Dunbar J, Khan N, Abberton C, Brosnan P, Murphy J, Afoullouss S, O’Flaherty V, Dugon M, Boyd A (2020) Synanthropic spiders, including the global invasive noble false widow Steatoda nobilis, are reservoirs for medically important and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Scientific Reports 10, 20916. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77839-9 Dunbar J, Fort A, Redureau D, Sulpice R, Dugon M, Quinton L (2020) Venomics Approach Reveals a High Proportion of Latrodectus-Like Toxins in the Venom of the Noble False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis. Toxins 12(6): 402. doi.org/10.3390/toxins12060402 Dunbar J, Vitkauskaite A, O’Keeffe D, Fort A, Sulpice R, Dugon M (2022) Bites by the noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis can induce Latrodectus-like symptoms and vector-borne bacterial infections with implications for public health: a case series. Clinical Toxicology 60(1): 59-70. doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2021.1928165 Dunbar J, Vitkauskaite A, Lawton C, Waddams B, Dugon M (2022) Webslinger vs. Dark Knight: First record of a false widow spider Steatoda nobilis preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain. Ecosphere 13(2): e3959. doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3959 Esmaeilishirazifard E, Usher L, et al. (2022) Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida. Microbiology Spectrum 10(3):e02408-21. doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02408-21 Fischer A, Ayasse M, Andrade MCB (2018) Natural Compounds as Spider Repellents: Fact or Myth? Journal of Economic Entomology 111(1): 314-318. doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox339 Fishcer A, Hung E, Gries G (2019) Female false black widow spiders, Steatoda grossa, recognize webs based on physical and chemical cues. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata Garb J, Hayashi C (2013) Molecular Evolution of α-latrotoxin, the Exceptionally Potent Vertebrate Neurotoxin in Black Widow Spider Venom. Molecular Biology and Evolution 30(5): 999-1014. doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mst011 Graundins A, Gunja N, Broady K, Nicholson G (2002) Clinical and in vitro evidence for the efficacy of Australian red-back spider (latrodectus hasselti) antivenom in the treatment of envenomation by a Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa). Toxicon 40(6): 767-775. doi.org/10.1016/S0041-0101(01)00280-X Grego G, Pugno N (2021) How spiders hunt heavy prey: the tangle web as a pulley and spider’s lifting mechanics observed and quantified in the laboratory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 13: 20200907. doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2020.0907 Hambler C (2020) The ‘Noble false widow’ spider Steatoda nobilis is an emerging public health and ecological threat. OSF Preprints, axbd4, ver 4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Zoology. doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/axbd4 Isbister G, Gray M (2003) Effects of Envenoming by Comb-Footed Spiders of the Genera Steatoda and Achaearanea (Family Theridiidae: Araneae) in Australia. Journal of Toxicology 41(6): 809-819. doi.org/10.1081.CLT-120025346 Pickard-Cabmridge O (1879) On some new and rare British spiders, with characters of a new genus. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4: 190-215. doi.org/10.1080/00222937908679818 Rayner S, Vitkauskaite A, Healy K, Lyons K, McSharry L, Leonard D, Dunbar J, Dugon M (2022) Worldwide Web: High Venom Potency and Ability to Optimize Venom Usage Make the Globally Invasive Noble False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Theridiidae) Highly Competitive against Native European Spiders Sharing the Same Habitats. Toxins 2022, 14, 587. doi.org/10.3390/toxins14090587 Scott C, Gerak C, McCann S, Gries G (2018) The role of silk in courtship and chemical communication of the false widow spider, Steatoda grossa (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Ethology 36: 191-197. doi.org/10/1007/s10164-017-0539-3 Snazell R, Jones D (1993) The theridiid spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) in Britain. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 9: 164-167. Vetter R S, Adams J R, Berrian J E, Vincent L S (2015) The European spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Araneae: Theridiidae) becoming widespread in California. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 91(1): 98-100 dx.doi.org/10.3956/2014-91.1.098 Vetter R, Swanson D, Weinstein S, White J (2015) Do spiders vector bacteria during bites? The evidence indicates otherwise. Toxicon 93: 171-174 Vitkauskaite A, Dunbar J, Lawton C, Dalagiorgos P, Allen M, Dugon M (2021) Vertebrate prey capture by Latrodectus mactans (Walckenaer, 1805) and Steatoda triangulosa (Walckenaer, 1802) (Araneae, Theridiidae) provide further insights into the immobilization and hoisting mechanisms of large prey. Food Webs, December 2021, 29:e00210. doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2021.e00210 Vossbrinck C, Krinsky W (2021) Envenomation by Steatoda borealis (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Connecticut, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 58(6): 2538-2539. doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab142
@@eduardofaundez7760 Holy cow, Eduardo Faundez is in my comments??? I just saw your new paper on that S. triangulosa bite case yesterday! And NOW I'm seeing your paper on that S. nobilis bite in Chile. Sorry! Thanks so much for the comment, though! Also, I'd never heard of "recurrent arachnidism" until I read your new paper, so now I'll be looking into it more!
@@travismcenery2919 no problem, comment was really joking!!! Although is so bad it is in Spanish, there is a letter to the editor in a Chilean journal that is worth to mention, because craziness and lies in the media about S. nobilis as it was just arrived to Chile. I'll say media went twice (and I'm maybe short) wild than the ones in the UK!
@@eduardofaundez7760 I didn't know the Chilean media went crazy about it, too! I feel bad for only focusing on the English-speaking world. Interesting that the Chilean media did the same thing. That's unfortunate.
Great spider lectures. Thank you. I am a 75 year old grandmother who has been catching spiders for observatio since I was a small child. I love watching them in their terrarians and feeding them annoying pest insects. I watch 'Dave's Little Beasties"
its like you got stuck in an elective you really didn't care ab out but the teacher actually cares about teaching you the stuff and is good at giving you the facts so you all of a sudden really care about the class anyway. Like, than you for making this channel its fun
Haha, are you kidding? This channel has the highest views-to-videos ratio I've ever seen! He's only posted 5 videos and he's exceeded 100k views on 3 of them! That's amazingly impressive! Loads of other UA-camrs take many years to have even one video reach 100k.
We've actually had some false widows appear in recent years. The generic name for the ones we have are just 'cupboard spiders.' They have the faint purpleish coloration. I've seen about 3-4 mature ones over the course of a couple years, even got bitten by one in my sleep. I know this because when I woke up lying right next to my bed was the poor thing curled up in their death pose. Wasn't a bad bite at all, little red bump that only mildly hurt for a day. I mostly find them wandering around on the floor, I assume as they look for a new place to set up shop. I prefer finding them rather than finding actual black widows since they are both very common in my area.
Same here. I am the type of person to spend hours going down Wikipedia rabbit holes and these videos are like that but very entertaining, often downright funny, and I love his clear passion about the subjects only possible from someone truly invested in the subject matter.
Cyper WSP is a water-suspended powdered form of permethrum, which you spray around and it's deadly to insects like roaches, ants, crickets, etc., and they track it into spiders' webs killing them too. Got rid of black widows in my house/yard/shed in the Mojave Desert which is loaded with widows.
I'm only halfway through this and I just have to commend you on the amount of work and detail put into this. I find S. borealis in my basement pretty regularly, and I enjoy watching how they wrap things up. Their strategy for larder beetle larvae seems to be: get it up off the ground and anchor/immobilize the tail (the swingier/stabbier end) first. Then bite off some of the long guard hairs, and I often see them attempt to bite off the larvae's two tail prongs - which is hilarious, like me trying to chew off a buck antler. I've yet to see this be successful but it's curious that they even bother, given that the tail is usually well-immobilized at that point anyway. Edit: my guess about the bat pup, it fell and was already dead or near dead of exposure when the spider found it and wrapped it up.
We used to have a black widow problem in our basement and window wells, but the one year we had a sudden shift to false widows (borealis). Assuming that they had taken over the territory, we've made an active effort to keep these ones around. We haven't seen black widows since, and they're very polite. We find them in the wells in summer, the ventilation in fall and the main house over winter when we have the heat on.
