WINNIPEG — If you’ve noticed one of these large spiders in your yard, or perhaps several of them, you’re not alone. The rather large arachnids are likely a garden orb weaver or a wolf spider and entomologist Taz Stuart says this is the time of year when we see the most.
“I think a lot are noticing them because they’re so large and that’s where people go ‘oh my, are they dangerous, can they bite me’? No they’re not going to bite you. Their fangs won’t be able to break the skin,” says Stuart.
When Global News posted this picture of a toonie-sized orb weaver Tuesday, hundreds were quick to take to social media in response, many posting their own photos and referring to the ones in their yards as “pets”, even giving them names like Rex, Matilda and Goliath.
Others referred to the images as ‘their worst nightmare’, many exceptionally creeped-out by the large visitors on their properties. Stuart says although tempting to kill them, they are beneficial, trapping many other insects with their large webs.
About to lay their eggs, the spiders are particularly large at this stage of the season. Stuart says they can lay anywhere from 50 to 200 eggs, but many don’t survive.