At the same time, the spider wraps the prey in a shroud of silk. The hind legs pull out silk from the spinnerets and fasten the silk to the insect s body while the front legs turn and spin the prey. Later, the spider returns and, with its fangs, sucks out the liquefied contents of the body. The empty shell is then cut out of the web and allowed to drop to the ground. Control Weather is the worst enemy, especially drought and excessive rain.
Many birds feed on garden spiders, as do some parasitic wasps and ants.
No control on the part of humans is necessary, unless the spiders find their way into greenhouses, sheds or houses. The most effective control is cleaning up debris that would shelter the cocoons. If a chemical treatment is necessary, pyrethrins are effective for quick knock-down, with little residual effect. Rating Good Guy . Although the garden spider does not discriminate between beneficial and pest insects, the number of winged pests outnumber the beneficials.