videos! Not only are you helping long-time arachnophobes like myself become less afraid, but you are actively furthering our scientific understanding of these funky little dudes. Cheers to more spiders in my (and your) house!
I think this might be your very best video yet, and I find this little genus of spiders incredibly fascinating now. Clearly they need to be studied in further detail!
O Travis, your videos keep getting better and better, and I just have to tell you something RIGHT NOW.. For most of my life, I maintained a strict "see it, scream and squish it" position when it came to spiders. I had no interest, and in fact felt violated when one would spook me. They were uninvited and not welcome in my home. And then I saw your first video. RUclips threw it at me randomly, and I was fascinated. The way you delivered information made me feel like you were my dad, cooly addressing me like I was your freaked-out fourteen year-old daughter (I am also a middle-age man, but I'm more bald than you tho so ha). And you got me to calm down and actually look at the spider as a living thing. That video completely changed my home. When I see spiders now, I am actually happy. I look forward to each video you put out, and learn so much about all these friends in my house (I even give them names!). I have not squashed a single spider (or any bug-things) ever since I found your channel. You have inspired within myself a profound respect for all of the creatures around me that I once "hated." Thank you so much for your work, it truly is a thrill following you and learning from you. This afternoon I made an omelet, and a little eight-legged dude skittered out from under my cabinet. I named him Travis.
Thank you so much for this. This is so encouraging to hear. I don't even really know what to say, but I'm touched that it has inspired a new appreciation in you. Thank you.
I caught one at work years ago after it scared my coworkers. I thought it was really cool and wanted to do some research on it, but also barely found anything about it online, so thanks for this video! I appreciate them even more now. For anyone curious about the encounter, it happened in the break room of a retail store. It was running across the floor quick and I had an empty Easy-Mac cup, so when it tried to run past my table as the screams of my coworkers alerted me to its presence, I leaned over and put the cup ontop of it. I then walked over to the recycling bin and took out an empty water bottle, uncapped it, and put it on the side of the cup before slowly lifting it. The spider walked right into the bottle and I capped it. Because of my coworkers' reactions, I decided to name it Lord Nope after looking up the identification and gender differences. I hadn't really seen a spider like this in my area (NY) before, so I decided to take it home and kept it in a small fish tank. I had a small wooden ship model (not aquarium decor) with fabric sails that were so rounded, they were like little cylindrical hiding spots. I found they were Lord Nope's favorite place to hang out and make those "silk retreats" you mentioned in your video.
I found the yellow sac spider flashes amusing. This is an amazing video. I just love the thorough, careful research being done, and the way that you present all of the information, and the humor that comes through.
Thank you so much for making these videos! As a person living in the city with an interest in zoology (especially arthropods, and especially arachnids) your videos are an excellent resource to explore the biodiversity of the (at first) seemingly sterile urban landscape. I now enjoy looking for and identifying the little spiders who live in and around my house and I have a somehow even greater appreciation for these videos. I always look forward to a new video from this channel, keep up the good work!
I saved one of these guys from the bathtub one night. I also found a yellow sac spider in the bathroom before along with a cellar spider. We get quite the selection some years.
I am shocked people overlook these spiders! Compared to most of the other spiders I encounter they’re pretty big (granted I usually only see jumping spiders and sac spiders in my house) and they’re so pretty! I love the almost golden patterns on their backs and their little red boots.
This is the most fascinating one yet, maybe because there isn't much literature on these, but the elastic thread thing kind of goes against the active running down of prey. They obviously go for bigger things when they have established ground or wall lines that both act as safety lines and pull them out of harm's way so they can deal with the prey in a safe and methodical manner. Brilliant Travis, you really have found your speciality and theres nothing better than working at something you love and which fascinates you.
just goes to show that there's no such thing as an uninteresting organism, only an overlooked one! thanks for another great video, i am excited to possibly see more of stephanie and colleen's adventures in future installments :)
I'm ashamed to say that when I was young, I dispatched a few spiders. I then just walked away. For some time, I relocated many (for the insect feared wife). I now look for and feed them when I can. Just days ago I watched this parson spider run across my garage shop floor. I know what it was because I now take notes and refer to your channel to see what's having dinner in my house. Keep up the incredible work.
This was the perfect entertainment for a sick day, thank you! These are indeed THEE spiders in my house. They may not be the main characters in the spider kingdom at large, but they are in my apartment.
once again Great video Travis, Gnaphosidae are actually one of my favourite families to study, i've been studying their taxonomy for a while and while its extremely hard (most are with the same habitus, females have barely differentiated vulvas) they still are absolutely fascinating little buggers, also some species are more specialized with ant hunting, and many have mirmecophilous relationships with many ants, like Anagraphis. or are mirmecomorphs like Micaria
I came across a lot of that while looking for research on herpyllus. I've read that most gnaphosids are difficult to identify - the parson is nice in that it's pretty easy to spot.
I just caught and released one of these things in my home. Of all places, it actually entered my bedroom through the doorway, crawling on the wall near the ceiling. As with most spiders I encountered, I didn't expect it to be a threat. That being said, crawling on the wall in my bedroom was an accident waiting to happen. Right now, it must be doing its thing outside, keeping the pests in check.
Started watching your videos to try and overcome my fear of spiders, I've not watched many so far, however I can feel myself developing a genuine interest in the behaviours of different spiders. Still wouldn't catch me handling anything larger than a jumping spider, but I'm definitely gaining a newfound appreciation and respect for these little creatures. So, thank you for helping me to understand them better. Much love.
Thanks! The Snuffleupagus thing was actually my wife's idea, so I'll pass the credit on to her for that. I had her review my script for this and she had some really great feedback, and a couple of ideas to throw in.
We have a pretty healthy colony of parson spiders in our home. We see them mostly on our main floors (finished walk out basement and 1st floor) and generally on the ceilings (we have popcorn ceilings). They are crazy fast, and I agree that their house politeness is pretty high.
I love that you have a spider named Colleen. That was my moms name. She was born in Canada. I miss her. She passed away in 1982 when I was 14. Give Colleen all my love ❤. Love your videos.
11:30 - I have not observed silken retreats either, even after keeping at least a dozen captive. Including when they lay eggs. They will make a flat egg sac attached to a flat surface and then just hang out on top of it till they hatch. 13:36 They aren't strictly nocturnal, I don't think. I have seen them out in the day, but I have also noticed that the ones I have kept were more active in their enclosures at night. I have seen many of them on walls many times, but it's rare for me to find them any higher than about 3 feet up the wall. I have captured and observed another on the ceiling as well, but it's rare compared to Cheiracanthium. And I have never seen one dangle, or even use a drag line ever 22:28 They absolutely do hunt other spiders, which is one reason I put parsons outside to maintain Tegenaria as my main house spider. The Parsons still lose to Tegenaria about as often as they win, so even though they are good at hunting other spiders, they aren't amazing at it. 23:11 Ants have the habit of clamping on their legs and the parson venom doesn't appear to be that effective against ants. I have found them with ants clamped on their legs that they eventually cast off after a while when their bites don't make the ant let go. I have also observed that they aren't particularly bold with large prey at all. I always had to be picky with the size of crickets and mealworms I fed to my parsons to the same size or smaller. 28:30 They DO use web in some unusual ways and some will even actively clear areas of debris which they will put in a pile. It is definitely behavior that needs more investigation! I have also observed parson spiders using abandoned Tegenaria webs as if it's their own.
This is fascinating. It's neat how a lot of your observations line up with what I've seen here. Checked out your channel, you've got a ton of great observations. I'll have to work my way through your videos when I've got some time! Thanks for the detailed comment, and I'll watch for some of this as I keep working with this species.
@@travismcenery2919 Definitely. You'll probably be getting better observation of parson spider than I will in the future. I have adopted a no-Herpyllus policy in my home because they keep killing preferred spiders.. My videos are kind of meh. All I have is a budget phone and internet that's too slow to really be functional. That's why all my videos are short. The 3 that are about half an hour long all took DAYS to upload. But if you see any footage you might want to include in your future videos, let me know. I didn't upload anything for personal gain. It's all meant for public knowledge.
I actually found one running across our living room wall the other day. Assuming it was male at this time of year, I yelled at him "You won't find no ladies in here, they're outside" - and wouldn't you know, he came running across my bedroom ceiling this morning. I currently have him in a jar and I'm so glad I came across this video! It was hard.looking for Information about these critters! So far, it's hidden itself under a bunch of stick litter I temporarily set up for tonight. ❤ Thank you again for this knowledge all jammed packed into one area! 🤘
To add some info/cred to your theories- I recently moved into a long abandoned house chock full of Eastern Parsons. Though I am in Montana, so perhaps Western. Regardless, they keep to themselves and are indeed fast- but mostly, the cheese test seemed spot on. Yesterday I finally put on some jeans without properly shaking them out first and a Parson had been wedged between my pants and my leg. Surely uncomfortable and nigh squished a time or two... finally felt something scuttling towards my ankle- shook my pant leg and there was the Parson. I just immediately thanked it profusely for NOT biting and relocated the feller. So this is some anecdotal confirmation!!! Great channel.
