Super large spiders seen in West Island

large spiders seen in West Island

Some love them, most fear them. People in Montreal and especially the West Island, have been encountering an unusual number of spiders this season, a lot of them larger than they’ve ever seen. The weather created the perfect conditions for the little Arachnids to flourish, so more of their offspring survived.

Humans might be hundreds of times bigger than the eight legged, air-breathing arthropods, but face-to-face, the spider morphs into something much larger for the fearful, especially when they come inside. They suddenly appear big enough to make the toughest of the tough run screaming for their lives – and in some cases, the best of warriors to don armor, baseball bats and shovels (with flame throwers at the ready) in the battle against the itsy-bitsy menace.

As for those who love them, they either leave them tend to their webs in peace or take the utmost care to carefully remove them from the house and set them free outdoors. Those noble people become the heroes I call upon when in need of valiant action – action to rid my humble abode of a spider taking up a corner on my living room ceiling. It may only be the size of a dime, but it can’t fool me. I know from the look in its eight eyes that it’s clearly a direct descendant of Shelob from Tolkien’s Middle Earth. And bordering on arachnophobia, a Buddhist monk I am not.

As the lyrics to a popular nursey rhyme goes; “The itsy bitsy spider, Climbed up the waterspout / Down came the rain, And washed the spider out / Out came the sun And dried up all the rain& And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again”. In other words, the spider just keeps coming back!

There has certainly been enough arachnids around the island this summer, quite worthy of the cry ‘SPIDER!’ – but do we really need to fear them? Well, here’s a few examples of what people have reported seeing so far:

Large spiders seen in West Island like this The Wolf Spider

WOLF SPIDER: They are native to Canada and actually quite harmless to humans. Most wolf spiders only bite if they feel threatened and their bites only produce a mild redness or swelling. The ‘wolf’ name comes from the fact they do not use their webs to catch food and instead chase and catch their prey on the ground, like a wolf does.

The Cross Orb weaver spider

ORB WEAVER: Also known as the Cross Orb weaver and other names. They are non-aggressive and rarely bite – but if they do, their venom is of low risk to humans. Still, they can grow well over an inch in size (just the body) so you don’t want one crawling over you.

Other spiders that seem to be creeping around more this season include:

Long-Legged Sac Spider

LONG-LEGGED SAC SPIDER – They are mostly found indoors and come out typically at night, crawling on ceilings and walls – and are actually native to southern Europe, but slowly made their way to North America. They do bite and it could be painful like a bee sting, but their venom is non-lethal.

Zebra Jumper spider

ZEBRA JUMPER – You’ve seen them on rocks, window sills, cement or brick walls and around the exterior of buildings. They seem to blend into cement, but are easily identifiable by their zebra-like colour pattern. When trying to catch one you have to be quick.

Other articles can be found at mtltimes.catotimes.caotttimes.ca

Montreal ‘Cocktail Bomb’ blows up

Jeff Dunham exclusive interview

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
NFL

Revolutionizing sports with technology enhancing athletic performance

The integration of technology in sports is transforming the way athletes train and perform. From data analytics to virtual training environments, technological innovations are reshaping athletic performance. As these advancements continue to evolve, their impact on sports management and performance becomes increasingly significant. In today’s sports landscape, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing both

flying private

Private Jet vs. First Class: Is flying private from Montreal worth it?

Flying private or choosing first class is a big decision. Both options offer comfort and luxury. But they differ in cost, convenience, and privacy. This article compares both choices for travellers leaving from Montreal. The goal is to help you decide which option suits your needs. Cost of Flying Private vs. First Class Private jets

safest cities

Why Montreal is one of the safest cities to visit in 2025

If you’re planning a trip to Canada, Montreal has been ranked the sixth safest cities to travel to in 2025, according to a recent report by insurance company Berkshire Hathaway. When you break it down, Montreal’s safety is a combination of aspects that makes this city a favourite destination among safety-conscious travelers. Here’s a look

dermal fillers

The ultimate guide to dermal fillers: Are they worth it?

For decades now, dermal fillers have remained the go-to treatment for fighting the signs of aging, such as lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Apart from these, they are also extensively used to elevate some facial features by adding contour and volume to areas like lips, cheeks, and chin. Although the average cost of a dermal filler

Winnipeg’s Bold Commerce announces new PayPal integrations

Winnipeg’s Bold Commerce announces new PayPal integrations

Bold Commerce has built on its existing long-standing relationship with financial services platform PayPal. The firm has announced that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada currently using its OpenCart and Gravity Forms solutions will benefit from the integration of PayPal’s full payments suite. This includes digital wallets, Venmo, Fastlane, as well as its Buy

Mtltimes Subscription

The latest on what’s moving Montreal and the world – delivered straight to your inbox