WilderKWight: We've had a large spider living in a ceiling-corner of our living room for about a year now. She's got a nice web, and she's right by the patio door. When we leave it open with the screen door closed, plenty of mosquitoes find their way in, and she takes care of a large number of them. She's happy, we're happy. She gets to stay.

She doesn't leave that corner. She's there all day and all night. In the daytime she retreats further back. At night, she comes out and sits in the middle of the web.

I really don't understand why people have a problem with spiders. With the exception of the ones that are genuinely dangerous to humans (black widow, brown recluse, etc.) spiders are quiet, clean, non-aggressive, and useful members of a household. Hell, I bet a spider does more to benefit a house than most of those little yip-dogs that are so popular.

All I know is that I'd have been tagged by more mosquitoes and the occasional horsefly if that spider weren't working the door.