I just caught one of these at work today and it abseiled off of my hand after running out of the glass I cupped it in. I always liked these guys. Thought they had neat patterns, shape, and speed. I find them in my home apparently and say "hello" before just letting on it's way. Thank you so much for the interesting and in depth video!
I've actually been watching this channel for a while now and I was finally able to learn about a spider that keeps visiting me every morning with this one!
Saw one of these in my bathroom today. It scurried across the wall at an alarming speed which gave me quite the initial surprise. Old me would've grabbed a piece of tissue paper and tried to squish it, but I've been studying spiders lately and find them so fascinating and am beginning to realize what a help they can be around the house, so I said hello and in a few moments he had disappeared. Like you said, it gravitated towards the ground and seemed generally avoidant, running a million inches per hour as I struggled to get a clear photo of it to Google later. Looked around my apartment for any sign of webs and I only found one lone thread behind the toilet. Overall he seems to be a polite guest. Hope it catches lots of pesty bugs this summer!
They'll definitely take out some of the pests, yeah. And it's great to hear you're learning more about them; I'm still learning as I make these videos, and they're definitely fascinating.
Thank you so much for this! I always name my house spiders. I actually got my husband on board and he enjoys learning about them also. I found one of these camping out in my bathroom. Started at the bottom of the wall. Then I found him scurrying across the top of my walls then heard him fall on my sink. Scurrying around trying to avoid me getting a good Pic of her. She is now named Gertrude and thank you so much for all of the interesting information. Thanks for what you do
Was chilling in bed and one of these little guys crawled up the wall I’ve started identifying spiders I find in the house then finding your video to see how polite they are before trying to relocate them, figure if they’re good housemates might as well live and let live With only one identified bite, I think I’m ok with my roommate Thank you for your videos!
I live on Long island in NY state. So east coast. My first experience with these parson spiders was back in the early 2000's. Found one in garrage and thought it peculiar and wanted to know what it was. At first i started calling it a "copper back" because its back makings, instead of that silvery white color, were a pinkish copper color. Later on was able to learn that it was a parsons spider. Ive come across a few others since then and and those all had the silver whitish back markings. But other than color, all of them were identical to the copper back one. Its a very tough voracious little spider. One of them i put into a jar with a yellow sack spider. Both about the same in size. And by next day the parsons had devoured the yellow sack spider. And oh yeah, more than once i have come across them because they were running up my wall while i was watching TV.
Thank you so much for your channel. I was bit by a parsons spider in bed, and it left 2 red marks where the fangs penetrated the skin. It iched for a couple of days, and then it healed.
27:52 My pet tarantula does the same thing every time I feed her. Just turns in circles while lying more silk out on her little silk base. I think of it like a cat making biscuits on a fluffy blanket after a good meal.
Just found one in my bathtub (western most likely - Iowa) sadly I freaked out and flushed it down the tub drain, looked up the description on them and found your channel so it was a win win I'd say, I love jumping spiders but all others scare me. I'd love to learn more about spider species so that I can live side by side with them without fear.
I completely agree with the top comment on this video. Never knew how much I wanted someone to explain spiders in copious detail to me. I would watch you explain ANY species of spider, not even just the commonly encountered household ones. But I LOVE that you do the household ones because I hope these videos help people with their arachnophobia. Spiders are just so neat. Tiny little eight legged panthers. And I've said this in nearly every comment on your videos but the cheese test is fucking delightful. I was so excited when I found out what it was for the first time and I love seeing it again every single time it happens. What a joy.
I love this spider more than pretty much anything, when I see one I practically jump for joy. I love spiders in general, and it started because I have fond memories of running into these exact spiders in my teens, ever since then when I run into one I just stare at it for an hour or so. I love these guys, it’s awesome learning some more about them! A shame I didn’t know about your channel sooner, but at least now I can work through watching your other videos :]
I caught a spider that I had seen for two nights now. Turns out it’s an eastern parson spider. I put it in a container and it immediately began laying lines on the bottom of the container and I thought that was strange. Noticed it before I even watched this video (had to learn all about what kind of spider it was lol). I definitely think you’re on to something about it’s hunting style. Keep up the good work.
I know this was a year ago, but on top of the rear legs staying on the thread of silk, watch them run- it doesn't seem like they use their back legs much. Almost like they just drag them. Might be a specialized technique you've found
This is one of my fav videos of yours because I see these dudes everywhere. I called them sportscar spiders before I knew what they were because they’re low riding, zoom about and have a racing stripe
OMG, Gnaphosids are NOT boring! Even the tiny black Zelotes species I have are FULL of personalty and have some fascinating behaviors. They are so small but are some of the most fearless spiders I have encountered and are remarkably interactive.
@@travismcenery2919 The ones here are very small and solid black. They must be very stealthy outside because I actually have never seen one outside. Undoubtedly nocturnal. They make their way inside enough that I know there is plenty of them out there too. I just hate that some company named their cheap computer mouse _Zelotes_ because it just clogged up all my searches with sales links and made finding good information very hard.
All of your videos are wonderful; but this one was so impressive! You took a spider that scientists labeled “boring” and found this crazy awesome hunting behavior! Absolutely loved this; please keep making these 😸
Yup - that's why I find it interesting to read the actual papers. I can see how the experiment was done, how they got to certain conclusions, and the strength of those conclusions. Some things are "yup, we've got that figured out", and others are more "evidence suggests this, but there could be other explanations, too".
The POV spider cheese harassment shot is hilarious. Great work on these videos, I just found your channel yesterday and I can't stop watching. It's hard to find deep dives on specific species or genera like this.
Hey Travis! Great video as always. Rewatching this again as I am wont to do. These guys are adorable! I don't think I've ever seen one around here in New Jersey but I will definitely have to keep my eyes out! What awesome footage you got, and fantastic breakdown of your observations! Man spiders are the best. Keep up the awesome work! - Charlotte
I just caught one of these this morning. He went in the pants I was going to wear, and instead of killing it (because I'm literally terrified of spider's) I put him in a terrarium I had set up. This video was very helpful! Side note- my pants were in my closet (a dark place) I don't keep clothes on the floor😅
While supposedly this spider is very common in my area, I have only ever seen it once. It was “spider season” and I usually only find wolf spiders and once a black footed yellow sac spider (who I named boots) indoors and then see the odd fishing spider and MANY different species of jumping spiders outdoors. Last year I found a Parson spider and got so excited because I had never seen one in the house before!! I managed to catch it in a cup (we keep some out bc the cat likes to kill bugs and my 85 lbs dog’s nickname is “Stompy” bc he… well, he stompy all over the place, so we try to catch and release before spider death lol). I showed my dad who had gotten me interested in spiders and we both were stupidly excited about it. I shared your wolf spider video with him as that is both our favorite species. :) thank you for loving these often underrated and under appreciated little creepy crawlies as much as they deserve!!
Hi, thank you for making these videos. I am terrified of spiders. It’s as bad as including the long bodied celler spider. I’d happily encounter a rattlesnake or bear before a black widow, for example. So I am constantly researching and learning about spiders which helps with my fears. Your videos are among my favorite. Back to the topic - I’m having a problem with the size that you And most documentation I can find find a parson spider say. I encountered what I assumed was a western Parsons spider. This was found in the Sierra foothills near Auburn California at 2400 feet of elevation, in a shed in Oak and Douglas fur forest. The spider I encountered was extremely quick spider that looks just like your parsons spider but much much larger. I’d say larger than a quarter. Much less a dime. It was large enough that I could hear it as it ran across a large cardboard box from one side to the other. It was really like you describe, if you blink it’s gone. I had a really hard time getting a reasonable photo. I was able to get a decent a photo if you are interested.
just caught one of these, photographed it, and threw it outside.. And here I am, after reviewing the zoomed in photo, unmistakably the pattern and spinnerets of the Easter Parson Spider... To add to your research from the movement section.. I live in an A-frame wooden cabin in northern Michigan. I often see them at night when I'm up in the loft running between the cracks in my walls/ceiling (It's an A-frame, so they are mostly upside down) I also see them from time to time in my kitchen sink. Again, usually nocturnally. And yesterday, I saw one running across the floor, I chased it to catch it, and it disappeared into a shockingly tight crack in between floor boards.. I know many animals can fit in tight spaces but when I say that it was a tight crack, I mean I doubt I could get a piece of paper to fit into it... So they are obviously very swift, flexible and adaptive.
I found said Eastern Parson in my home and started googling. Glad to have found it and it having led me to your channel. Great video. Looking forward to watching more of your content.