The false widow is probably the third most common spider I find in my house after the cellar and giant house spiders, and like you, when I began looking up information about them, I found very little in the way of useful information. I didn't have time to do any detailed research so when I saw this upload I settled in for a nice listen. I always found these spiders quite pretty by spider standards, I think the proportions are pleasing but that could entirely just be my bias. Unlike cellar spiders, I was always more proactive in removing them as I knew they can bite. I am not necessarily scared of them, I just don't want to be bitten! I had one encounter where a false widow crawled across my face while I was asleep and woke me up. I don't think the poor thing realized she had awoken a veritable monster. She found a nice little crease in my bed sheet to hide in until I scooped her into a glass and let her outside. I believed she was responsible for the tangle of webs in the corner of the room beneath my bed, but after watching this video, perhaps she had even taken it over from a previous spider. Thank you again for another great video for those of us too busy to do our own research. I recently purchased a field guide to Britain's spiders to help with identification of some of the rarer spiders (diversity of creatures in the UK are small, but I was surprised to see how thick the book was), much to the horror of my mother, who can't imagine why I'd take an interest in such creatures! All thanks to you ;)
Wow, I'm glad it was helpful! My mother is still horrified but she's been supportive nonetheless. I'm still not sure how I talked her into letting me get my first tarantula when I was a teenager.
@@travismcenery2919 Wow you must have been very convincing! I am in the process of buying my first house and I intend on getting a tarantula once I'm settled. No way would my mum let me take a tarantula into her house. My family thinks I am doing it on purpose! A tarantula to keep my mother away and a snake to keep my grandfather away... I promise I'm not.
The false widow is one of the only spiders that freak me out. Most spiders tend to stay away from me even inside the house. Like those cellar spiders or daddy long legs we used to call them - those tend to build a web in the corner of a room high on the ceiling and chill there. They don't bother me, I don't bother them (until spring cleaning lol). The house spider I see in autumn can frighten me when they quickly dash across the room, but are generally shy and seem to run away fast. However False Widows are just plain evil. I once woke up midnight, turned on lamp, and saw a False Widow scuttling over my chest. I struggled to sleep after that. I just hate how bold and careless they are as spiders, and because of the risk of nips, I can't tolerate them in my house.
@@skycloud4802it was just a sex crazed male looking for some nookie. The females just stick to their web and don’t wander, however the male has no interest in biting us we are just a moving tree to them.
My house is absolutely full of these (the noble false widow). I live in England and 5 years ago id only heard about them but never seen one. Now i see them every day all over my house, they are in my brothers house, my friends houses they have quite literally taken over the country. I hadn't actually noticed until watching this video and learning that they prey on the common house spider (the big buggers) that i haven't actually seen one of those for years and they used to be everywhere, i guess the false widow is now effecting their numbers dramatically. This was a really interesting video thanks for covering it in so much depth and detail.
I first learned about this genus yesterday afternoon when I rescued an old graphing multimeter out of the trash at my college. The case it came in had several of these cuties in it, and even though I'm not in latrodectus country, I panicked a tiny bit. Really funny seeing this in my recommendations within a day of that happening, really well presented too.
I had a rough, lousy day at work, you don't know how much it means to me to see a new video. I love this series! I sing along with the theme, please never change it! 😅
Horrified of spiders myself but I am able to sit through your videos purely do your energy and jokes, and it's slowly making me less afraid! Keep it up🤗
I really admire the time and effort you put into making these videos, from gathering and distilling all the scientific papers, to gathering (but hopefully not distilling) actual spiders, to putting together and editing the actual video. It's great to have info like this presented in an accessible and easily digestible manner for the average non-arachnologist
Thanks so much, I'm glad it's helpful. And no, none of the spiders I use for my videos get harmed - while I understand lethal methods are sometimes an unfortunate necessity for scientific research, I'm not at that level. I keep them in captivity for a period, do some photo shoots with them, but they're eventually released safely.
This is genuinely, one of the best videos I've seen on a subject I would have never cared to research myself. Entertaining, engaging, and laced with subtle and brilliant humor. I really wouldn't mind if this series continued in these hour-long adaptations compared to the relatively short videos that it started off with in comparison. Hats off mate, bravo.
I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I was worried about the length but there was just so much to cover. A lot about a video is determined by how much available research there is on a given species. This next one coming up had next to no research done on it, so it will feature some of my own observations. Stay tuned. ;)
Thank you for this video, I have a Steatoda grossa who has been living in my bathroom I tried taking her outside once thinking she’d prefer living outside but she was scared she rolled into a ball and played dead so I scooped her back into my cup and put her back in my bathroom on the ground in front of her web and she stopped playing dead and ran right back into her web, it was that moment I realized just how intelligent she was and that we are now going to have to share my bathroom.
That is so cool to hear. I love when nature interacts with us. I have this pair of crows that greet me every morning when I walk my kitty. My wife says they want to eat my cat but even when I walk alone ill caw caw and a few seconds later, one if not both fly up to the power line closest to me. I used to see a spider every day during my walk but it got super hot and when I went to see Mr. Spider, he was dead. No lie, I cried a little. Poor guy was curled up and just hanging in the net. I'll still walk by where it was but it is not special anymore. Please give updates on your Spider. Did you name it?? If so, what? 😊
thank god you posted, i binged all your videos a week ago and was really awaiting your next video, and im so glad that its on one of my favorite type of spiders :)) just recently fed my steatoda paykulliana, and god i love the way they create trip lines that go from their web to the ground. thank you for the 1 hour long video, cant wait to watch it all over and over again. much love
Glad you're enjoying the channel! And yeah, once I learned how these theridiid webs actually work, they went from boring to fascinating really quickly.
I just need to say how much i appreciate your videos, throughout my entire life i've jumped at every opportunity i can get to help any creatures i come across as well as the local ecosystem (sometimes just picking up garbage , other times saving baby birds whos nest was blown over by a storm, it varies) but my irrational fears of bugs & especially spiders dissuaded me to truly respect them as creatures & especially as part of the environment, after being subscribed for a few months that's no longer the case so thank u
Yessss, I've been waiting for another episode, and this one is perfect considering the first spider I found since winter was a steatoda triangulosa, thank you for your research, unironically my favorite series on UA-cam rn❤
Love me some spiders! You combine interesting spider facts with humor and explanations that are simple enough for goobers like me to understand. Thank you for the awesome videos!! Keep up the good work, always get excited when you upload lol
This series you're doing is exactly what I wanted to see! Very good work. I been fascinated by my dozens of spiders living throughout my place. I throw critters near their webs often.
Severe arachnophobe here- these videos have helped me reduce the amount of panic attacks I get from spiders (I know they’re usually harmless, it’s entirely out of my control), and while these vids usually help me calm down, this made me realize the spider I thought was harmless was actually a black widow. So, thanks for that. Keep up the great work!
I really love this channel! I used to be afraid of spiders 'til I learned more about them, and since then I've been trying to learn more about spiders and lots of other creatures just to gain better understanding! I'm on my last semester of undergrad right now, so it's incredibly nice to see this level of research. It's like a really fun lecture!
The entire segment of the Noble False Expansion is absolutely fascinating. (All of this is fascinating) I bet you would get a lot of views regarding Brown Recluse spiders. There is a lot of hubbub about them and there are enough misinformation and mis-identification of them that makes me think it is click bait worthy. I love this series. I got recommended your newest video and I'm watching them all. This is phenomenal stuff. You have a very good sense of presentation and amazing jokes.
Yay! I’m so excited to see a new video! I truly don’t like spiders. But I am a SUCKER for long learning videos like these. The format and presentation of the information plus your voice and personal presentation of the information is perfect. Thank you sir
I accidentally brushed my hand over a false widdow on my wall. It was a bit shooken up, but it didn't bite me and it definitely could have. The various spiders and I have a good raport. I think most people would think I'm crazy for letting so many spiders share my living space, but they're good roommates and really helped cut down on the moth problem I've had for quite some time. My room is most heavily occupied by cellar spiders, and they're more intelligent than people realize.
