Why do spiders love gas meters?

[d000hg]

We've an outside meter, just underground with a lid on top. I could just tell when we moved in that there would be a big house spider in there, and there was. I squished it with a shudder and cleared out the webs. Next time I come to take a reading... oh look another giant spider.

What makes this such a perfect spot - I can't imagine other insects go in there and surely a big spider needs to eat quite a lot? And why do housespiders make those really thick webs? They always spin them in places that seem unlikely to catch anything, like underneath things and in corners and crevices. Great for scaring people, less so for catching prey - especially as their webs aren't even sticky.

Also... how does a spider that big manage to spin a web in the first place - they weigh a fair amount and their webs always seem more like a dense carpet than a web of strands.

Any experts here, Xog perhaps?

[mudskipper]

We've an outside meter, just underground with a lid on top. I could just tell when we moved in that there would be a big house spider in there, and there was. I squished it with a shudder and cleared out the webs. Next time I come to take a reading... oh look another giant spider.

What makes this such a perfect spot - I can't imagine other insects go in there and surely a big spider needs to eat quite a lot? And why do housespiders make those really thick webs? They always spin them in places that seem unlikely to catch anything, like underneath things and in corners and crevices. Great for scaring people, less so for catching prey - especially as their webs aren't even sticky.

Also... how does a spider that big manage to spin a web in the first place - they weigh a fair amount and their webs always seem more like a dense carpet than a web of strands.

Any experts here, Xog perhaps?

They get high on the gas smell. Why not stick your head in the oven for a while and see if it works for humans?

[Mich the Tester]

Obvious innit. Don't YOU love gas meters?

[northernladuk]

Cause they have problems pressing aerosols and squeezing glue tubes IMO.

Just hope they are all non smokers. Better check as it might invalidate your insurance.

[suityou01]

We've an outside meter, just underground with a lid on top. I could just tell when we moved in that there would be a big house spider in there, and there was. I squished it with a shudder and cleared out the webs. Next time I come to take a reading... oh look another giant spider.

What makes this such a perfect spot - I can't imagine other insects go in there and surely a big spider needs to eat quite a lot? And why do housespiders make those really thick webs? They always spin them in places that seem unlikely to catch anything, like underneath things and in corners and crevices. Great for scaring people, less so for catching prey - especially as their webs aren't even sticky.

Also... how does a spider that big manage to spin a web in the first place - they weigh a fair amount and their webs always seem more like a dense carpet than a web of strands.

Any experts here, Xog perhaps?

My son would go bananas as it's "one of God's creatures".

[Mich the Tester]

My son would go bananas as it's "one of God's creatures".

Sounds like he already is bananas.

[suityou01]

Sounds like he already is bananas.

Well the banana doesn't roll far

[northernladuk]

My son would go bananas as it's "one of God's creatures".

Does he eat and wear them like he does many other god's creatures?

[d000hg]

My son would go bananas as it's "one of God's creatures".

Sounds like a pansy to me. Ask him if he'd refuse antibiotics and refuse to use antibacterial handwash...

Anyone got any serious answers? It must be effective or they'd starve...

[Mich the Tester]

I still can't get my head around someone calling a gas meter 'one of God's creatures'.