## 1. Types of Pesticides: Various pesticides (acaricides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) have different effects on spiders. Acaricides and insecticides are particularly harmful, especially neurotoxic ones like pyrethroids and organophosphates, which affect the spiders' nervous systems.  ## 2. Common Enemy: The Role of Fipronil: **Fipronil** is one of many *broad spectrum insecticides* from the class **Phenylpyrazole.** These agents target the central nervous system of insects by blocking *GABA-gated chloride channels,* which leads to hyperexcitation of the nerves and, ultimate deterioration.  - a. **Direct Lethal and Sublethal Effects:** Fipronil is especially potent, causing both lethal and sublethal effects. While it directly affects survival rates, it also subtly disrupts behaviour and physiological functions like movement, reproduction, and prey capture. - b. **Behavioral Impacts:** At lower doses, Fipronil doesn’t always kill spiders outright but can make them less effective predators, reducing their mobility and hunting efficiency, thus weakening their natural pest control role in fields.  ## 3. Relevance in Captive Care Intoxication related to these agents often results in the deterioration of the target host; however, this is not always the case. Sublethal Effects can impact target hosts and modify behaviour long-term, leading to negative performance and behavioural impacts on individuals, offspring, or broader populations.  - **Fipronil Intoxication** since Fipronil is commercially available as a flea and tick preventative in pet care products (such as Frontline) marketed for cats and dogs, it may be commonly found in keeper homes. Intoxication usually occurs when keepers interact with their spider, the environment, or prey with unwashed hands, resulting in cross-contamination. For this reason, hobbyists should always include a *quarantine* and *cross-contamination avoidance protocol.* - **Remember to always wash your hands** when working within multi-specie households and be cognisant when interacting with animals abroad. Exercise particular caution during *flea and tick seasons.* Related literature: Spiders (Araneae) in the pesticide world: an ecotoxicological review Stano Pekár∗ > Abstract > > Being one of the most abundant and species-rich groups of natural enemies occurring in all agroecosystems, spiders are variably affected by pesticide applications. Here, a review is given of research on spider ecotoxicology. More than 40 species of spiders and almost 130 pesticides (acaricides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides) have been tested so far in the field or under laboratory conditions. Field studies show that the degree of population reduction following pesticide application is a function of a number of factors inherent to pesticides, crops and spider species (guilds). These studies also revealed indirect effects via habitat and prey disruption. Among laboratory studies, a number of papers have investigated only the direct lethal effect. A meta-analysis of these data reveals that spiders are mainly affected by acaricides and insecticides, particularly neurotoxic substances. Currently, ecotoxicological research on spiders is focused more on direct sublethal effects on a variety of behavioural traits (locomotion, predation, web-building, reproduction, development) and physiology. Yet a standardised approach to the evaluation of sublethal effects is lacking. A few studies have provided some evidence for hormesis in spiders. Future research should be more concentrated on sublethal effects and the estimation of long-term changes in spider populations as a result of pesticide treatment. ![[Pest_Management_Science_-_2012_-_Pekár_-_Spiders_Araneae_in_the_pesticide_world_an_ecotoxicological_review.pdf]]