Wow...that was interesting...

I'm taking clothes out of the washer to put them in the dryer when what peeks out from under said dryer? A large spider about an inch long, light brown, with dark stripes down its back. I froze. It wasn't so much out of fear as not wanting to scare it off. It didn't strike me as dangerous, for some reason, but I get nervous about spiders (or any insect/arachnid) larger than my fingernail. Well, it skittered off back under the dryer and I immediately got online to find out wtf it was.

At first, I found a really bad picture of a brown recluse and thought it could be right. I called a good friend of mine who mentioned it might be a wolf spider, but wasn't sure since I couldn't give a better description. I kept looking around online until I found a much better pic and read up on it.

Turns out he was right...it IS a wolf spider. This explains a lot. I was wondering why I haven't seen a roach in a few weeks. I mean, I don't have any infestation problems, but I am in Texas, so the BIG outdoor ones tend to make their way into either my kitchen or bathroom. Most of the time they're on their back, dying, where a few spritzes of ammonia window cleaner hastens their demise, much to my glee. I HATE roaches. I at least have a healthy respect for spiders. And whatt'ya know...wolf spiders EAT cockroaches and are apparently harmless to humans!

I know some people aren't gonna like this, but I'm letting it live. After confirming the species so decisively, I have no reason to go on a hunt for it. Why kill it if it's staying (mostly) out of sight and feeding on that which I HATE? Hell, I don't like killing things needlessly. Flies and gnats are the exception since they tend to fly straight for my FACE or land on the TV or computer screen as I'm using them...or attack my pizza left (box closed) on the stove for 15 min. At least spiders generally stay put, waiting for my agitators to come to them. Hey, it's a win-win I say!

Thank GOD for the internet. Had I not found out what it was, it'd be dead and I'd likely have a roach on my kitchen floor first thing tomorrow morning. I'll take the hidden, harmless spider over a plainly visible cockroach any day.

Yeah...I think I'll keep it!

(When most people search for a stick, shoe, or bug spray, I hop online...am I a nerd or what!)