I loved these little guys in my old house. I don’t see them much in my current apartment but I liked them a lot because the were small and generally just darted around until they found their way outside, and they were probably the first spider I caught with a capture cup because they’re so small. Fast, but neat and welcome in my place. :)
I just stumbled across you channel and thus far I'm loving it. But notably absent is the are the uber spiders of the family of Salticidae. Me and my wife got married on Halloween during COVID and as one of an aniversary gift for our first anniversary I got her a pet jumping spider. She loves things that are cute but at the same time she didn't like spiders. It was an amazing reaction I got out of her of being at the same time attracted and phobic. The little girl lives with us for about a year before she died of old age. Though she never really did get to the point of handling it, she did love watching it in it's enclosure and at feeding time. Even bringing it into school to show her students, who also immediately fell in love. We recently moved out of NYC to the country abt 50 miles north, and while I never saw a jumping spider in the city I've come across them all the time up here, and I'm caring for them. I recently found a emerald Jumping spider and he's become the star of my collection. But one reason we did leave the city is our apartment had a roach problem that everytime we get it under control they would come back. The problem was in our building and we couldn't quite figure out how they were getting in, probably a crack in the wall etc behind a cabinet of baseboard. When we moved I guess we had some stow aways as a month or two after we moved we started seeing roaches in our kitchen. We found sticky traps to be very effective and thought we settled the problem once and for all, but as it got warmer up here she spotted an killed a roach in the problem area of the kitchen. I told her after she killed the little fucker she called it a "teen roach" and I told her it was probably coming out of hibernation over the winter and not to worry about it to much as it wasn't old enough to start laying eggs. I did mention to her that I could always release jumping spiders I may come across into the kitchen expecting push back. But she actually lit up the the idea. It was really nice to see where before she wouldn't want anything to do with a spider to actually being completely ok with living freely with one by choice, knowing it was no threat to her, and seeing it as just about pet.
I kept one for a short time until I ID'd it, but I wish I did more with it! Truly more interesting than the scientists give credit for. THANK YOU! And btw, if you DO find yourself looking at other inverts....I suggest Roaches or Silverfish. It fits your theme. haha
Ive found these spiders not once - but THREE times on my SHOULDERS in the shower! I believe the explanation is that they were living in the drains (they seem to like damp places, which explains the basement-dwelling as well), and crawled onto me when I ran the water. The first one I smushed out of fear, this was years ago before I developed an appreciation for arthropods... poor thing didn't deserve that. But the subsequent two I calmly stored in bug cups (yes, I have some in my bathroom at all times just in case), and took outside, so I know they were different ones too! So far haven't seen any more in the bathroom but they definitely can give you a startle if they show up on you while you're... exposed.
4 Years ago, I was sleeping on the floor of a trailer we rented near a river in NW Michigan. I got bit in my sleep by one the size of a quarter. I had quite a reaction. I can send you a picture of the reaction and the Parson Spider if you like. Now I own my own cabin in NE Michigan and we just found 10, but they are about the size of a dime.
I caught one on my bathroom floor. I kept him for just over a week, and when going to put some food for him into his house, he got out! I tidied and tried to get the catch cup over him, but took off, lol. He’s probably still here, but I haven’t seen him…yet☺️🇨🇦🕷🕸 P.S… I really appreciate that you take the time and effort to bring these videos to us! Thank your wife as well🙏🏼💯🥰🫶🏼
I'm really glad I stumbled across your channel. I haven't looked just yet, but if you haven't made a follow-up with additional research, I hope you do at some point.
Definitely! I'm excited to keep working with these spiders. Stephanie and Colleen are both alive and well, and I still have them. My daughter found me another one, too, plus I have that juvenile, so that's four parsons I've got now. The sample size is growing.
I love when you make videos on ghese lesser-known, overlooked spider species. Here in New Jersey, there are so many different spiders that I just can't seem to find any information on- but it goes to show, if you look hard enough there's plenty to appreciate in each and every one of them. Like, every so often a new spider I've never seen before pops up and I'm just filled with such a childlike wonder, thinking about all the forgotten and untold stories behind each one. This is the same wonder I get from watching your videos, and I sincerely thank you for that. I wish I was able to support you on Patreon, and when I'm able I most certainly will, but for now i hope this bit kf engagement will help to spread this wonderful video and your channel to others.
Thanks for this vid and your channel! I moved to an area with more spiders than where I grew up, and living alone I’m learning how to deal with encountering them constantly and alone. Learning about the species I meet day to day helps me come from a place of interest rather than fear. I see parsons spiders probably the most often! I call them sports car spiders because of how they look and how fast they are :)
I love your videos. I also love that pretty much every video you make underscores how little we ACTUALLY know about spider behavior, and how valuable your research and observation is. I have seen many of the spiders featured in your videos, and in some cases watched them in fascination, but not with the keen eye and real knowledge that you bring. I’m in the San Francisco by area, and we have a wide range of fascinating and beautiful spiders, from Tarantulas to orb weavers and seemingly every spider in between. The black widows are especially interesting - everyone is afraid of them, but their behavior and habitat makes it very unlikely that they will bite unless provoked. I love the cheese test. Brilliant
I once felt a tiny sting on my ankle in the middle of the night, and I woke up to this tiny blemish, thought nothing of it and went on my day....... about a day or two later a half dollar sized perfect circle of skin was, in awful condition. I still went on with my life, kept patching myself up, it took months to heal and left a nasty group of scars. Years later I asked a doctor and the doctor said, "sounds like a spider bite." So, thanks for this video man, it made me feel more comfortable with spiders around me. When I say it was "awful", I mean it... it was like and injury from acid for months. It is my nightmare to go through something like that again but this was very calming and informative which helps a lot.
And to clarify I'm sure something like this Spider didn't bite me, but just having a doctor say "sounds like a bite", and having Google to turn to I have no idea what it was, most I can come up with is it was a Brown Recluse but that doesn't help one bit.
@travismcenery2919 absolutely, and the spiders know you are talking about them... I know it's a coincidence, but just a couple days ago one of white butted guys was running up my wall and then right out of sight behind my dresser... I really like the "roommate" meter, it helped a lot and so far I've been fine not knowing where he is now. I've ever been greeting him now and then when I've come home... I really admire your confidence and as a grown man myself, I'm willing to model myself after seeing how you have treated your own roommates.
I can’t believe this spider has been described as boring, when you uncovered so much interesting material!! Who knows what else we can learn from the Parsons spider?
I encountered a parson for the first time last night in my room last night and swiftly caught it in a jar like I do with most of my spider friends. It was an easy catch for me but I do this often. It seemed a little agitated but polite enough to be completely real. It did wrap up the bodies of the other spiders in the jar that it found before I let it outside and there is a really big web in my window where it was living before it got curious and crawled into my room
These little guys are great. I have 2 living in the kitchen right now. And I have arachnaphobia. But, they are small, dont make gross cobwebs, dont absail down near you. They are always just hanging out somewhere, and keep down annoying insects. I jump for a second when I see one, but they are probably the nicest spider next to those tiny grey and black wolf spiders. I dont have screens so once the weather gets nicer flies and stuff buzz in, and these guys are great at catching them. I wouldnt mind a few more arriving.
Yeah, little fuzzy jumpers, tiny wolf spiders, and these guys are allowed in the house. Everyone else with 8 legs who shows up is guided on to a broom-end and put outside. I have severe arachnophobia so even getting close to them with a jar is impossible for me. I used to suck them up with a long vacuum hose many years ago. But I knew they were beneficial. So after some experimentation I found guiding unwanted houseguests on to the bristle end of a long handle broom with the dust pan attached to prevent them from falling or running up the broom is a great way to put them outside without hurting them while keeping them at enough of a remove to not trigger much of a panic. Though since I started watching your vids (Ive been subbed since you put your first vid up) as long as they are dime sized or smaller including legs, dont absail off the ceiling at you or make gross webs, ive been letting them stay. Ive noticed way less fruit flies and other little bugs in the kitchen when the windows and balcony door is open So thank you so much for these vids. You made me see spiders in a different way. They still frighten me badly, but you made me appreciate them much more and I love learning about them (and their little "commentary"). Thanks!
Im pretty sure I caught one of these in my house. I used a mason jar, lidded it, and put it aside to take it outside in the morning. In the AM, it had laid eggs. Now its living rent free on our bookshelf. I'll let the brood go outside when they hatch.