I'm the first to admit that I had no previous interest in spiders.............but your channel showed up in some recommendation list and I decided to give it a go. I now have more than a passing interest in spiders and am a devoted subscriber. As with other channels I watch, it is not only for the "topic" - my interest is fueled by the presenter. A rational, factual, well written and well spoken presenter, who doesn't sensationalize and/or preach, who can inject humor without being obnoxious, and who has decent or better production values is all it takes to get me interested in a new field of study. You, sir, fit all the criteria. So, yeah, now I am interested in the spiders in my house.................
I would like to add that the injection site bacterial infection theory may be focused on the spider, but secondary infections can happen many other ways that have nothing to do with the spider itself. Like in cases of unconfirmed 'hobo spider' bites, although those can be incredibly nasty, secondary infection could be caused by poor hygiene and the case of other infections on the body that carry harmful bacteria at the time that the victim takes a hit from a complex cytotoxin. Cytotoxins are often attributed to having a very interesting autoimmune response in those who are more or less sensitive to it. Autoimmune responses can cause necrosis and necrotic tissue often provides a home to necrotizing bacteria. Since our bodies actually usually deal with this sort of bacteria in symbiosis, the same bacteria can act differently in that sort of environment. So, although the venom itself is sterile prior to injection, the site or the surface of the spider's fangs can be compromised, the effects it causes can be quite toxically necrotic. I do really want to hear you do a study on hobo spiders to clarify the actual danger compared to the sensational danger. They are still dangerous and I have seen some awful confirmed bites including my own father. They are so hard to differentiate from brown recluses when squished, though.
Just wanna thank you for making these videos, they're both entertaining and informational! I used to be terrified of spiders and bugs in general, but now I'm the complete opposite after watching your videos. I love learning about spiders and have gotten over my fear of them, I have two Steatoda triangulosas living in the corners of my room and I've been observing them, they're so cool and I'm really glad that I can appreciate them more now. I love this series and always looking forward to your future videos!
Oh yes exciting, I've been waiting for a new episode, and it's an hour! Awesome stuff man. I can't wait for spring to settle in so I can see some more spiders.
Like with all long videos, I decided to watch this one until it got boring, then quit. This has been one of the very few videos I've encountered that not only kept me engrossed throughout, but left me disappointed that it was over already. Excellent work.
Poor Steatoda Nobils has a bit of an underserved reputation here in the UK. They particularly love south facing (getting max sunshine) UPVC conservatory windows seemingly. Very gentle and just sit there quietly waiting for that rather elusive fly (except for 3 months of our year!). Love your videos. Thanks Travis
I 'rescued' a girl from the crack of a slightly opened porch window. We were about to move and I thought the new residents might squash her accidentally, or on purpose. She thrived in an enclosure and had many babies. She was very shy but I managed to video her tackling a mealworm.
Thanks so much for each of your videos. I have a healthy respect for spiders, especially when they run across the wall when I'm not expecting them, but your videos have allowed me to study many of the spiders in and out of my house much more closely than I otherwise would have. Wonderful and important information.
This guy just keep changing my mind about spiders, i always feared them but now i kinda like them, thanks (i guess, idk spiders are still kinda scary and even tho theres alot of evidence that they are sometimes "good" it still creeps the f out of me when i see one walking close to me) but still really good job ur doing my guy, keep up the good work
I am in the UK, I am a gardener in Torquay, where the noble false widow first were found, and they are everywhere round the south West, I got a few indoors keeping the mosquitoes at bay... But just to inform ya.. They do bite and it hurts.. I've been bitten about 5 times and it always swells up and goes rock hard, itching and sore.. It goes red for days.. Also can make you feel a bit sick... Takes about a week and a half to go away.... _depending on how much damage from scratching I had done 😁👍
Love that every video on this channel get’s longer and longer as time goes on. Can’t get enough of spiders and am patiently awaiting the 8 hour video on brown recluses.
Thankyou for your fascinating informative and funny videos. I have started , at 58, (its never too late) to study the tiny jumping spiders in the UK , as a focus for my mind in fighting depression. Your Videos are so accessible and really hold my attention. So thankyou for your generous efforts and I really look forward to more. Sincerely .
Brilliantly researched, well presented and with a nice touch of humour. I live in Kent, UK and I have loads of false widows living on the fence and shed. Their population has "exploded", I rarely see other species. I appreciate all the info you have provided. Being over an hour long I wondered if it would drag on, but every segment was fascinating and note worthy. It was like sitting in a really good lecture!
Straight up, everytime I see a spider I freak, but I love spiders. I've puked, frozen, and I guess about a seizure while huntsman fell on me in a crawlspace. I love your work, I love spiders, something in my brain does the thing. You're the best, brother!
The UA-cam algorithm somehow recommended me one of your videos, and I ended up binging all of them, despite not really caring about spiders at all. So well polished and informative while being fun to watch.
Man, you can't tell how much I love these sort of videos and this focus on scientific views, especially nowadays. Super great to have you around! Keep it up, you're awesome! ❤
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to covering not just spiders, but the ones in and around our houses. I've tried finding out bits of information about these guys as I observe them, and run into a lot of the same misinformation and ambiguity that you've come across, and I can only imagine how much work this really does take. I'm a bit of an amateur at macro photography, and if you need pictures of a particular group, I may have some that you are more than welcome to use in your videos, and I have some tips and tricks for how to get surprisingly good photos/video with just a phone and some affordable accessories.
Crazy! I have been a fan since your first video and I was literally just looking this genus up waiting for your next video to come out. Wow! 1 hour! No wonder it took you a minute to publish. Thank you! We appreciate you!
He dislikes slimy mango fruit. He appreciates the writing of Dostoyevsky. He produces hour long videos about misunderstood house spiders. And yet they say the perfect man doesn't exist.
I just found your channel and as a recovering arachnophobe, it's possibly my new favorite. I'm only about a minute into the intro but I can't wait to get into this video. I have actually had a few known spider bites, one that triggered my phobia and took months to heal and the latest from a what I know was of the cobweb family. And I believe a triangulate. And that experience actually helped me get better. I didn't feel the bite initially but it quickly got itchy with just a tiny pinpoint stinging feeling but I can say the sensation was mostly just inconvenient. Another thing I found fascinating was that it got kind of concerning looking pretty quickly which turned out to be allergic lymphangitis. But I knew the signs to watch for it being anything more serious and it didn't do much but itch after that. Also I really hope to see a bold jumper video someday. They are my favorite. Just recently I was photographing one and noticed for the first time it had brilliant emerald chelicerae😍
I live in a very old three story house in England. There are so many false widow spiders, most of which are the noble kind. I was a bit hesitant to watch this as it might make me fear these little roommates that hang around and keep my room free of wasps that I'm allergic to. Now after watching it, instead of fear I have a greater fascination and respect for them.
Spiders of all varieties eat canned cat food, too. They seem to like all types but are especially fond of chicken. (Isn't everyone?) I feed feral cats and I've found spiders dining on the canned food many times. (I usually have to save them when I bring in the bowls to wash them and find the spiders floating in the water when I soak the bowls.) I also have had the occasional spider in my house fill up on my cats' food, too.
That's interesting. I wonder if it's a certain species. I know there are some spiders that will scavenge like that, though most will only eat live prey.
Strangely one of my favorite channels here, strictly because it's an educational passion product that aims to help others understand the 8 leggers' shenanigans. Your channel next to DankPods (an audio tech channel) is probably one of my most sought after uploads, dead serious.
This is great! I love you and your channel. Please keep this up. Your format and production value is similar to youtubers 100x your size. I hope this channel grows so that more people can learn about these awesome creatures.
Thanks so much! I was worried the length would be a problem but I guess it works. I've heard some people use my videos to go to sleep to, so this one works for them, too, I guess.
Can't believe I didn't see this in my recommended until now! Made sure to turn on all notifications 🙏 Excellent work, Travis :} Your stuff is, no joke, probably some of my favourite on UA-cam. Dense, informative videos, paced wonderfully with witty humour and a sense of compassion and reason. Keep it up!
I found two of the cupboard spiders hanging out together and wasn’t sure what they were so I put them in a jar with a wide mouth and I’m studying them. These spiders are my vibe. After watching this video I have so much respect for them. Thank you for your labor on this video! (I will be releasing the spiders asap)
This genus is so neat. I got a chance to work closely with one for a research project I did for university. It was on the evolution of spiders over millions of years. Did the presentation with a pet G. porteri (rose hair tarantula) and a wild caught S. grossa. Giving a presentation while handling the false widow is certainly a test in multitasking but it’s also an incredibly effective way to get people to pay attention to a student project.
