Myths about how many spiders are eaten by humans each year keep many of us scared while we sleep

Ever wonder how many Spiders you eat a year?

We know you have. We all have.

But there are a lot of different answers out there. So, which one is the real answer?

The only thing worse than eating a Spider when you’re awake is eating one when you’re asleep. The thought of eight harry legs crawling into your mouth and you, unaware, chewing up the big guy is enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.

Have no fear! You should be relieved to know that the answer is more than likely zero. That’s right; the average Human doesn’t actually consume any spiders, asleep or awake in a year (with a few exceptions). While there have been reported cases of people accidentally “eating” spiders, the only proof that may exist was, well, not something anyone wanted to go chasing after (know what we’re saying?!).

It’s clearly not impossible for a spider to end up in your mouth, but it is highly unlikely to happen.

How Do You Spiders Generally Avoid Humans? 

Believe it or not, spiders do have spidey-senses. Their 12 eyes and small hairs on their legs give them a keen sensitivity to heat and vibrations to help keep themselves out of harm's way. A spider approaching a sleeping human (emitting both vibrations and heat) would be alarmed of danger and generally choose a different route.

Spiders share similar feelings towards us as we do them — fear — so if one does happen to invade your personal space, it probably wasn’t planning to attack you (or crawl into your mouth). They are more interested in spinning their webs in an unseen corner of your home than being near you, especially since nearly all of them have no defense against a human attack.

Most spiders in North America don’t have the capability to bite humans due to their small fangs and our tough skin (you should really feel better now). Odds are, your “spider bite” is most likely from an ant, bed bug, wasp, or other insect.

Type of Spiders

While your natural reaction may be to grab the shoe when you spot a spider, identification of the kind of spider is important.

North America is home to two species of spiders that are considered deadly: the Loxosceles (Recluse spiders) species and Latrodectus (Widows) species. However, there are a couple of other venomous spiders that also live on the continent, such as the Hobo spider and the Yellow Sac Spider (also known as the black-footed spider).

The latter is assumed to be the cause of most spider bite cases. Though its bite releases venom, it is more likely to cause skin irritation than anything life-threatening. If you are unsure of the type of spider in your home, contact a local pest professional right away.

Once the type of spider has been determined (poisonous or not), you should decide how to proceed with the spider-removal process. Of course, most of us don’t enjoy having spiders in our homes, but the majority of these crawlers are actually more of a friend than a foe. The eight-legged, 12-eyed arachnids are a natural form of pest control, trapping and feeding on many of the annoying insects and even other spiders that can be found in your home.

You may find spiders creepy, but rest assured: they won’t be crawling into your mouth tonight.