Omg!! That is exactly what happened when i went back to look for it. It didn't bother me so im fine with it living with me. Loved your video. You have a great narrating voice. 😊 glad i found you, i am originally from Massachusetts but have lived in all four corners of the U.S. I am fascinated with bugs, but spiders especially. The ones in Washington state were crazy webbers. In the south they grow big and i think they have more aggression. The east coaster are more chill. Crazy how behaviors are different depending on their environment. I found at least 5 black widows in the ten yrs i spent in Arizona. Spiders there have to be tough, their nemesis is the scorpion 😂 anyway im going to start following your channel. People in my life are not bug people. 😂 thank you for your time and videos. ❤
Very cool spider that people don't seem to know anything about. Thank you for this awesome video and all the work you put into finding all this out. Definitely loved this one.❤🕷️
I saw this spider for the first time a few months ago in my bathroom (Toronto, Canada) and was fascinated by it. It took some doing to find the proper name for it because google wasn't quite sure what spider I was talking about. I wasn't able to find tons of information besides what you mentioned early in the video like it being a speedy ground hunter. I appreciate these videos you've been making as they're insightful and interesting. The most common spiders we get here are yellow sac spiders and jumping spiders inside, and some orb weavers outside, I'd never seen a parson spider before but thanks for telling me more about them, you're doing great work. 🙂
I just scooped one of these lil ones out of my bedroom, (it was biting at night and I am ALLERGIC so I had to remove it) I was rather disappointed with the lack of info on them, so thanks for all your hard work looking into these overlooked critters!
@@travismcenery2919 Lol I can see that! Possibly a controversial take, but yellow sacs are the only spiders in the house that I kill. The others I escort outside gently. They're not very cute, have bit me multiple times, and are very impolite!! *flush*
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I've seen a bunch of research on a ton of different house spiders but NONE of them looked anything like the ones I get here at home, but now I'm CERTAIN they’re western parsons!! Ours definitely can get a lot bigger here in Cali (I've seen some that get up to like 1.5") and they usually leave long trails of silk behind them but never any big complicated webs that I've seen. Super glad you got some good info on their more common eastern cousins!!
If they're that big, I wonder if they might be something else. Most gnaphosids are pretty small, and there are some lookalikes - some wolf spiders, and some funnel weavers (agelenids) have somewhat similar body shapes, are also quite fast, and can get that big. I'd check those out, too.
25:23 the parson's in my kitchen did this too with her most recent kill. She got the stinkbug in the abdomen but turned it around to feed from its neck.
What a great video. I see these guys in my place every so often and was always disappointed with how little information there is about them. It’s very cool that you were able to find novel behavior in such a common critter
Thanks so much! Yeah, I was discouraged by the lack of info on these, but with some digging, I found some good stuff. That lack of good information is largely why I make these videos, so I'm glad it's hitting the mark!
I’ve been bit by one and yes, their bites are pretty harsh imo. It’s still to this day the only spider bite that I’ve consciously been aware of due to the suddenness and sharpness of the pain, and actually seeing the little guy drop off my shoulder and try to scurry away. Like dude…you’re on *me*, it wasn’t my fault! It was definitely scared of course, in reality. Still though, stood out for me.
Caught one that was on my kitchen window screen today. Just beyond that window I have substantial landscaping. Was happy to scoop her quickly in a cup and return her to that landscaping bed. Thanks for the great images. I am confident this is the type I see around my house in NE.
Every new video that you put out just reminds me of how thrilled I am that you've made PRECISELY the spider channel I have always wanted to watch. You're taking the ordinary lil ho-hum spiders I see in my house and you're explaining them in copious detail. THANK YOU and please don't stop.
I can't tell you how much it means to hear this. This is exactly what I set out to do, so it is great to hear that the channel is hitting its mark. Thanks so much for this. I hope to keep going with it, if I can build the channel enough.
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@@travismcenery2919 Please don't stop, every one of these videos you put out make my day and I hope to hear more about these!
Seconding this!
@@travismcenery2919 It really is super cool that you're doing this on a level that it could be sourced in Papers, even as an amateur you're collecting data that sometimes no one has. Including video footage! That's such a big deal in terms of recording species.
I love the "toddler with your phone" analogy.
Thanks
Scientific terms like "Biteyness" and "practically ninjas" are what make this the superior spood channel.
I also enjoy explaining how "I saw this Canadian dude chasing after a spider with a piece of cheese."
*There's also some random frames changing, split second, especially during the chasing of said spider with said cheese.
Yes, those frames are cuts in the footage - if you watch, you can see the timer in the corner skip. The entire cheese test was five minutes long, so I chopped it up, and used those frames to indicate the cuts.
Man's really out here leading research on spiders that have gone largely ignored for centuries and discovers that they're actually cool as ice. I always start the video wishing it was about jumping spiders or brown recluses but never ending it disappointed. Love Colleen and Stephanie, love your videos, love your work, keep it up this is great.
Thanks so much! I haven't covered jumping spiders or recluses because jumpers don't usually show up IN my house (unless I bring them in - I've got four in captivity right now), and recluses just don't exist where I live. I'll cover recluses at some point, but that one will take a LOT of research. Rick Vetter is probably the leading authority on them and wrote a book bout them, if you're interested in the meantime.
@@travismcenery2919 Yep. I usually find jumping spiders ON my house, not in it. Generally, they're somewhere near a door or window and they're nearly always the really tiny little black and white ones. I'd call them zebra spiders, but the description for those has even the males much larger than the ones I see. The ones I find are usually 3 to 4 mm long, including the legs. They could be juveniles I suppose, but I never see any larger than that.
I'll be interested to see what you do on recluses. I'm pretty convinced that they get a bad rap. I rarely see reports of a recluse bite that has any actual proof that it was a recluse or even a spider bite. I know there are real cases, but I really doubt there are as many as reported.
@@travismcenery2919 Have you considered covering the typical green colored spiders one might find in gardens?
@@travismcenery2919oh I'm quite familiar with recluses, being from the Midwest. I've known about them and dealt with them for my entire life, but I know a lot of people with similar levels of experience who fall for a lot of wives tales about the old fiddleback and it's got me curious about how pure my own knowledge is.
Im very impressed that you so casually made the ground work to further investigate these spiders behaviour. Your discovery about the hunting "Bungee Lines" is very astounding. Please keep doing your videos.
I'm trying! Hoping to grow the channel so I can keep delivering this stuff, and I'm going to keep researching these spiders.
21:59 This webbing tecniche is quite fascinating, i have seen wall spiders(Oecobius) do this quite frequently, it's amazing how effective and safe it is for the spider to catch prey this way and it's amazing the speed in which they spin around their target, you should do a video on wall spiders they are extremely common in homes.
these dapper little dudes are surprisingly unique. i always figured they were another "haul ass and chase it down" hunting species when i saw them around, but the detail about how they might be using silk to tangle up prey and then absorb the shock from their kicking is extremely cool. i also thought it was surprising how a species that literally attacks other spiders for food and drags its catch around by the throat isn't trigger happy about biting in self-defense, like. at all. i've gotten more attitude from cellar spiders over brushing up against their web.
Yup, I was surprised by the behaviour I saw too. Gonna keep observing and trying to catch the strike behaviour in slow motion.
Came here because this little fella just popped up in my house & i wanted answers. Not only was i informed, i was entertained. Great video
Same lmao, I have one I keep seeing in my bedroom and I thought it was a wolf spider for the longest time. I just got the chance to see it up close without it running away and was able to actually identify it as a parson spider. Pretty cool lil fella, hope he keeps the flies and silverfish away lol
Had one of these guys in my room last month and I got him into a jar and was able to ID him, I let him outside after but damn he was fast
“This is a spider you’ll see for a brief moment and then it’ll be gone. They’re maddeningly quick and if you try to catch one, they’ll often dodge and weave and generally outmaneuver you LIKE A TODDLER WHO JUST MADE OFF WITH YOUR PHONE.” 😂😂
Sounds like you speak from experience. 🤣
You are right. That's why I have a spray bottle with alcohol in it and that stops them from running then I smash smash.
@@yeetee2781the toddlers? 😂
@@horizon319 🤣🤣 the spider
I love that you're doing legit research on spiders now, I'm excited to see where it leads in the future.
I also find this species really cool looking! So velvety, and such stylish b&w coloring.
Yup, these are beautiful up close. And I kind of stumbled into doing actual research, just because there was actually so little study done on them, I could barely make a video out of it.
definitely some cool hunting behaviours revealed be your research! Thanks for the finds, I like this spider a little more now
I' have been awaiting this very episode and had intended to search for your study of the EPS this weekend, but no need; "The Spiders in Your Home" and the Eastern Parson Spider found me 😊
I could not have been more delighted!
Thank you❤🕷️
When I moved into my home in September 2022 (east central MN), there were a TON of these in my house. I would see multiple individuals a day and while sleeping on ground the first couple of days, I had to gently shake them out of my bedding.
I did experience a couple of bites during this time. A bit uncomfortable, but much less so than that of yellow sac spiders and others I have experienced.
The high quantity of them really surprised me, but that said, I still miss them since they've moved out.
Cute little friends.
My house is infested with parson spiders, they absolutely crawl around on the ceiling and will climb into your bed. Not polite at all.
They get BIG for common house spiders too, they're cool but creepy
@@Pennali Yes! Creepy. I want to kill them!! Although jumping spiders are my absolute favourite. I love them, handle them, and let them out into the big outdoors. To me jumpers just have this cute vibe that doesn't strike fear in me (unless they are big). They feel like little pets.