Your channel is criminally underrated, I love your videos. I'm sure i've been across some Steatodas in Valladolid, Spain. but with this newfound knowledge, not sure anymore if Nobilis or what. In cracks in the walls, rotten furniture left outside, and other in plant pots, in a funnel-like structure, quite fast, quite big. I wish the pics i took from them would be better and not the blurry mess most of them are. Much love from Spain!!
I have literally HUNDREDS of the nobilis variety living under the siding of my house... they suddenly appeared in 2017, shortly after we installed the new siding... 🤔
I’ve actually encountered noble false widows while in South San Francisco. One was living under a power box and I immediately recognized the widow-like body plan, which sorta freaked me out and led me do some research on what exactly I was looking at. But even with that preamble research, I learned so much watching this video. Hopefully I’ll see more of them the next time I visit California. Or maybe they’ll start living where I live, given how expansionist they are.
Man me and my best friend have been loving your videos. I'm just a fan of in depth videos on random niche topics and your spider videos are great, but she loves spiders a ton so its fun to have something to bond over when you post a new video!
Enjoyed every minute of this, especially the telling contrast of dog-induced hospitalizations versus confirmed serious spider bites. (And I like dogs as well as spiders.) Your word play is a treat to me as a language fan. This kind of material demands a light approach, and you manage that while keeping it all scientifically grounded.
Glad you're enjoying it! The cheese test will probably come up again, but it doesn't work so well with theridiids. It's a lot more effective with active hunters.
Great work, I'm extremely impressed with your research, you take an immense amount of care to collect the most accurate info possible which is unironically an impressive feat in our modern day.
My Triangulosa just had her first of five egg sacs hatch! The baby spiders are BEYOND CUTENESS. Love your work, Travis. Someone from Arachnoboards pointed me toward this video!
I have a female false widow living in a hole in the side of an aluminium ladder next to the door of one of my cattery pens. I always check her every night and l was delighted to learn more about her life. Thank you. It was a fascinating hour.
I live in Gosport, UK, and we are the other side of the harbour from Portsmouth. I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of these spiders over the years. I was moving some boxes only yesterday, and ended up finding one and handling for the first time to move it out of the way. I'm breaking down my fear slowly. I keep Tarantulas, but small spiders like the false widow are worse for me.
I have a huge female Steatoda Nobilis in the top corner of my living room. She's very dark coloured and is now three years old at least. She is always in the same place. One I found inside the battery cover of my car happily travelling around the country- they are so adaptable. I'm in the southern UK. Loved your video, thanks for posting.
Thanks for your thoroughness in your research. Not many youtubers do this, with the appropriate attitude. "Emptying the mag" oh man this made me laugh, love it
These videos are fantastic and exactly what I've always wanted. I love knowing what kind of spider I'm looking at, but I've always wanted to go beyond that and know something about their individual biology and ecology. And here you've gone and delivered exactly that in a series of engaging, well-written videos with great visuals and plenty of humour. Keep up the great work!
I watched the whole video after work it was totally worth it! Its good to know all that pieces of new information with clarifications about spider species, especially from you
Great video, Travis! I recently stumbled across your channel and have been enjoying the great content. I'm commenting from Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom and have always been interested in spiders. I spent lots of time as a child in the garden searching for spiders, and although I'm no arachnologist, I feel that I can identify a fair few of them on a basic level. Very common around here are lace-weavers, although the black lace-weaver seems to be less common. Depending on the time of year, other common sights include various types of orb weaver, wolf, and the zebra jumping spider. Indoors the cellar spider is a frequent sight, and to a lesser extent the mouse spider. My personal favourite would have to be the giant house spider, which my brother and I would go looking for the very biggest we could find as youngsters! I'm 27 now and from time to time still go outdoors just to see what spiders I can spot. It was the summer of 2023 when I was surprised by a new type of spider that I'd never seen before, which, after doing some research, I believed to be Steatoda nobilis. I found two such spiders, and was surprised by their size and their presence in webs that appeared very similar to typical house spider sheet webs. It was quite startling to see these spiders which I'd never encountered before, particularly when they emerged crawling quite sinisterly on the underside of their webs! Both spiders were large and a dark brown to deep red in coloration, with some lighter markings on the abdomen. Strangely one of these spiders had decided to make it's home in the woodwork surrounding our garden pond, with the web stretched precariously over the water below. Again, great video and I look forward to seeing more! All the best, Luke.
So engaging! The hour went by like nothing! My hat goes off to you for making such a well researched and interesting video, and for how good you presented them! I realistically do not expect this long format to be habitual, I assume the workload would be brutal for you, but it will be very welcomed treat in the future
Dunbar J, Khan N, Abberton C, Brosnan P, Murphy J, Afoullouss S, O’Flaherty V, Dugon M, Boyd A (2020) Synanthropic spiders, including the global invasive noble false widow Steatoda nobilis, are reservoirs for medically important and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Scientific Reports 10, 20916. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77839-9
Dunbar J, Fort A, Redureau D, Sulpice R, Dugon M, Quinton L (2020) Venomics Approach Reveals a High Proportion of Latrodectus-Like Toxins in the Venom of the Noble False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis. Toxins 12(6): 402. doi.org/10.3390/toxins12060402
Dunbar J, Vitkauskaite A, O’Keeffe D, Fort A, Sulpice R, Dugon M (2022) Bites by the noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis can induce Latrodectus-like symptoms and vector-borne bacterial infections with implications for public health: a case series. Clinical Toxicology 60(1): 59-70. doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2021.1928165
Dunbar J, Vitkauskaite A, Lawton C, Waddams B, Dugon M (2022) Webslinger vs. Dark Knight: First record of a false widow spider Steatoda nobilis preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain. Ecosphere 13(2): e3959. doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3959
Esmaeilishirazifard E, Usher L, et al. (2022) Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida. Microbiology Spectrum 10(3):e02408-21. doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02408-21
Fischer A, Ayasse M, Andrade MCB (2018) Natural Compounds as Spider Repellents: Fact or Myth? Journal of Economic Entomology 111(1): 314-318. doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox339
Fishcer A, Hung E, Gries G (2019) Female false black widow spiders, Steatoda grossa, recognize webs based on physical and chemical cues. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Garb J, Hayashi C (2013) Molecular Evolution of α-latrotoxin, the Exceptionally Potent Vertebrate Neurotoxin in Black Widow Spider Venom. Molecular Biology and Evolution 30(5): 999-1014. doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mst011
Graundins A, Gunja N, Broady K, Nicholson G (2002) Clinical and in vitro evidence for the efficacy of Australian red-back spider (latrodectus hasselti) antivenom in the treatment of envenomation by a Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa). Toxicon 40(6): 767-775. doi.org/10.1016/S0041-0101(01)00280-X
Grego G, Pugno N (2021) How spiders hunt heavy prey: the tangle web as a pulley and spider’s lifting mechanics observed and quantified in the laboratory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 13: 20200907. doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2020.0907
Hambler C (2020) The ‘Noble false widow’ spider Steatoda nobilis is an emerging public health and ecological threat. OSF Preprints, axbd4, ver 4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Zoology. doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/axbd4
Isbister G, Gray M (2003) Effects of Envenoming by Comb-Footed Spiders of the Genera Steatoda and Achaearanea (Family Theridiidae: Araneae) in Australia. Journal of Toxicology 41(6): 809-819. doi.org/10.1081.CLT-120025346
Pickard-Cabmridge O (1879) On some new and rare British spiders, with characters of a new genus. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4: 190-215. doi.org/10.1080/00222937908679818
Rayner S, Vitkauskaite A, Healy K, Lyons K, McSharry L, Leonard D, Dunbar J, Dugon M (2022) Worldwide Web: High Venom Potency and Ability to Optimize Venom Usage Make the Globally Invasive Noble False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Theridiidae) Highly Competitive against Native European Spiders Sharing the Same Habitats. Toxins 2022, 14, 587. doi.org/10.3390/toxins14090587
Scott C, Gerak C, McCann S, Gries G (2018) The role of silk in courtship and chemical communication of the false widow spider, Steatoda grossa (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Ethology 36: 191-197. doi.org/10/1007/s10164-017-0539-3
Snazell R, Jones D (1993) The theridiid spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) in Britain. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 9: 164-167.
