It's fall, so you're going to see more spiders out and about. Here's what to know.

EVANSVILLE – “Why would I be afraid of something that’s trying this hard to get away from me?” asked insect and spider guru Kevin Wiener, founder of the All Bugs Go to Kevin Facebook page and educator on all things bug-related.

He was referring to a camera-shy wolf spider scurrying through the grass away from the lens.

We were out looking for spiders because it’s the time of year when the big ones come out, all grown up and spinning webs in your landscaping, next to your porch lights and across the sidewalk (gulp).

You might notice a quarter-sized behemoth hanging beside your door and wonder what kind it is and whether it’s dangerous.

The answers are: That's probably an orbweaver and no, so please curb the impulse to grab a flamethrower.

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Orbweavers come out in the fall

Orbweavers are the quintessential fall spider. There are hundreds of types, which differ dramatically in size and appearance, but they (mostly) spin the classic round, spiral “spider web” shaped webs. The big’uns you’re likely to notice right now are dramatic black and yellow Argiope aurantia or yellow garden spiders, also called writing spiders because of the zipper-like stripes they weave into the center of their webs; or the plump brown Neoscona crucifera or spotted orbweavers. Spined micrathena and arrowhead orbweavers are smaller but also very common.

Orbweavers of all sizes prefer to hang quietly in their webs or hide nearby under a leaf. Yellow garden spiders, which can have a leg span of about three inches, spin webs between the stalks of tall grass or other plants and are out during the day.

Spotted orbweavers usually take down their webs every morning and build them again at dusk, often near a light source that attracts flying insects. In either case, once they find a spot they like, they stay there. They usually don’t want to come in your house or climb onto you.

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Do they bite?

“Spiders are not out to bite you,” Wiener said. “All they need to do is feed, molt, and grow until they reach maturity and reproduce. Spider bites typically occur when they’re trapped in your clothes or shoes. Outside of that, if they are on you, they are likely to just jump off. I used to be afraid of spiders; they were my number two animal fear behind snakes, and I’ve overcome my fear of both by learning more about them and observing them. It helped me see they weren’t trying to cause me harm.”

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should attempt to pick up or touch these spiders. While not "poisonous," they can and will bite to defend themselves, especially if pressed or squeezed, and some people may be allergic to even mild venom.

“If you choose to touch any animal, whatever happens is on you,” Wiener said. “No spider, not even a black widow, is going to set out to bite a human. But, anything can bite.”

The best course of action is to just leave them alone. Spiders eat many pest bugs and Wiener reminds us that they serve another important function.

“One of the reasons that all bugs are beneficial is that they make so many offspring,” he said. “Only a small percentage will survive to adulthood, and the rest become a food source for other animals. You might not like spiders, but they are feeding things like birds that you probably do like.”

If you’re intrigued about spiders or any other bug, Wiener enjoys bringing specimens to schools and events, including tarantulas that participants may gently handle.

"I wanted to learn as much as I could about them and now I want to help other see what I see in them,” he said. “Spiders are beautiful and fascinating animals.”

To contact Wiener about educational opportunities, message him through social media at facebook.com/groups/AllBugsGoToKevin.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Orbweavers coming out for fall season in Evansville