Indeed. They'll come screaming across your furniture (i.e. the chair you're sitting in!), camp out in your cabinets, etc. They don't do so well inverted, so the ceiling will be a rare location to spot them. If they get pinched, they can give you a nip, but I've never known such a nip to be noteworthy.
I have a picture of a massive one i found un my bed. Im not even lieing this thing was exactly an inch and a half long. It was unbelievable would love to share the picture
I am absolutely cracking up that you chose to do this spider next. I just caught one a couple of days ago and spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to identify it. It was very small and ridiculously fast. I probably wouldn't have trapped it at all if my cat hadn't cornered it first.
Seriously, they always jumpscare me with how fast they are! Only faster spider I have personally encountered was togo starburst tarantula...but those also have a nasty bite and are MUCH larger.
That's a happy coincidence! And yup, they're awfully quick.
Wicked fast!!!!
dang bro ones right by my bed and me having a large fear of spiders is afraid to go asleep
@@iamjustkiwi I was trying to catch the Eastern spooder and i had to adjust the cup for a second, as soon as i opened the glass it jumped at my face
I’m here because I’ve just captured a Parsons spider. I wanted to comment on biteyness:
I found the lil guy on my floor, I’ve seen him around the house, but I love having them around as I have a ton of plants and they’re super beneficial. This guy was just curled up in the dead middle of the floor. I immediately assumed something was wrong, turns out he was just dehydrated (quickly slurped up the water I gave him after capture)
WELL… when trying to coax him into my glass jar, he bit the pen I was using probably 3 times. I’ll be honest, my usual preach is to use my hands to do the coaxing, but noticing something was wrong, I figured id use the pen.
He turned to bite IMMEDIATELY. Lil bro was not playing around. Just feeling the vibration of the pen tip next to him set him into defense/offense mode. Maybe he’s starving? Maybe he’s in fight or flight mode, idk but he was not happy about that pen.
Outstanding presentation, as always. The "cheese test" is a telling one really as if that's what you're doing to a spider and get bit, I will not be blaming the spider anyway. I'd argue most common spiders are hard to get to bite you if you wanted them to. They're almost domesticated at this point.
I just had one of these little guys crawl on me while watching TV this weekend! He was a polite gentleman and didn't enter defensive pose no matter how much we pestered him. 10/10 spider. Cute, friendly, and tidy.
I'm a big fan of the detailed explanations and clear well-read scripts! I'm always excited to see these videos in my notification feed. I always share them in my groups of friends
Thanks for the shares! And I'm glad you're enjoying the channel.
Love your videos! Not only are you helping long-time arachnophobes like myself become less afraid, but you are actively furthering our scientific understanding of these funky little dudes. Cheers to more spiders in my (and your) house!
Thanks so much for the comment, I appreciate it!
I think this might be your very best video yet, and I find this little genus of spiders incredibly fascinating now. Clearly they need to be studied in further detail!
O Travis, your videos keep getting better and better, and I just have to tell you something RIGHT NOW..
For most of my life, I maintained a strict "see it, scream and squish it" position when it came to spiders. I had no interest, and in fact felt violated when one would spook me. They were uninvited and not welcome in my home. And then I saw your first video. RUclips threw it at me randomly, and I was fascinated. The way you delivered information made me feel like you were my dad, cooly addressing me like I was your freaked-out fourteen year-old daughter (I am also a middle-age man, but I'm more bald than you tho so ha). And you got me to calm down and actually look at the spider as a living thing.
That video completely changed my home. When I see spiders now, I am actually happy. I look forward to each video you put out, and learn so much about all these friends in my house (I even give them names!). I have not squashed a single spider (or any bug-things) ever since I found your channel. You have inspired within myself a profound respect for all of the creatures around me that I once "hated." Thank you so much for your work, it truly is a thrill following you and learning from you.
This afternoon I made an omelet, and a little eight-legged dude skittered out from under my cabinet. I named him Travis.
Thank you so much for this. This is so encouraging to hear. I don't even really know what to say, but I'm touched that it has inspired a new appreciation in you. Thank you.
I caught one at work years ago after it scared my coworkers. I thought it was really cool and wanted to do some research on it, but also barely found anything about it online, so thanks for this video! I appreciate them even more now.
For anyone curious about the encounter, it happened in the break room of a retail store. It was running across the floor quick and I had an empty Easy-Mac cup, so when it tried to run past my table as the screams of my coworkers alerted me to its presence, I leaned over and put the cup ontop of it. I then walked over to the recycling bin and took out an empty water bottle, uncapped it, and put it on the side of the cup before slowly lifting it. The spider walked right into the bottle and I capped it. Because of my coworkers' reactions, I decided to name it Lord Nope after looking up the identification and gender differences.
I hadn't really seen a spider like this in my area (NY) before, so I decided to take it home and kept it in a small fish tank. I had a small wooden ship model (not aquarium decor) with fabric sails that were so rounded, they were like little cylindrical hiding spots. I found they were Lord Nope's favorite place to hang out and make those "silk retreats" you mentioned in your video.
I found the yellow sac spider flashes amusing.
This is an amazing video. I just love the thorough, careful research being done, and the way that you present all of the information, and the humor that comes through.
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There's something so heartwarming about the little spider-y musical numbers at the beginning of your videos.
Thank you so much for making these videos! As a person living in the city with an interest in zoology (especially arthropods, and especially arachnids) your videos are an excellent resource to explore the biodiversity of the (at first) seemingly sterile urban landscape. I now enjoy looking for and identifying the little spiders who live in and around my house and I have a somehow even greater appreciation for these videos. I always look forward to a new video from this channel, keep up the good work!
I saved one of these guys from the bathtub one night. I also found a yellow sac spider in the bathroom before along with a cellar spider. We get quite the selection some years.
I am shocked people overlook these spiders! Compared to most of the other spiders I encounter they’re pretty big (granted I usually only see jumping spiders and sac spiders in my house) and they’re so pretty! I love the almost golden patterns on their backs and their little red boots.
This is the most fascinating one yet, maybe because there isn't much literature on these, but the elastic thread thing kind of goes against the active running down of prey. They obviously go for bigger things when they have established ground or wall lines that both act as safety lines and pull them out of harm's way so they can deal with the prey in a safe and methodical manner. Brilliant Travis, you really have found your speciality and theres nothing better than working at something you love and which fascinates you.
just goes to show that there's no such thing as an uninteresting organism, only an overlooked one!
thanks for another great video, i am excited to possibly see more of stephanie and colleen's adventures in future installments :)
I'm ashamed to say that when I was young, I dispatched a few spiders. I then just walked away. For some time, I relocated many (for the insect feared wife). I now look for and feed them when I can. Just days ago I watched this parson spider run across my garage shop floor. I know what it was because I now take notes and refer to your channel to see what's having dinner in my house. Keep up the incredible work.
I'm sure we've all dispatched a few at some point. Don't feel too bad about it. Glad I could be helpful, and thanks!
This was the perfect entertainment for a sick day, thank you! These are indeed THEE spiders in my house. They may not be the main characters in the spider kingdom at large, but they are in my apartment.
Glad it was entertaining, and hope you feel better soon! And that's some good luck - they're easy spiders to get a long with.
once again Great video Travis, Gnaphosidae are actually one of my favourite families to study, i've been studying their taxonomy for a while and while its extremely hard (most are with the same habitus, females have barely differentiated vulvas) they still are absolutely fascinating little buggers, also some species are more specialized with ant hunting, and many have mirmecophilous relationships with many ants, like Anagraphis. or are mirmecomorphs like Micaria
I came across a lot of that while looking for research on herpyllus. I've read that most gnaphosids are difficult to identify - the parson is nice in that it's pretty easy to spot.
I just caught and released one of these things in my home. Of all places, it actually entered my bedroom through the doorway, crawling on the wall near the ceiling. As with most spiders I encountered, I didn't expect it to be a threat. That being said, crawling on the wall in my bedroom was an accident waiting to happen. Right now, it must be doing its thing outside, keeping the pests in check.
brilliant video as always--the affection you express for the spiders in these videos never fails to make me smile
That intro. Even after all the other vids. Still can’t get enough of it.
Started watching your videos to try and overcome my fear of spiders, I've not watched many so far, however I can feel myself developing a genuine interest in the behaviours of different spiders. Still wouldn't catch me handling anything larger than a jumping spider, but I'm definitely gaining a newfound appreciation and respect for these little creatures.
So, thank you for helping me to understand them better.
Much love.
Very cool research, and great observations on the "bungee" hunting method! (Also, I thought the Snuffleupagus comment was pretty darn funny.)
Thanks! The Snuffleupagus thing was actually my wife's idea, so I'll pass the credit on to her for that. I had her review my script for this and she had some really great feedback, and a couple of ideas to throw in.
