Keeping spiders around could reduce hay fever symptoms, research claims
Spiders could be our unexpected ally in the fight against hay fever so leaving them alone could help you both
NEWS
By Andrew Nuttall
29 JUN 2024
A small spider's web could be doing more good than harm for hay fever sufferers (Image: Getty Images)
The thought of keeping spiders around the house and garden may send shivers down the spine of arachnophobes. Those who'd rather endure watery eyes and sneezing should know there's scientific evidence to suggest letting these eight-legged friends set up their homes near yours could be beneficial.
As summer hits its peak, with pollen levels soaring across the UK, hay fever sufferers are all too familiar with the discomfort it brings. Yet, this spider-based remedy might just be worth considering.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have discovered that spiders aren't exclusively the predators we often think they are, with some species making pesky pollen up to a quarter of their diet. Dr Dirk Sanders observed that orb web spiders, commonly found in gardens, opt for pollen even when insects are on offer.
The study revealed that the robust silk of spider webs not only captures their typical insect meals but also ensnares airborne pollen and fungal spores. Orb web spiders habitually consume their own webs to reclaim the silk proteins, leading to speculation that pollen ingestion might occur inadvertently during this process.
Dr Sanders, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus, clarified: "Most people and researchers think of spiders as pure carnivores. But in this family of orb web spiders that is not the case.", reports the Mirror.
"We have demonstrated that the spiders feed on pollen caught in their webs, even if they have additional food, and that it forms an important part of their nourishment. The proportion of pollen in the spiders' diet in the wild was high, so we need to classify them as omnivores rather than carnivores."
The Met Office also explained how, although usually carnivorous, certain spiders feed pollen to their young. It's not known how they manage to eat it though, since their mouths are not large enough but, that said, less pollen in the air means less going around to make hay fever symptoms worse.
According to the National Library of Medicine, baby orb-weaving spiders appear in spring when insect prey are scarce but pollen and fungus spores are abundant. Microscopic organic matter may be the main food of orb-weaving spiderlings, with insects providing only a dietary supplement.
Next time you see a spider web in your garden it might be a good idea to keep it where it is. It could be a natural net waiting to catch not only garden bugs but pesky pollen that's causing just as much of a nuisance to some.
The thought of keeping spiders around the house and garden may send shivers down the spine of arachnophobes. Those who'd rather endure watery eyes and sneezing should know there's scientific evidence to suggest letting these eight-legged friends set up their homes near yours could be beneficial.
As summer hits its peak, with pollen levels soaring across the UK, hay fever sufferers are all too familiar with the discomfort it brings. Yet, this spider-based remedy might just be worth considering.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have discovered that spiders aren't exclusively the predators we often think they are, with some species making pesky pollen up to a quarter of their diet. Dr Dirk Sanders observed that orb web spiders, commonly found in gardens, opt for pollen even when insects are on offer.
The study revealed that the robust silk of spider webs not only captures their typical insect meals but also ensnares airborne pollen and fungal spores. Orb web spiders habitually consume their own webs to reclaim the silk proteins, leading to speculation that pollen ingestion might occur inadvertently during this process.
Dr Sanders, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus, clarified: "Most people and researchers think of spiders as pure carnivores. But in this family of orb web spiders that is not the case.", reports the Mirror.
"We have demonstrated that the spiders feed on pollen caught in their webs, even if they have additional food, and that it forms an important part of their nourishment. The proportion of pollen in the spiders' diet in the wild was high, so we need to classify them as omnivores rather than carnivores."
The Met Office also explained how, although usually carnivorous, certain spiders feed pollen to their young. It's not known how they manage to eat it though, since their mouths are not large enough but, that said, less pollen in the air means less going around to make hay fever symptoms worse.
According to the National Library of Medicine, baby orb-weaving spiders appear in spring when insect prey are scarce but pollen and fungus spores are abundant. Microscopic organic matter may be the main food of orb-weaving spiderlings, with insects providing only a dietary supplement.
Next time you see a spider web in your garden it might be a good idea to keep it where it is. It could be a natural net waiting to catch not only garden bugs but pesky pollen that's causing just as much of a nuisance to some.
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