Yellow Sac Spider - Vector Control Services - Alameda County

Yellow Sac Spider Chew Marks on Zip Sealable Plastic Bag
Observations 5
This is a sealable plastic bag (Ziploc) that a Yellow Sac spider was placed in one evening, but had
chewn it’s way out of by morning time. This was the second time this feat occurred by the able Yellow
Sac spider—escaping in the night. This is the only spider, over the years to chew it’s way out of a
plastic bag (authors observation). Other captive spiders, such as Black Widow, Wolf, Cellar, Orb
Weaver, Trap Door, Jumping Spiders and Wind Scorpions have pined for their freedom through the
night, but never put their mandibles to work to affect an escape!
Other interesting observations have been made regarding this spider, like curling up into a ball and
dropping to the ground when molested while crawling on a wall—they seem to be an expert in the
“quick-drop” and escape! Also, these spiders seem fairly flexible and are able to squeeze out of what
would normally seem to be a small opening (air hole) in a plastic container. And speaking of the quick
drop; this spider made me a believer in using a “motion detector” for the porch light, when one evening
I was entering my front door, something dropped on my neck, which I promptly whacked, and the Yellow
Sac spider was crushed by my blow! I did not feel a bite, but in the morning I had a small bump that
over the next few days developed into a pimple-like blister, that actually took months to completely
heal, and would occasionally break open and bleed. My dear doctor offered to excise the wound site,
but since it was but painful, only annoying, I let it heal on it’s own. Oh yes—the small crickets that I
feed to the other spiders, kill the Yellow Sac spiders… go figure!
5. Observations by Daniel Wilson ACVCDS