Vetter R S, Adams J R, Berrian J E, Vincent L S (2015) The European spider Steatoda nobilis (Thorell, 1875) (Araneae: Theridiidae) becoming widespread in California. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 91(1): 98-100 dx.doi.org/10.3956/2014-91.1.098
Vetter R, Swanson D, Weinstein S, White J (2015) Do spiders vector bacteria during bites? The evidence indicates otherwise. Toxicon 93: 171-174
Vitkauskaite A, Dunbar J, Lawton C, Dalagiorgos P, Allen M, Dugon M (2021) Vertebrate prey capture by Latrodectus mactans (Walckenaer, 1805) and Steatoda triangulosa (Walckenaer, 1802) (Araneae, Theridiidae) provide further insights into the immobilization and hoisting mechanisms of large prey. Food Webs, December 2021, 29:e00210. doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2021.e00210
Vossbrinck C, Krinsky W (2021) Envenomation by Steatoda borealis (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Connecticut, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 58(6): 2538-2539. doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab142
Legend
Seems like our South American papers don't exist! (just joking)
@@eduardofaundez7760 Holy cow, Eduardo Faundez is in my comments??? I just saw your new paper on that S. triangulosa bite case yesterday! And NOW I'm seeing your paper on that S. nobilis bite in Chile. Sorry! Thanks so much for the comment, though!
Also, I'd never heard of "recurrent arachnidism" until I read your new paper, so now I'll be looking into it more!
@@travismcenery2919 no problem, comment was really joking!!! Although is so bad it is in Spanish, there is a letter to the editor in a Chilean journal that is worth to mention, because craziness and lies in the media about S. nobilis as it was just arrived to Chile. I'll say media went twice (and I'm maybe short) wild than the ones in the UK!
@@eduardofaundez7760 I didn't know the Chilean media went crazy about it, too! I feel bad for only focusing on the English-speaking world. Interesting that the Chilean media did the same thing. That's unfortunate.
Great spider lectures. Thank you. I am a 75 year old grandmother who has been catching spiders for observatio since I was a small child. I love watching them in their terrarians and feeding them annoying pest insects. I watch 'Dave's Little Beasties"
I LOVE Dave! You go, Lady! I like you.
My Dad was from Chard Sommerset, Dave looks and acts just like my beloved father.. @@SithMami
My professional adult children think I am nuts. It is so nice to know of kindred spirits.@@SithMami
its like you got stuck in an elective you really didn't care ab out but the teacher actually cares about teaching you the stuff and is good at giving you the facts so you all of a sudden really care about the class anyway. Like, than you for making this channel its fun
I absolutely love this description. Thank you!
I can’t believe this series isn’t more popular, great videos
Haha, are you kidding? This channel has the highest views-to-videos ratio I've ever seen! He's only posted 5 videos and he's exceeded 100k views on 3 of them! That's amazingly impressive! Loads of other UA-camrs take many years to have even one video reach 100k.
It seems to be on its way thanks to viewers like you. Thanks!
He’s jus’ gettin’ started! 😎
Fr
Saaaame
We've actually had some false widows appear in recent years. The generic name for the ones we have are just 'cupboard spiders.' They have the faint purpleish coloration. I've seen about 3-4 mature ones over the course of a couple years, even got bitten by one in my sleep. I know this because when I woke up lying right next to my bed was the poor thing curled up in their death pose. Wasn't a bad bite at all, little red bump that only mildly hurt for a day. I mostly find them wandering around on the floor, I assume as they look for a new place to set up shop. I prefer finding them rather than finding actual black widows since they are both very common in my area.
This video is an hour long and I am here for it.
Phew, because I was worried this was way too long.
@@travismcenery2919 Brutal indeed, lol. Joking. Loved it.
On any of my favorite channels I'm ALWAYS down for the longer ones ~!!
Same here. I am the type of person to spend hours going down Wikipedia rabbit holes and these videos are like that but very entertaining, often downright funny, and I love his clear passion about the subjects only possible from someone truly invested in the subject matter.
@@travismcenery2919 loved this video man . LOVE the series !!!
It’s so obvious how much this channel is driven by a love of science and learning. Every video has been such a treat and an invaluable resource!
Thanks so much! I'm really glad you're enjoying the channel.
❤ i appreciate your Scientific diligence. It's a rare thing. Most humans tend to prefer sensationalism over factually correct information.
Thanks so much! I enjoy the work.
Most humans? As compared to...
impressive presentation. I'm increasingly impressed with the resilience and intelligence of spiders the more I learn about them.
Me too. And thanks!
I'm increasingly spraying permethrum all around my house, basement, and garage. Very frightened.
hahahaa! thought you were spraying PLUTONIUM at first glance at your comment!@@mikezylstra7514
I have been long awaiting a new episode of this series and the fact it’s on a spider very relevant to where I live made it well worth the wait
Glad to hear it!
Cyper WSP is a water-suspended powdered form of permethrum, which you spray around and it's deadly to insects like roaches, ants, crickets, etc., and they track it into spiders' webs killing them too. Got rid of black widows in my house/yard/shed in the Mojave Desert which is loaded with widows.
I love how supportive the comments are and glad to see there is a space where spiders can be appreciated for their ecological value ❤
I am consistently blown away by the support and encouragement I get from my viewer base. Thanks!
I'm only halfway through this and I just have to commend you on the amount of work and detail put into this.
I find S. borealis in my basement pretty regularly, and I enjoy watching how they wrap things up. Their strategy for larder beetle larvae seems to be: get it up off the ground and anchor/immobilize the tail (the swingier/stabbier end) first. Then bite off some of the long guard hairs, and I often see them attempt to bite off the larvae's two tail prongs - which is hilarious, like me trying to chew off a buck antler. I've yet to see this be successful but it's curious that they even bother, given that the tail is usually well-immobilized at that point anyway.
Edit: my guess about the bat pup, it fell and was already dead or near dead of exposure when the spider found it and wrapped it up.
We used to have a black widow problem in our basement and window wells, but the one year we had a sudden shift to false widows (borealis). Assuming that they had taken over the territory, we've made an active effort to keep these ones around. We haven't seen black widows since, and they're very polite. We find them in the wells in summer, the ventilation in fall and the main house over winter when we have the heat on.
Bald middle-aged highly-educated man talks about small bugs for one hour, im sold
Same :D
Me too.
Id i remember correctly he doesn't actually have any academic qualifications in this area he's just really knowledgable
The false widow is probably the third most common spider I find in my house after the cellar and giant house spiders, and like you, when I began looking up information about them, I found very little in the way of useful information. I didn't have time to do any detailed research so when I saw this upload I settled in for a nice listen. I always found these spiders quite pretty by spider standards, I think the proportions are pleasing but that could entirely just be my bias. Unlike cellar spiders, I was always more proactive in removing them as I knew they can bite. I am not necessarily scared of them, I just don't want to be bitten! I had one encounter where a false widow crawled across my face while I was asleep and woke me up. I don't think the poor thing realized she had awoken a veritable monster. She found a nice little crease in my bed sheet to hide in until I scooped her into a glass and let her outside. I believed she was responsible for the tangle of webs in the corner of the room beneath my bed, but after watching this video, perhaps she had even taken it over from a previous spider.
Thank you again for another great video for those of us too busy to do our own research. I recently purchased a field guide to Britain's spiders to help with identification of some of the rarer spiders (diversity of creatures in the UK are small, but I was surprised to see how thick the book was), much to the horror of my mother, who can't imagine why I'd take an interest in such creatures! All thanks to you ;)
Wow, I'm glad it was helpful! My mother is still horrified but she's been supportive nonetheless. I'm still not sure how I talked her into letting me get my first tarantula when I was a teenager.
@@travismcenery2919 Wow you must have been very convincing! I am in the process of buying my first house and I intend on getting a tarantula once I'm settled. No way would my mum let me take a tarantula into her house. My family thinks I am doing it on purpose! A tarantula to keep my mother away and a snake to keep my grandfather away... I promise I'm not.
