More and bigger spiders noticeable in Montreal this fall, says Prof. Chris Buddle
As spooky decorations go up around Montreal this October, real spiders are also becoming more prevalent.
Entomologist Chris Buddle, 91社区's Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) and Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences,聽 that聽spiders become bigger than normal and are seen more often as winter approaches.
"The reason they're large is because they're ready to lay their eggs," he said. "Then the female spiders will die once the colder weather and the frost comes."
In particular, mature orb-weaver spiders are big and very noticeable during this season.
"If you remember the story, Charlotte's Web, she builds that beautiful web with the hub in the middle and the spirals around it," he said. "Those are the species that are quite large, and that we're seeing quite commonly this time of year."
As spiders try to move indoors to escape the cold, it's worth noting that they can actually do a lot of good in our houses.
"They're eating other little critters that we don't want in our house and having them up on the crown moulding or down in the basement, they're really not harming much," he said.