Whether spiders hibernate or not is dependent upon the particular species that spider is. For instance spiders such as the garden orb weavers, different widow varieties and argiopes only live during one season and die during the winter, leaving behind thei egg sac for next season. Other species such as the fishing spider or the tarantula that typically live longer, may hibernate in winter by spending their time underneath the bark of trees or rocks, in cellars, attics, etc. Some adults even survive by preparing a winter nest of silken webbing under loose bark within which they are insulated from the cold.
In several species of spiders, young spiderlings hatch out and then remain in a communal webbed egg sac through the winter. Those spiders that hibernate in leaf litter and rock piles are not usually found to be in a deep sleep and on mild winter days may be found crawling about in search of insect food that is plentiful and easy to secure in its dormant state.
Steven Graham says
October 1, 2014 at 11:17 amIs there anything we can do to save our garden spider that laid 2 sacks of eggs for next spring she is big & beautiful never seen anything like her. Should I be afraid to have thousands of spiders that will be born in the spring,
spiderkiller says
February 26, 2015 at 4:20 pmkill with fire
Ripley says
June 17, 2015 at 10:46 amNuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Phil says
September 23, 2016 at 2:32 pmWonder of you are just a twat or American well it fits either way
sparks13 says
September 30, 2018 at 10:59 amObviously, we know you’re a twat Phil, and a coward to boot.
Mo says
October 2, 2015 at 9:50 amI don’t know the answer to your question , but how sweet that you want to save her. Every life has a value. As for all the baby spiders, they will disperse and find new homes so you won’t be over run 🙂
John says
December 14, 2016 at 2:50 amWe have a few big black ones who seem to like indoors during winter but they tend to hide out when things get chilly. Under no circumstances would we kill… they are our friends. They clear area of other bugs. They vanish in spring.
20 years ago, one morning, I sat in my garden and watched a spider weave it’s web. That did it! Brilliant! Since then they are welcome in my kingdom. Occasionally I’ll lift one out of our bathtub (a real spider trap) and set it free behind a piece of furniture.
Fahad Pall says
July 5, 2017 at 1:19 amYou’ve got to be kidding me with a spider trap. How do you trap a spider?
Irene says
October 31, 2017 at 8:53 pmI think he meant that spiders are attracted to the bathtub (probably because of humidity and spiders need water just like all of us) and just trap themselves there, not being able to get out.
Jane says
September 26, 2017 at 10:07 amYou have to let Mother Nature take its course- as sad as it may seem. I find spiders fascinating too and find it interesting to observe them. I have two orb weavers with beautiful webs and am sad that I just found out that they don’t survive winter - so I will look forward to watching the offspring next year-
Bekah says
December 13, 2015 at 10:31 amWe have a large orb weaver who is still alive in mid-December. She looked dead for the last several weeks, but (and it is supposed to snow tonight!?!) she just took a stroll around her web this evening and then went back up to the top where she slept all summer. This is high-altitude northern New Mexico…I know tarantulas can hibernate but I can’t find anything about orb-weavers hibernating!
Jerry Simpson says
October 31, 2016 at 1:00 amORB WEAVERS OR ARGIOPE ARANTIA usually only live one season ……their eggs sacs remain in a designed web to hatch later on……….I have one ever year in our back garden here in TEXAS and as of now she’s laid 3 sacs over the summer and she’s still going strong!
Charlet says
June 19, 2017 at 5:45 amHi
I just got a Salmon pink bird eater terantula ( I think) and it was fed before I got her. Shes not moving even if I pick her up. She’s cold but not stiff. Is she going to be ok? Its really cold here