The false widow is one of the only spiders that freak me out. Most spiders tend to stay away from me even inside the house. Like those cellar spiders or daddy long legs we used to call them - those tend to build a web in the corner of a room high on the ceiling and chill there. They don't bother me, I don't bother them (until spring cleaning lol). The house spider I see in autumn can frighten me when they quickly dash across the room, but are generally shy and seem to run away fast.
However False Widows are just plain evil. I once woke up midnight, turned on lamp, and saw a False Widow scuttling over my chest. I struggled to sleep after that. I just hate how bold and careless they are as spiders, and because of the risk of nips, I can't tolerate them in my house.
@@skycloud4802it was just a sex crazed male looking for some nookie. The females just stick to their web and don’t wander, however the male has no interest in biting us we are just a moving tree to them.
My house is absolutely full of these (the noble false widow). I live in England and 5 years ago id only heard about them but never seen one. Now i see them every day all over my house, they are in my brothers house, my friends houses they have quite literally taken over the country. I hadn't actually noticed until watching this video and learning that they prey on the common house spider (the big buggers) that i haven't actually seen one of those for years and they used to be everywhere, i guess the false widow is now effecting their numbers dramatically.
This was a really interesting video thanks for covering it in so much depth and detail.
Glad you found it interesting. Yes, the Noble false widow has done a pretty good job of establishing itself as the dominant spider in much of the UK.
I first learned about this genus yesterday afternoon when I rescued an old graphing multimeter out of the trash at my college. The case it came in had several of these cuties in it, and even though I'm not in latrodectus country, I panicked a tiny bit. Really funny seeing this in my recommendations within a day of that happening, really well presented too.
Well that was lucky, glad you enjoyed it.
I had a rough, lousy day at work, you don't know how much it means to me to see a new video. I love this series!
I sing along with the theme, please never change it! 😅
ditto on the theme and singing
🤗
Means a lot to me to hear that, my friend. I'm really glad I could brighten your day.
Kinda waiting for someone to remix it though.
you got to sing the song, thats like when when you were a kid watching blue's clues and not answering the questions. What kind of monster dose that.
Horrified of spiders myself but I am able to sit through your videos purely do your energy and jokes, and it's slowly making me less afraid! Keep it up🤗
The fact that spiders understand mechanical advantage is terrifying.
And fascinating at the same time. ;)
I really admire the time and effort you put into making these videos, from gathering and distilling all the scientific papers, to gathering (but hopefully not distilling) actual spiders, to putting together and editing the actual video. It's great to have info like this presented in an accessible and easily digestible manner for the average non-arachnologist
Thanks so much, I'm glad it's helpful. And no, none of the spiders I use for my videos get harmed - while I understand lethal methods are sometimes an unfortunate necessity for scientific research, I'm not at that level. I keep them in captivity for a period, do some photo shoots with them, but they're eventually released safely.
@@travismcenery2919 For the photo shoots, do you have them sign model releases?
A detailed and thorough video regarding this entire genus. I truly appreciate all your work on these videos; the information is fascinating.
Glad it was helpful!
This is genuinely, one of the best videos I've seen on a subject I would have never cared to research myself. Entertaining, engaging, and laced with subtle and brilliant humor. I really wouldn't mind if this series continued in these hour-long adaptations compared to the relatively short videos that it started off with in comparison. Hats off mate, bravo.
I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I was worried about the length but there was just so much to cover. A lot about a video is determined by how much available research there is on a given species. This next one coming up had next to no research done on it, so it will feature some of my own observations. Stay tuned. ;)
I agree. I study the biology and ecology of these spiders. I am especially interested how thermally labile they are.
Thank you for this video, I have a Steatoda grossa who has been living in my bathroom I tried taking her outside once thinking she’d prefer living outside but she was scared she rolled into a ball and played dead so I scooped her back into my cup and put her back in my bathroom on the ground in front of her web and she stopped playing dead and ran right back into her web, it was that moment I realized just how intelligent she was and that we are now going to have to share my bathroom.
Most recently she moved into another spiders web I have reason to believe she ate the other spider and stole its web.
That is so cool to hear. I love when nature interacts with us. I have this pair of crows that greet me every morning when I walk my kitty. My wife says they want to eat my cat but even when I walk alone ill caw caw and a few seconds later, one if not both fly up to the power line closest to me.
I used to see a spider every day during my walk but it got super hot and when I went to see Mr. Spider, he was dead. No lie, I cried a little. Poor guy was curled up and just hanging in the net. I'll still walk by where it was but it is not special anymore.
Please give updates on your Spider. Did you name it?? If so, what? 😊
thank god you posted, i binged all your videos a week ago and was really awaiting your next video, and im so glad that its on one of my favorite type of spiders :)) just recently fed my steatoda paykulliana, and god i love the way they create trip lines that go from their web to the ground. thank you for the 1 hour long video, cant wait to watch it all over and over again. much love
Glad you're enjoying the channel! And yeah, once I learned how these theridiid webs actually work, they went from boring to fascinating really quickly.
I just need to say how much i appreciate your videos, throughout my entire life i've jumped at every opportunity i can get to help any creatures i come across as well as the local ecosystem (sometimes just picking up garbage , other times saving baby birds whos nest was blown over by a storm, it varies) but my irrational fears of bugs & especially spiders dissuaded me to truly respect them as creatures & especially as part of the environment, after being subscribed for a few months that's no longer the case so thank u
Wow, it's amazing to hear that this channel has made a difference like that. Thanks for the comment. Good luck as you overcome those fears!
Yessss, I've been waiting for another episode, and this one is perfect considering the first spider I found since winter was a steatoda triangulosa, thank you for your research, unironically my favorite series on UA-cam rn❤
Thank you, that is really nice to hear.
I was hoping an episode with this spider
You're welcome, and thanks for the comment! You don't need to be too worried, I don't think, just aware.
Love me some spiders! You combine interesting spider facts with humor and explanations that are simple enough for goobers like me to understand. Thank you for the awesome videos!! Keep up the good work, always get excited when you upload lol
Thank you, that is so nice to hear.
This series you're doing is exactly what I wanted to see! Very good work. I been fascinated by my dozens of spiders living throughout my place. I throw critters near their webs often.
I'm glad the channel is hitting its mark. Thanks so much for the comment!
Severe arachnophobe here- these videos have helped me reduce the amount of panic attacks I get from spiders (I know they’re usually harmless, it’s entirely out of my control), and while these vids usually help me calm down, this made me realize the spider I thought was harmless was actually a black widow. So, thanks for that. Keep up the great work!
I really love this channel! I used to be afraid of spiders 'til I learned more about them, and since then I've been trying to learn more about spiders and lots of other creatures just to gain better understanding! I'm on my last semester of undergrad right now, so it's incredibly nice to see this level of research. It's like a really fun lecture!
Glad it was helpful, and good luck with your degree.
The entire segment of the Noble False Expansion is absolutely fascinating. (All of this is fascinating)
I bet you would get a lot of views regarding Brown Recluse spiders. There is a lot of hubbub about them and there are enough misinformation and mis-identification of them that makes me think it is click bait worthy.
I love this series. I got recommended your newest video and I'm watching them all. This is phenomenal stuff. You have a very good sense of presentation and amazing jokes.
Yay! I’m so excited to see a new video!
I truly don’t like spiders. But I am a SUCKER for long learning videos like these. The format and presentation of the information plus your voice and personal presentation of the information is perfect. Thank you sir
You're most welcome.
Girlfriend and I threw this up on the big screen as soon as we got off of work. Love it, Travis 👍
Glad you two enjoyed it! Nothing like arachnids for a little romance, I guess...
I accidentally brushed my hand over a false widdow on my wall. It was a bit shooken up, but it didn't bite me and it definitely could have. The various spiders and I have a good raport. I think most people would think I'm crazy for letting so many spiders share my living space, but they're good roommates and really helped cut down on the moth problem I've had for quite some time.
My room is most heavily occupied by cellar spiders, and they're more intelligent than people realize.
