Hi,
I keep meaning to call the audubon center to ask this question, but i never remember to make the call. Scared to ask anyone at work cuz they already think i'm kinda strange. So I'm gonna ask my spider question here...

My cat peed on my jeans, so I left them hanging outside till I was ready to do laundry. About three days go by before I remember the jeans. I go to take them inside, but there a three spiders on them. But they weren't just sitting on the jeans, they had actually spun a cocoon-type enclosure and were hanging out inside the cocoon. Very strange, but kinda interesting. I watched them for a little while --one of the spiders was not done yet with its cocoon so I could still see some of him exposed. The other two had completed their cocoons, but I could see them moving around inside the cocoon. I have never seen this type of behavior before. Maybe they're just relaxing for the day and will come out at night to spin their webs. Maybe my jeans were just a good place to shelter them somewhat from the cold breeze. So i leave them be.

I check on my jeans that night. Two of the spiders are gone, but one remains. I gently peel of the cocoon and let him go on his merry way. Then I pick up the jeans to take them inside ...but I see a couple of other spiders parachuting off of my jeans. Ughh! Are there more? I think. I look at the front & back of the jeans, but I don't see anymore spiders. Then I look down the pant legs ...and there are several more spiders and cocoons.

So my question is what's going on???? Have my jeans become some sort of luxury spider hotel? Anyone know what the spiders would be doing building cocoons? Could they be laying eggs for the winter before they die? My only knowledge of spiders is from the book "Charlotte's Web" so I don't have much to go on. Any spider experts out there who could shed some light on this for me?

One last thing ...the reason I don't just kill them is because I've always liked spiders. Plus I'm a little bit of an animal nut so I have a hard time killing creatures --even if they are only insects. :o

GingaGirl,

I don't know what to tell you, but your question made my day. You are a sweetie & very funny:) GD

Hi,
I keep meaning to call the audubon center to ask this question, but i never remember to make the call. Scared to ask anyone at work cuz they already think i'm kinda strange. So I'm gonna ask my spider question here...

My cat peed on my jeans, so I left them hanging outside till I was ready to do laundry. About three days go by before I remember the jeans. I go to take them inside, but there a three spiders on them. But they weren't just sitting on the jeans, they had actually spun a cocoon-type enclosure and were hanging out inside the cocoon. Very strange, but kinda interesting. I watched them for a little while --one of the spiders was not done yet with its cocoon so I could still see some of him exposed. The other two had completed their cocoons, but I could see them moving around inside the cocoon. I have never seen this type of behavior before. Maybe they're just relaxing for the day and will come out at night to spin their webs. Maybe my jeans were just a good place to shelter them somewhat from the cold breeze. So i leave them be.

I check on my jeans that night. Two of the spiders are gone, but one remains. I gently peel of the cocoon and let him go on his merry way. Then I pick up the jeans to take them inside ...but I see a couple of other spiders parachuting off of my jeans. Ughh! Are there more? I think. I look at the front & back of the jeans, but I don't see anymore spiders. Then I look down the pant legs ...and there are several more spiders and cocoons.

So my question is what's going on???? Have my jeans become some sort of luxury spider hotel? Anyone know what the spiders would be doing building cocoons? Could they be laying eggs for the winter before they die? My only knowledge of spiders is from the book "Charlotte's Web" so I don't have much to go on. Any spider experts out there who could shed some light on this for me?

One last thing ...the reason I don't just kill them is because I've always liked spiders. Plus I'm a little bit of an animal nut so I have a hard time killing creatures --even if they are only insects. :o

I don't know either.. About what u said about the luxury spiders hotel, heh so funny :D

I'm not a spider expert, but my intuition says they were spinning their egg sacks. My farm is covered with them right now, so I would guess it is the same for you.

I can't help you I'm sorry........ I hate spiders, I fear them !!

If we were voting on this I'd vote to leave the jeans for the spiders. I'm wouldn't wear them again :D

Hmm, well, they could be sheltering themselves for the winter, or they could be laying eggs. It's interesting that they chose your jeans to hang out in! What did the spiders look like?