Spiders are a little creepy and you might not want them in your home. They can leave behind cobwebs and they sometimes will bite humans. Spiders are not all bad though. Having them around the outside of your house, like in your garden, can be great. They can help to take care of insect problems.
Pest Control in Gardens
There are a variety of different insects that can infest gardens and destroy your crops. Applying an insecticide will work to eliminate them, but they are usually toxic and not very environmentally friendly. If you, your children, or your pets come in contact with the insecticide it could causes irreversible neurological or nerve damage.
An alternative to using insecticide is to just let spiders do their jobs. Spiders are naturally aggressive and predatory. They feed on ground and flying insects that you do not want infesting your garden or yard. While they will not be able to completely eliminate a pest problem, they can make a difference. Other beneficial creatures for your garden are ladybugs and praying mantis. These insects will also feed on other insects that can eat your crops.
Fly and Mosquito Control
Not only will they remove pests from your garden, but they can also help get rid of flying insects that carry diseases. Backyards are usually common places that filth flies like to hang out in. They love barbecues and pet feces. If you have spiders in your yard they will have webs set up around the area. The result is a lot of these flies will get caught an eaten. The same thing goes for mosquitoes that come out at dusk to feed on you. They will also get trapped in the spider webs and devoured. So, next time you are sitting on your patio and there are no flies buzzing around and you are not getting bitten by mosquitoes, you might consider thanking the spiders around your home.
Part of the Food Web
Spiders are a major food source for many other animals. Without them, ecosystems would quickly collapse. A variety of birds, lizards, frogs, and other animals rely on spiders for food everyday. So, while you might like seeing spiders around your house, they do provide a valuable benefit to the planet.
Venom
The venom of spiders can be harmful to humans, but at the same time beneficial when used correctly. Spider venom has long been used to produce a number of medical breakthroughs. Some of these new medical technologies include pain relief, anti-venom, stroke treatment, and erectile dysfunction. The venom of different animals are some of the most hopeful candidates for future medical advancements.
Silk
The silk of spiders has been by humans for a long time as well. One of these applications was to use the silk for cross-hairs in scopes for microscopes, telescopes, and rifle sights. Spider silk continues to provide breakthroughs in the field of optics to this day. The silk can also provide some medical benefits. It is high in vitamin K, and therefore can be used to clot blood, and possibly produce faster healing.
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