by Richard Fagerlund
Scripps Howard News Service
Q: Two or three weeks ago, I found a tiny spider in a package of champagne grapes grown in Fresno, Calif. As of this writing, or at least an hour or two ago, it was still alive, in with the grapes in the refrigerator. I'm not sure what to do with it. It doesn't look like the spiders I have seen in the house on other occasions.
Those spiders are grayish and have long legs, whereas this one has short legs and is a light yellow. I like spiders and don't want to kill this one. Should I put it in my garden, or does it have special needs? Would it live in my house or would the other spiders eat it?
A: You can put the spider outside somewhere where it won't come in contact with anyone. It is a yellow sac spider. And while it looks harmless enough, it has a very nasty bite. The bites are not normally lethal, but they can leave horrendous scars.
I was recently eating some grapes and was just about to put one in my mouth when I saw the little yellow spider on the grape. I would have regretted putting that spider in my mouth if I had not noticed it.
So while it is not necessary to kill it, you don't want to put it anyplace where you will interact with it.
(Send questions for Richard Fagerlund to University of New Mexico Environmental Services, Physical Plant Department, 1818 Camino del Servicio N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87131-3500 or e-mail fagerlun@unm.edu.)
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