We have a pretty healthy colony of parson spiders in our home. We see them mostly on our main floors (finished walk out basement and 1st floor) and generally on the ceilings (we have popcorn ceilings). They are crazy fast, and I agree that their house politeness is pretty high.
I love that you have a spider named Colleen. That was my moms name. She was born in Canada. I miss her. She passed away in 1982 when I was 14. Give Colleen all my love ❤. Love your videos.
I feel like getting to understand spiders better is a great way to reduce my fear of them. Thank you!
You're most welcome, and thank you! Yes, learning about things that we fear often helps us be less fearful of them.
11:30 - I have not observed silken retreats either, even after keeping at least a dozen captive. Including when they lay eggs. They will make a flat egg sac attached to a flat surface and then just hang out on top of it till they hatch.
13:36 They aren't strictly nocturnal, I don't think. I have seen them out in the day, but I have also noticed that the ones I have kept were more active in their enclosures at night.
I have seen many of them on walls many times, but it's rare for me to find them any higher than about 3 feet up the wall. I have captured and observed another on the ceiling as well, but it's rare compared to Cheiracanthium. And I have never seen one dangle, or even use a drag line ever
22:28 They absolutely do hunt other spiders, which is one reason I put parsons outside to maintain Tegenaria as my main house spider. The Parsons still lose to Tegenaria about as often as they win, so even though they are good at hunting other spiders, they aren't amazing at it.
23:11 Ants have the habit of clamping on their legs and the parson venom doesn't appear to be that effective against ants. I have found them with ants clamped on their legs that they eventually cast off after a while when their bites don't make the ant let go. I have also observed that they aren't particularly bold with large prey at all. I always had to be picky with the size of crickets and mealworms I fed to my parsons to the same size or smaller.
28:30 They DO use web in some unusual ways and some will even actively clear areas of debris which they will put in a pile.
It is definitely behavior that needs more investigation! I have also observed parson spiders using abandoned Tegenaria webs as if it's their own.
This is fascinating. It's neat how a lot of your observations line up with what I've seen here. Checked out your channel, you've got a ton of great observations. I'll have to work my way through your videos when I've got some time! Thanks for the detailed comment, and I'll watch for some of this as I keep working with this species.
@@travismcenery2919 Definitely. You'll probably be getting better observation of parson spider than I will in the future. I have adopted a no-Herpyllus policy in my home because they keep killing preferred spiders..
My videos are kind of meh. All I have is a budget phone and internet that's too slow to really be functional. That's why all my videos are short. The 3 that are about half an hour long all took DAYS to upload.
But if you see any footage you might want to include in your future videos, let me know. I didn't upload anything for personal gain. It's all meant for public knowledge.
I actually found one running across our living room wall the other day. Assuming it was male at this time of year, I yelled at him "You won't find no ladies in here, they're outside" - and wouldn't you know, he came running across my bedroom ceiling this morning. I currently have him in a jar and I'm so glad I came across this video! It was hard.looking for Information about these critters! So far, it's hidden itself under a bunch of stick litter I temporarily set up for tonight. ❤ Thank you again for this knowledge all jammed packed into one area! 🤘
To add some info/cred to your theories- I recently moved into a long abandoned house chock full of Eastern Parsons. Though I am in Montana, so perhaps Western. Regardless, they keep to themselves and are indeed fast- but mostly, the cheese test seemed spot on. Yesterday I finally put on some jeans without properly shaking them out first and a Parson had been wedged between my pants and my leg. Surely uncomfortable and nigh squished a time or two... finally felt something scuttling towards my ankle- shook my pant leg and there was the Parson. I just immediately thanked it profusely for NOT biting and relocated the feller. So this is some anecdotal confirmation!!! Great channel.
I just caught one of these at work today and it abseiled off of my hand after running out of the glass I cupped it in. I always liked these guys. Thought they had neat patterns, shape, and speed. I find them in my home apparently and say "hello" before just letting on it's way. Thank you so much for the interesting and in depth video!
I've actually been watching this channel for a while now and I was finally able to learn about a spider that keeps visiting me every morning with this one!
Glad this one was helpful to you!
Saw one of these in my bathroom today. It scurried across the wall at an alarming speed which gave me quite the initial surprise. Old me would've grabbed a piece of tissue paper and tried to squish it, but I've been studying spiders lately and find them so fascinating and am beginning to realize what a help they can be around the house, so I said hello and in a few moments he had disappeared.
Like you said, it gravitated towards the ground and seemed generally avoidant, running a million inches per hour as I struggled to get a clear photo of it to Google later. Looked around my apartment for any sign of webs and I only found one lone thread behind the toilet. Overall he seems to be a polite guest. Hope it catches lots of pesty bugs this summer!
They'll definitely take out some of the pests, yeah. And it's great to hear you're learning more about them; I'm still learning as I make these videos, and they're definitely fascinating.
Thank you so much for this! I always name my house spiders. I actually got my husband on board and he enjoys learning about them also. I found one of these camping out in my bathroom. Started at the bottom of the wall. Then I found him scurrying across the top of my walls then heard him fall on my sink. Scurrying around trying to avoid me getting a good Pic of her. She is now named Gertrude and thank you so much for all of the interesting information. Thanks for what you do
Youre very welcome, and thanks! I'm glad the channel is helpful.
Was chilling in bed and one of these little guys crawled up the wall
I’ve started identifying spiders I find in the house then finding your video to see how polite they are before trying to relocate them, figure if they’re good housemates might as well live and let live
With only one identified bite, I think I’m ok with my roommate
Thank you for your videos!
I live on Long island in NY state. So east coast. My first experience with these parson spiders was back in the early 2000's. Found one in garrage and thought it peculiar and wanted to know what it was. At first i started calling it a "copper back" because its back makings, instead of that silvery white color, were a pinkish copper color. Later on was able to learn that it was a parsons spider.
Ive come across a few others since then and and those all had the silver whitish back markings. But other than color, all of them were identical to the copper back one. Its a very tough voracious little spider. One of them i put into a jar with a yellow sack spider. Both about the same in size. And by next day the parsons had devoured the yellow sack spider.
And oh yeah, more than once i have come across them because they were running up my wall while i was watching TV.
Thank you so much for your channel. I was bit by a parsons spider in bed, and it left 2 red marks where the fangs penetrated the skin. It iched for a couple of days, and then it healed.
27:52 My pet tarantula does the same thing every time I feed her. Just turns in circles while lying more silk out on her little silk base. I think of it like a cat making biscuits on a fluffy blanket after a good meal.
Just found one in my bathtub (western most likely - Iowa) sadly I freaked out and flushed it down the tub drain, looked up the description on them and found your channel so it was a win win I'd say, I love jumping spiders but all others scare me. I'd love to learn more about spider species so that I can live side by side with them without fear.
I completely agree with the top comment on this video. Never knew how much I wanted someone to explain spiders in copious detail to me. I would watch you explain ANY species of spider, not even just the commonly encountered household ones. But I LOVE that you do the household ones because I hope these videos help people with their arachnophobia. Spiders are just so neat. Tiny little eight legged panthers.
And I've said this in nearly every comment on your videos but the cheese test is fucking delightful. I was so excited when I found out what it was for the first time and I love seeing it again every single time it happens. What a joy.
I love this spider more than pretty much anything, when I see one I practically jump for joy. I love spiders in general, and it started because I have fond memories of running into these exact spiders in my teens, ever since then when I run into one I just stare at it for an hour or so. I love these guys, it’s awesome learning some more about them! A shame I didn’t know about your channel sooner, but at least now I can work through watching your other videos :]
I caught a spider that I had seen for two nights now. Turns out it’s an eastern parson spider. I put it in a container and it immediately began laying lines on the bottom of the container and I thought that was strange. Noticed it before I even watched this video (had to learn all about what kind of spider it was lol). I definitely think you’re on to something about it’s hunting style. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much! I'm hoping to continue studying this behaviour in these spiders.
I know this was a year ago, but on top of the rear legs staying on the thread of silk, watch them run- it doesn't seem like they use their back legs much. Almost like they just drag them. Might be a specialized technique you've found
Finally a Channel with good content without all the fluff.
Thank you.
Thank you so much! Glad you're enjoying the channel.
Never thought I would watch a film about every day spiders for 30 minutes, you have put your time in with these beauties well done ⭐⭐😃😃
Thanks so much!
This is one of my fav videos of yours because I see these dudes everywhere. I called them sportscar spiders before I knew what they were because they’re low riding, zoom about and have a racing stripe
OMG, Gnaphosids are NOT boring!
Even the tiny black Zelotes species I have are FULL of personalty and have some fascinating behaviors. They are so small but are some of the most fearless spiders I have encountered and are remarkably interactive.
Apparently there are some Zelotes that occur here in Nova Scotia, but I haven't encountered them myself. I'll have to watch for them.