Almost every spider bite I've had has been right along the pant line when they somehow get up under my shirt when I'm gardening.
I'm the first to admit that I had no previous interest in spiders.............but your channel showed up in some recommendation list and I decided to give it a go. I now have more than a passing interest in spiders and am a devoted subscriber. As with other channels I watch, it is not only for the "topic" - my interest is fueled by the presenter. A rational, factual, well written and well spoken presenter, who doesn't sensationalize and/or preach, who can inject humor without being obnoxious, and who has decent or better production values is all it takes to get me interested in a new field of study. You, sir, fit all the criteria. So, yeah, now I am interested in the spiders in my house.................
Thanks so much for this. I'm really happy that the videos land with you, and I hope you enjoy learning more about them in the future!
Bruhhh. You're a legend
I have been hooked since I found this channel a few months ago. I love the dedication to being as accurate as possible.
That is so nice to hear. I love working on them.
So. . . mostly harmless, to quote Douglas Adams.
I would like to add that the injection site bacterial infection theory may be focused on the spider, but secondary infections can happen many other ways that have nothing to do with the spider itself. Like in cases of unconfirmed 'hobo spider' bites, although those can be incredibly nasty, secondary infection could be caused by poor hygiene and the case of other infections on the body that carry harmful bacteria at the time that the victim takes a hit from a complex cytotoxin. Cytotoxins are often attributed to having a very interesting autoimmune response in those who are more or less sensitive to it. Autoimmune responses can cause necrosis and necrotic tissue often provides a home to necrotizing bacteria. Since our bodies actually usually deal with this sort of bacteria in symbiosis, the same bacteria can act differently in that sort of environment. So, although the venom itself is sterile prior to injection, the site or the surface of the spider's fangs can be compromised, the effects it causes can be quite toxically necrotic. I do really want to hear you do a study on hobo spiders to clarify the actual danger compared to the sensational danger. They are still dangerous and I have seen some awful confirmed bites including my own father. They are so hard to differentiate from brown recluses when squished, though.
Amazing video, I'm sure it was a ton of work and you did a great job!
Thanks a ton!
Just wanna thank you for making these videos, they're both entertaining and informational!
I used to be terrified of spiders and bugs in general, but now I'm the complete opposite after watching your videos. I love learning about spiders and have gotten over my fear of them, I have two Steatoda triangulosas living in the corners of my room and I've been observing them, they're so cool and I'm really glad that I can appreciate them more now.
I love this series and always looking forward to your future videos!
Oh yes exciting, I've been waiting for a new episode, and it's an hour! Awesome stuff man. I can't wait for spring to settle in so I can see some more spiders.
Thank you so much. I am also looking forward to seeing more spiders.
Like with all long videos, I decided to watch this one until it got boring, then quit. This has been one of the very few videos I've encountered that not only kept me engrossed throughout, but left me disappointed that it was over already. Excellent work.
Wow, that means a lot, thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
Poor Steatoda Nobils has a bit of an underserved reputation here in the UK. They particularly love south facing (getting max sunshine) UPVC conservatory windows seemingly. Very gentle and just sit there quietly waiting for that rather elusive fly (except for 3 months of our year!). Love your videos. Thanks Travis
Thank you so much! And yes, while they can wreck a person's day, they rarely do. They'd rather avoid you.
I 'rescued' a girl from the crack of a slightly opened porch window. We were about to move and I thought the new residents might squash her accidentally, or on purpose. She thrived in an enclosure and had many babies. She was very shy but I managed to video her tackling a mealworm.
Thanks so much for each of your videos. I have a healthy respect for spiders, especially when they run across the wall when I'm not expecting them, but your videos have allowed me to study many of the spiders in and out of my house much more closely than I otherwise would have. Wonderful and important information.
This guy just keep changing my mind about spiders, i always feared them but now i kinda like them, thanks (i guess, idk spiders are still kinda scary and even tho theres alot of evidence that they are sometimes "good" it still creeps the f out of me when i see one walking close to me) but still really good job ur doing my guy, keep up the good work
Thanks, it means a lot to hear!
I am in the UK, I am a gardener in Torquay, where the noble false widow first were found, and they are everywhere round the south West, I got a few indoors keeping the mosquitoes at bay... But just to inform ya.. They do bite and it hurts.. I've been bitten about 5 times and it always swells up and goes rock hard, itching and sore.. It goes red for days.. Also can make you feel a bit sick... Takes about a week and a half to go away.... _depending on how much damage from scratching I had done 😁👍
Yess!! Spider vid time!!
Love that every video on this channel get’s longer and longer as time goes on. Can’t get enough of spiders and am patiently awaiting the 8 hour video on brown recluses.
The brown recluse could probably be a whole series. I am both looking forward to, and dreading, the day I tackle that one. ;)
Babe wake up, new the spiders in your house just dropped
Thankyou for your fascinating informative and funny videos. I have started , at 58, (its never too late) to study the tiny jumping spiders in the UK , as a focus for my mind in fighting depression. Your Videos are so accessible and really hold my attention. So thankyou for your generous efforts and I really look forward to more. Sincerely .
Amazingly interesting!!! Thank you!!
Brilliantly researched, well presented and with a nice touch of humour. I live in Kent, UK and I have loads of false widows living on the fence and shed. Their population has "exploded", I rarely see other species. I appreciate all the info you have provided. Being over an hour long I wondered if it would drag on, but every segment was fascinating and note worthy. It was like sitting in a really good lecture!
Straight up, everytime I see a spider I freak, but I love spiders. I've puked, frozen, and I guess about a seizure while huntsman fell on me in a crawlspace. I love your work, I love spiders, something in my brain does the thing. You're the best, brother!
"But occasionally in Alaska. I... dunno." As an Alaskan, this is a common theme.
The UA-cam algorithm somehow recommended me one of your videos, and I ended up binging all of them, despite not really caring about spiders at all. So well polished and informative while being fun to watch.
Honey come quick hour long spiders in your house dropped
😅
I love when UA-cam recommends channels like these to me. I'm new but I have already watched so many videos. Thanks for the new hyperfixation! :)
These are the spiders under your bed ~
In your closet, in your head!
Man, you can't tell how much I love these sort of videos and this focus on scientific views, especially nowadays. Super great to have you around! Keep it up, you're awesome! ❤
Thanks so much, I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!
Yay, more spiders!
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to covering not just spiders, but the ones in and around our houses. I've tried finding out bits of information about these guys as I observe them, and run into a lot of the same misinformation and ambiguity that you've come across, and I can only imagine how much work this really does take.
I'm a bit of an amateur at macro photography, and if you need pictures of a particular group, I may have some that you are more than welcome to use in your videos, and I have some tips and tricks for how to get surprisingly good photos/video with just a phone and some affordable accessories.
Thank you. If you follow me on twitter, I often put requests for photos on twitter. @travismcenery
These are the spiders in your house!🎶
Crazy! I have been a fan since your first video and I was literally just looking this genus up waiting for your next video to come out. Wow! 1 hour! No wonder it took you a minute to publish. Thank you! We appreciate you!
Thanks a lot! Yeah, this one took a lot of work but it seemed like an important genus to cover.
He dislikes slimy mango fruit. He appreciates the writing of Dostoyevsky. He produces hour long videos about misunderstood house spiders.
And yet they say the perfect man doesn't exist.
Oh, believe me, my flaws show up off-camera more than often enough. ;)
he protecc
he attacc
but most of all, new-spider-video-just-dropped, he bacc
3:04 He was so great in Dances with Wolves!
I just found your channel and as a recovering arachnophobe, it's possibly my new favorite. I'm only about a minute into the intro but I can't wait to get into this video. I have actually had a few known spider bites, one that triggered my phobia and took months to heal and the latest from a what I know was of the cobweb family. And I believe a triangulate. And that experience actually helped me get better. I didn't feel the bite initially but it quickly got itchy with just a tiny pinpoint stinging feeling but I can say the sensation was mostly just inconvenient. Another thing I found fascinating was that it got kind of concerning looking pretty quickly which turned out to be allergic lymphangitis. But I knew the signs to watch for it being anything more serious and it didn't do much but itch after that. Also I really hope to see a bold jumper video someday. They are my favorite. Just recently I was photographing one and noticed for the first time it had brilliant emerald chelicerae😍
I live in a very old three story house in England. There are so many false widow spiders, most of which are the noble kind. I was a bit hesitant to watch this as it might make me fear these little roommates that hang around and keep my room free of wasps that I'm allergic to. Now after watching it, instead of fear I have a greater fascination and respect for them.
