Jim Saitman wrote:
"They bite me and the dogs, too."

many people think this however there are only a few species that can break
our skin
blackwidow
hobo
brown recluse
orb
and a few others depending where you live in the USA

however if they were really biting you, you would probably end up in the
hospital on a regular basis as all the ones mentioned have a very powerful
bit save for the black widow, it is more like a bee sting.

i suspect you are having a reaction to fleas or psocid's or perhaps
mosqitoes maybe even spring tails


As I have actually seen a spider bite me, I think I know when I say
'they bite me and the dogs.' This reminds me of those who insist bees
are not a danger and they will leave you alone. Bees and wasps and
hornets for some reason are attracted to me (all my life) and will in
fact chase me down and sting me if I do not escape or kill them. This
has happened many times. Folks shouldn't always be so sure of what they
think they know. It is a larger more diverse world than at first apparent.

We have rather large spiders all around the outside of the house (about
3/4- 1" in body length not including the legs) I have not been able to
identify from the pics I see on the web, partially because I can't get a
good look at them as they won't hold still and are seen mostly at night.
They are aggressive and charge at me. I am afraid they will come in. We
also have quite a few funnel web spiders in and around the orchids
outside which are now coming in (problem!). I have found that they do in
fact bite humans, in addition to the smaller beige ones we usually have
in the house.

So I don't want them to be in the house. I want them gone or dead. No
ifs, ands, or buts. But I have to be concerned about the dogs and the
plants in the process.