@@travismcenery2919 The ones here are very small and solid black. They must be very stealthy outside because I actually have never seen one outside. Undoubtedly nocturnal.
They make their way inside enough that I know there is plenty of them out there too.
I just hate that some company named their cheap computer mouse _Zelotes_ because it just clogged up all my searches with sales links and made finding good information very hard.
All of your videos are wonderful; but this one was so impressive! You took a spider that scientists labeled “boring” and found this crazy awesome hunting behavior! Absolutely loved this; please keep making these 😸
This is probably one of the most interesting videos I've ever seen about spiders. So many just quote "facts" that turn out to be anecdotal, at best.
Yup - that's why I find it interesting to read the actual papers. I can see how the experiment was done, how they got to certain conclusions, and the strength of those conclusions. Some things are "yup, we've got that figured out", and others are more "evidence suggests this, but there could be other explanations, too".
Just found one above me working from home! Stumbled across your video very thorough, informative and fun 👍
Easily the most reliable and relaxing way to learn about spiders. Keep up the excellent work!
Thanks so much!
The POV spider cheese harassment shot is hilarious. Great work on these videos, I just found your channel yesterday and I can't stop watching. It's hard to find deep dives on specific species or genera like this.
Glad you enjoyed it, and glad the channel is helpful! Thanks!
Hey Travis! Great video as always. Rewatching this again as I am wont to do. These guys are adorable! I don't think I've ever seen one around here in New Jersey but I will definitely have to keep my eyes out! What awesome footage you got, and fantastic breakdown of your observations! Man spiders are the best. Keep up the awesome work!
- Charlotte
Thanks so much! Yeah, after working with Stephanie and Colleen, Parson spiders hold a special place in my heart now. I really love this species.
I just caught one of these this morning. He went in the pants I was going to wear, and instead of killing it (because I'm literally terrified of spider's)
I put him in a terrarium I had set up.
This video was very helpful!
Side note- my pants were in my closet (a dark place)
I don't keep clothes on the floor😅
While supposedly this spider is very common in my area, I have only ever seen it once. It was “spider season” and I usually only find wolf spiders and once a black footed yellow sac spider (who I named boots) indoors and then see the odd fishing spider and MANY different species of jumping spiders outdoors. Last year I found a Parson spider and got so excited because I had never seen one in the house before!! I managed to catch it in a cup (we keep some out bc the cat likes to kill bugs and my 85 lbs dog’s nickname is “Stompy” bc he… well, he stompy all over the place, so we try to catch and release before spider death lol). I showed my dad who had gotten me interested in spiders and we both were stupidly excited about it. I shared your wolf spider video with him as that is both our favorite species. :) thank you for loving these often underrated and under appreciated little creepy crawlies as much as they deserve!!
Hi, thank you for making these videos. I am terrified of spiders. It’s as bad as including the long bodied celler spider. I’d happily encounter a rattlesnake or bear before a black widow, for example. So I am constantly researching and learning about spiders which helps with my fears. Your videos are among my favorite.
Back to the topic - I’m having a problem with the size that you And most documentation I can find find a parson spider say. I encountered what I assumed was a western Parsons spider. This was found in the Sierra foothills near Auburn California at 2400 feet of elevation, in a shed in Oak and Douglas fur forest. The spider I encountered was extremely quick spider that looks just like your parsons spider but much much larger. I’d say larger than a quarter. Much less a dime. It was large enough that I could hear it as it ran across a large cardboard box from one side to the other. It was really like you describe, if you blink it’s gone. I had a really hard time getting a reasonable photo. I was able to get a decent a photo if you are interested.
just caught one of these, photographed it, and threw it outside.. And here I am, after reviewing the zoomed in photo, unmistakably the pattern and spinnerets of the Easter Parson Spider... To add to your research from the movement section.. I live in an A-frame wooden cabin in northern Michigan. I often see them at night when I'm up in the loft running between the cracks in my walls/ceiling (It's an A-frame, so they are mostly upside down) I also see them from time to time in my kitchen sink. Again, usually nocturnally. And yesterday, I saw one running across the floor, I chased it to catch it, and it disappeared into a shockingly tight crack in between floor boards.. I know many animals can fit in tight spaces but when I say that it was a tight crack, I mean I doubt I could get a piece of paper to fit into it... So they are obviously very swift, flexible and adaptive.
Yeah, I've seen these spiders disappear into impossibly small spaces. I honestly don't know how they do it but they're masters of their craft.
I found said Eastern Parson in my home and started googling. Glad to have found it and it having led me to your channel. Great video. Looking forward to watching more of your content.
Welcome to the channel, and thanks so much!
I loved these little guys in my old house. I don’t see them much in my current apartment but I liked them a lot because the were small and generally just darted around until they found their way outside, and they were probably the first spider I caught with a capture cup because they’re so small. Fast, but neat and welcome in my place. :)
I just stumbled across you channel and thus far I'm loving it. But notably absent is the are the uber spiders of the family of Salticidae. Me and my wife got married on Halloween during COVID and as one of an aniversary gift for our first anniversary I got her a pet jumping spider. She loves things that are cute but at the same time she didn't like spiders. It was an amazing reaction I got out of her of being at the same time attracted and phobic. The little girl lives with us for about a year before she died of old age. Though she never really did get to the point of handling it, she did love watching it in it's enclosure and at feeding time. Even bringing it into school to show her students, who also immediately fell in love. We recently moved out of NYC to the country abt 50 miles north, and while I never saw a jumping spider in the city I've come across them all the time up here, and I'm caring for them. I recently found a emerald Jumping spider and he's become the star of my collection. But one reason we did leave the city is our apartment had a roach problem that everytime we get it under control they would come back. The problem was in our building and we couldn't quite figure out how they were getting in, probably a crack in the wall etc behind a cabinet of baseboard. When we moved I guess we had some stow aways as a month or two after we moved we started seeing roaches in our kitchen. We found sticky traps to be very effective and thought we settled the problem once and for all, but as it got warmer up here she spotted an killed a roach in the problem area of the kitchen. I told her after she killed the little fucker she called it a "teen roach" and I told her it was probably coming out of hibernation over the winter and not to worry about it to much as it wasn't old enough to start laying eggs. I did mention to her that I could always release jumping spiders I may come across into the kitchen expecting push back. But she actually lit up the the idea. It was really nice to see where before she wouldn't want anything to do with a spider to actually being completely ok with living freely with one by choice, knowing it was no threat to her, and seeing it as just about pet.
This is a fantastic story! Jumpers are on the list to be covered. I love them too.
Absolutely loved this video. Gotta show my wife, the jump pad is so unique
I'm hoping to study it further.
I kept one for a short time until I ID'd it, but I wish I did more with it! Truly more interesting than the scientists give credit for.
THANK YOU!
And btw, if you DO find yourself looking at other inverts....I suggest Roaches or Silverfish. It fits your theme. haha
Thanks for the comment! And yeah, there was some unexpected stuff here.
Ive found these spiders not once - but THREE times on my SHOULDERS in the shower! I believe the explanation is that they were living in the drains (they seem to like damp places, which explains the basement-dwelling as well), and crawled onto me when I ran the water.
The first one I smushed out of fear, this was years ago before I developed an appreciation for arthropods... poor thing didn't deserve that. But the subsequent two I calmly stored in bug cups (yes, I have some in my bathroom at all times just in case), and took outside, so I know they were different ones too! So far haven't seen any more in the bathroom but they definitely can give you a startle if they show up on you while you're... exposed.
4 Years ago, I was sleeping on the floor of a trailer we rented near a river in NW Michigan. I got bit in my sleep by one the size of a quarter. I had quite a reaction. I can send you a picture of the reaction and the Parson Spider if you like. Now I own my own cabin in NE Michigan and we just found 10, but they are about the size of a dime.
I'd love to have a show like this for UK spiders!!!!
I caught one on my bathroom floor. I kept him for just over a week, and when going to put some food for him into his house, he got out! I tidied and tried to get the catch cup over him, but took off, lol. He’s probably still here, but I haven’t seen him…yet☺️🇨🇦🕷🕸
P.S… I really appreciate that you take the time and effort to bring these videos to us! Thank your wife as well🙏🏼💯🥰🫶🏼
I'm really glad I stumbled across your channel. I haven't looked just yet, but if you haven't made a follow-up with additional research, I hope you do at some point.
Very cool what you were able to find out here. I hope you'll update us in the future if you find out more about their hunting behavior!
Definitely! I'm excited to keep working with these spiders. Stephanie and Colleen are both alive and well, and I still have them. My daughter found me another one, too, plus I have that juvenile, so that's four parsons I've got now. The sample size is growing.
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I love when you make videos on ghese lesser-known, overlooked spider species. Here in New Jersey, there are so many different spiders that I just can't seem to find any information on- but it goes to show, if you look hard enough there's plenty to appreciate in each and every one of them. Like, every so often a new spider I've never seen before pops up and I'm just filled with such a childlike wonder, thinking about all the forgotten and untold stories behind each one. This is the same wonder I get from watching your videos, and I sincerely thank you for that. I wish I was able to support you on Patreon, and when I'm able I most certainly will, but for now i hope this bit kf engagement will help to spread this wonderful video and your channel to others.