Spiders of all varieties eat canned cat food, too. They seem to like all types but are especially fond of chicken. (Isn't everyone?) I feed feral cats and I've found spiders dining on the canned food many times. (I usually have to save them when I bring in the bowls to wash them and find the spiders floating in the water when I soak the bowls.) I also have had the occasional spider in my house fill up on my cats' food, too.
That's interesting. I wonder if it's a certain species. I know there are some spiders that will scavenge like that, though most will only eat live prey.
Strangely one of my favorite channels here, strictly because it's an educational passion product that aims to help others understand the 8 leggers' shenanigans. Your channel next to DankPods (an audio tech channel) is probably one of my most sought after uploads, dead serious.
Thanks so much, I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!
This is great! I love you and your channel. Please keep this up. Your format and production value is similar to youtubers 100x your size. I hope this channel grows so that more people can learn about these awesome creatures.
Thanks so much! I appreciate the support and the shares.
I enjoy listening to your videos while I’m working, so when I saw this one was an hour long, I was pretty excited for that.
Great work on this one.
Thanks so much! I was worried the length would be a problem but I guess it works. I've heard some people use my videos to go to sleep to, so this one works for them, too, I guess.
Haha! I might have done that a few times, but I always watch the rest of it with much interest when I wake up.
Can't believe I didn't see this in my recommended until now! Made sure to turn on all notifications 🙏 Excellent work, Travis :} Your stuff is, no joke, probably some of my favourite on UA-cam. Dense, informative videos, paced wonderfully with witty humour and a sense of compassion and reason. Keep it up!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it.
I found two of the cupboard spiders hanging out together and wasn’t sure what they were so I put them in a jar with a wide mouth and I’m studying them. These spiders are my vibe. After watching this video I have so much respect for them. Thank you for your labor on this video! (I will be releasing the spiders asap)
I have been excitedly waiting for a drop! ❤️
My new favorite channel. Love the scientific based info and especially, the comic relief! Thank you.
This genus is so neat. I got a chance to work closely with one for a research project I did for university. It was on the evolution of spiders over millions of years. Did the presentation with a pet G. porteri (rose hair tarantula) and a wild caught S. grossa. Giving a presentation while handling the false widow is certainly a test in multitasking but it’s also an incredibly effective way to get people to pay attention to a student project.
Your channel is criminally underrated, I love your videos. I'm sure i've been across some Steatodas in Valladolid, Spain. but with this newfound knowledge, not sure anymore if Nobilis or what. In cracks in the walls, rotten furniture left outside, and other in plant pots, in a funnel-like structure, quite fast, quite big. I wish the pics i took from them would be better and not the blurry mess most of them are.
Much love from Spain!!
Insane amounts of work must go into these, they're so good
Yes, they are a lot of work, The fact they are being enjoyed makes it worth the work.
You can keep your hat, and I'll keep watching. Great video, Travis!
I have literally HUNDREDS of the nobilis variety living under the siding of my house... they suddenly appeared in 2017, shortly after we installed the new siding... 🤔
I’ve actually encountered noble false widows while in South San Francisco. One was living under a power box and I immediately recognized the widow-like body plan, which sorta freaked me out and led me do some research on what exactly I was looking at. But even with that preamble research, I learned so much watching this video. Hopefully I’ll see more of them the next time I visit California. Or maybe they’ll start living where I live, given how expansionist they are.
Man me and my best friend have been loving your videos. I'm just a fan of in depth videos on random niche topics and your spider videos are great, but she loves spiders a ton so its fun to have something to bond over when you post a new video!
I love stories like that. When 2 different interests match up, and you can bond. glad you guys enjoyed the video.
Enjoyed every minute of this, especially the telling contrast of dog-induced hospitalizations versus confirmed serious spider bites. (And I like dogs as well as spiders.) Your word play is a treat to me as a language fan. This kind of material demands a light approach, and you manage that while keeping it all scientifically grounded.
I absolutely love this series! Thank you so much for making these. (Note: I
Glad you're enjoying it! The cheese test will probably come up again, but it doesn't work so well with theridiids. It's a lot more effective with active hunters.
I watch these videos nearly every night to help me get ready for bed. Thank you for making such relaxing and informative content my friend
You're very welcome! Glad they're helpful.
Great work, I'm extremely impressed with your research, you take an immense amount of care to collect the most accurate info possible which is unironically an impressive feat in our modern day.
Thanks really great to hear, thank you. That's what I'm aiming for so I'm glad it's hitting the mark.
As someone who isn't necessarily a fan of spiders I find your videos very well done and informative. I can't stop watching and it's great.
Thanks so much! I find the more I learn about something, the more interesting it becomes.
My Triangulosa just had her first of five egg sacs hatch! The baby spiders are BEYOND CUTENESS. Love your work, Travis. Someone from Arachnoboards pointed me toward this video!
I have a female false widow living in a hole in the side of an aluminium ladder next to the door of one of my cattery pens. I always check her every night and l was delighted to learn more about her life. Thank you. It was a fascinating hour.
Glad you found it interesting. Did you name her by chance?
I live in Gosport, UK, and we are the other side of the harbour from Portsmouth. I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of these spiders over the years. I was moving some boxes only yesterday, and ended up finding one and handling for the first time to move it out of the way. I'm breaking down my fear slowly. I keep Tarantulas, but small spiders like the false widow are worse for me.
Steatoda borealis? At this time of year, in this part of the country, localized entirely in your basement?
I feel like I've heard this said before...
I have a huge female Steatoda Nobilis in the top corner of my living room. She's very dark coloured and is now three years old at least. She is always in the same place. One I found inside the battery cover of my car happily travelling around the country- they are so adaptable. I'm in the southern UK. Loved your video, thanks for posting.
Thanks for your thoroughness in your research. Not many youtubers do this, with the appropriate attitude.
"Emptying the mag" oh man this made me laugh, love it
These videos are fantastic and exactly what I've always wanted. I love knowing what kind of spider I'm looking at, but I've always wanted to go beyond that and know something about their individual biology and ecology. And here you've gone and delivered exactly that in a series of engaging, well-written videos with great visuals and plenty of humour. Keep up the great work!
I watched the whole video after work it was totally worth it! Its good to know all that pieces of new information with clarifications about spider species, especially from you
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Great video, Travis! I recently stumbled across your channel and have been enjoying the great content. I'm commenting from Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom and have always been interested in spiders. I spent lots of time as a child in the garden searching for spiders, and although I'm no arachnologist, I feel that I can identify a fair few of them on a basic level. Very common around here are lace-weavers, although the black lace-weaver seems to be less common. Depending on the time of year, other common sights include various types of orb weaver, wolf, and the zebra jumping spider. Indoors the cellar spider is a frequent sight, and to a lesser extent the mouse spider. My personal favourite would have to be the giant house spider, which my brother and I would go looking for the very biggest we could find as youngsters! I'm 27 now and from time to time still go outdoors just to see what spiders I can spot. It was the summer of 2023 when I was surprised by a new type of spider that I'd never seen before, which, after doing some research, I believed to be Steatoda nobilis. I found two such spiders, and was surprised by their size and their presence in webs that appeared very similar to typical house spider sheet webs. It was quite startling to see these spiders which I'd never encountered before, particularly when they emerged crawling quite sinisterly on the underside of their webs! Both spiders were large and a dark brown to deep red in coloration, with some lighter markings on the abdomen. Strangely one of these spiders had decided to make it's home in the woodwork surrounding our garden pond, with the web stretched precariously over the water below. Again, great video and I look forward to seeing more! All the best, Luke.
So engaging! The hour went by like nothing!
My hat goes off to you for making such a well researched and interesting video, and for how good you presented them! I realistically do not expect this long format to be habitual, I assume the workload would be brutal for you, but it will be very welcomed treat in the future
Thanks. This one was tough, I'm hoping to do a shorter one soon.