Thanks for this vid and your channel! I moved to an area with more spiders than where I grew up, and living alone I’m learning how to deal with encountering them constantly and alone. Learning about the species I meet day to day helps me come from a place of interest rather than fear.
I see parsons spiders probably the most often! I call them sports car spiders because of how they look and how fast they are :)
I love your videos.
I also love that pretty much every video you make underscores how little we ACTUALLY know about spider behavior, and how valuable your research and observation is. I have seen many of the spiders featured in your videos, and in some cases watched them in fascination, but not with the keen eye and real knowledge that you bring.
I’m in the San Francisco by area, and we have a wide range of fascinating and beautiful spiders, from Tarantulas to orb weavers and seemingly every spider in between. The black widows are especially interesting - everyone is afraid of them, but their behavior and habitat makes it very unlikely that they will bite unless provoked.
I love the cheese test. Brilliant
I once felt a tiny sting on my ankle in the middle of the night, and I woke up to this tiny blemish, thought nothing of it and went on my day....... about a day or two later a half dollar sized perfect circle of skin was, in awful condition. I still went on with my life, kept patching myself up, it took months to heal and left a nasty group of scars.
Years later I asked a doctor and the doctor said, "sounds like a spider bite." So, thanks for this video man, it made me feel more comfortable with spiders around me. When I say it was "awful", I mean it... it was like and injury from acid for months. It is my nightmare to go through something like that again but this was very calming and informative which helps a lot.
And to clarify I'm sure something like this Spider didn't bite me, but just having a doctor say "sounds like a bite", and having Google to turn to I have no idea what it was, most I can come up with is it was a Brown Recluse but that doesn't help one bit.
Yeah, hard to say what it actually was. Could have been secondary infection of some kind. But glad the channel is helpful, and thanks for the comment!
@travismcenery2919 absolutely, and the spiders know you are talking about them... I know it's a coincidence, but just a couple days ago one of white butted guys was running up my wall and then right out of sight behind my dresser... I really like the "roommate" meter, it helped a lot and so far I've been fine not knowing where he is now. I've ever been greeting him now and then when I've come home... I really admire your confidence and as a grown man myself, I'm willing to model myself after seeing how you have treated your own roommates.
I love this species, they're beautiful! Your discoveries are so cool!!
I can’t believe this spider has been described as boring, when you uncovered so much interesting material!! Who knows what else we can learn from the Parsons spider?
I'm interested to see what else I can learn about them. I'm going to keep trying to catch those strikes in slow motion.
I encountered a parson for the first time last night in my room last night and swiftly caught it in a jar like I do with most of my spider friends. It was an easy catch for me but I do this often. It seemed a little agitated but polite enough to be completely real. It did wrap up the bodies of the other spiders in the jar that it found before I let it outside and there is a really big web in my window where it was living before it got curious and crawled into my room
These little guys are great. I have 2 living in the kitchen right now. And I have arachnaphobia. But, they are small, dont make gross cobwebs, dont absail down near you. They are always just hanging out somewhere, and keep down annoying insects. I jump for a second when I see one, but they are probably the nicest spider next to those tiny grey and black wolf spiders. I dont have screens so once the weather gets nicer flies and stuff buzz in, and these guys are great at catching them. I wouldnt mind a few more arriving.
Glad you're able to appreciate these spiders. They're pretty good roommates!
Yeah, little fuzzy jumpers, tiny wolf spiders, and these guys are allowed in the house. Everyone else with 8 legs who shows up is guided on to a broom-end and put outside.
I have severe arachnophobia so even getting close to them with a jar is impossible for me. I used to suck them up with a long vacuum hose many years ago.
But I knew they were beneficial. So after some experimentation I found guiding unwanted houseguests on to the bristle end of a long handle broom with the dust pan attached to prevent them from falling or running up the broom is a great way to put them outside without hurting them while keeping them at enough of a remove to not trigger much of a panic.
Though since I started watching your vids (Ive been subbed since you put your first vid up) as long as they are dime sized or smaller including legs, dont absail off the ceiling at you or make gross webs, ive been letting them stay. Ive noticed way less fruit flies and other little bugs in the kitchen when the windows and balcony door is open
So thank you so much for these vids. You made me see spiders in a different way. They still frighten me badly, but you made me appreciate them much more and I love learning about them (and their little "commentary").
Thanks!
Im pretty sure I caught one of these in my house. I used a mason jar, lidded it, and put it aside to take it outside in the morning. In the AM, it had laid eggs. Now its living rent free on our bookshelf. I'll let the brood go outside when they hatch.
Omg!! That is exactly what happened when i went back to look for it. It didn't bother me so im fine with it living with me. Loved your video. You have a great narrating voice. 😊 glad i found you, i am originally from Massachusetts but have lived in all four corners of the U.S. I am fascinated with bugs, but spiders especially. The ones in Washington state were crazy webbers. In the south they grow big and i think they have more aggression. The east coaster are more chill. Crazy how behaviors are different depending on their environment. I found at least 5 black widows in the ten yrs i spent in Arizona. Spiders there have to be tough, their nemesis is the scorpion 😂 anyway im going to start following your channel. People in my life are not bug people. 😂 thank you for your time and videos. ❤
Very cool spider that people don't seem to know anything about. Thank you for this awesome video and all the work you put into finding all this out. Definitely loved this one.❤🕷️
Thanks so much!
@@travismcenery2919 You're very welcome and thank you for the awesome content on these amazing spiders.
I saw this spider for the first time a few months ago in my bathroom (Toronto, Canada) and was fascinated by it. It took some doing to find the proper name for it because google wasn't quite sure what spider I was talking about. I wasn't able to find tons of information besides what you mentioned early in the video like it being a speedy ground hunter. I appreciate these videos you've been making as they're insightful and interesting.
The most common spiders we get here are yellow sac spiders and jumping spiders inside, and some orb weavers outside, I'd never seen a parson spider before but thanks for telling me more about them, you're doing great work. 🙂
Thanks so much, and I'm glad it was helpful!
I just scooped one of these lil ones out of my bedroom, (it was biting at night and I am ALLERGIC so I had to remove it) I was rather disappointed with the lack of info on them, so thanks for all your hard work looking into these overlooked critters!
Love these, thanks for making this! edit: the "technical specifications" at 18:17 lmao... nice touch :'D
It's a carryover from the Yellow Sac Spider video, but glad you noticed. I had some fun with that overlay.
@@travismcenery2919 Lol I can see that! Possibly a controversial take, but yellow sacs are the only spiders in the house that I kill. The others I escort outside gently. They're not very cute, have bit me multiple times, and are very impolite!! *flush*
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I've seen a bunch of research on a ton of different house spiders but NONE of them looked anything like the ones I get here at home, but now I'm CERTAIN they’re western parsons!!
Ours definitely can get a lot bigger here in Cali (I've seen some that get up to like 1.5") and they usually leave long trails of silk behind them but never any big complicated webs that I've seen. Super glad you got some good info on their more common eastern cousins!!
If they're that big, I wonder if they might be something else. Most gnaphosids are pretty small, and there are some lookalikes - some wolf spiders, and some funnel weavers (agelenids) have somewhat similar body shapes, are also quite fast, and can get that big. I'd check those out, too.
I have a Western Parson's living in my kitchen, and she's super efficient at killing the big brown shield stinkbugs that are prevalent here in the PNW
25:23 the parson's in my kitchen did this too with her most recent kill. She got the stinkbug in the abdomen but turned it around to feed from its neck.
EXCELLENT INFORMATIVE VIDEO!!! Thank You 🙏 so much for taking the time to make it!!!
Thanks so much, I was glad to! I find these spiders really fascinating.
What a great video. I see these guys in my place every so often and was always disappointed with how little information there is about them. It’s very cool that you were able to find novel behavior in such a common critter
Thanks so much! Yeah, I was discouraged by the lack of info on these, but with some digging, I found some good stuff. That lack of good information is largely why I make these videos, so I'm glad it's hitting the mark!
I’ve been bit by one and yes, their bites are pretty harsh imo. It’s still to this day the only spider bite that I’ve consciously been aware of due to the suddenness and sharpness of the pain, and actually seeing the little guy drop off my shoulder and try to scurry away.
Like dude…you’re on *me*, it wasn’t my fault! It was definitely scared of course, in reality.
Still though, stood out for me.
Caught one that was on my kitchen window screen today. Just beyond that window I have substantial landscaping. Was happy to scoop her quickly in a cup and return her to that landscaping bed. Thanks for the great images. I am confident this is the type I see around my house in NE.
Glad the images for helpful, and thanks for relocating the spider!