Spiders…Good, Bad or Indifferent?
Three-quarters of the human population is intimidated by spiders in one way or another – and there are about 3,400 species reside in North America alone. Spiders are beneficial to our gardens and homes. This is particularly true about the nonpoisonous and harmless varieties. Spiders aid in controlling the populations of other household pests such as grasshoppers, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and aphids.
Often having some spiders in the house is a natural way of dealing with your pest problems, removing the necessity of buying pesticides. Through limiting the populations of other disease carrying pests, spiders may significantly prevent the onset of several diseases otherwise borne by the pests they control.
Tale of the Spider – Basic Characteristics
- Class -Arachnida (Latin) (Note…spiders are not classified as insects)
- Legs – eight
- Body segmentation – two body regions
- Wings – none
- Eyes – three or four pair of eyes
Behavior
Some spiders like moisture and are found in basements, crawl spaces and other damp parts of buildings. Others like dry, warm areas such as subfloor air vents, upper corners of rooms and attics. They hide in dark areas. Tens of thousands of spider species have been identified throughout the world. Many have poor vision, but some species of spiders, such as the jumping spider, have exceptional eyesight.
Food Preferences
Typically, spiders feed on insects, other spiders, and any other prey they can subdue. Spiders do not have chewing mouthparts and commonly utilize digestive enzymes in their saliva to break down prey before consuming it. Additionally, the gut of a spider is too narrow to allow for consumption of large food particles. Almost all spider species are predators, although one plant-feeding species has been documented.
Reproduction
Females produce an egg sac from which emerge spiderlings. Spiderlings undergo a series of molts (shedding outer skeletons) and eventually become adults. Males of many spider species court the female. For example, male jumping spiders perform elaborate dances to attract the attention of a female. Mating can be a dangerous event for males since they often become a meal for the female afterwards.
Silk Manufacture
Spiders can produce silk that is elastic, adhesive, and strong. This silk is used to spin webs as well as to construct egg sacs and line spider dwellings. The size and shape of spider webs vary by species: some are orb-shaped, while others are funnel-shaped; some webs are orderly, while others appear haphazard. Some spider species live in burrows rather than webs, while others are free ranging and take refuge in crevices.
Unintended Entrance
Loose screens and cracks under doors, windows, and other openings are all possible entryways for a spider. These pests may move indoors while searching for food, mates, warmth, or moisture. When other insects emerge from their dormant states and start reappearing indoors, your building becomes a prime destination for hungry spiders. Spiders are also accidentally introduced inside homes when they are unknowingly introduced to the home’s interior via infested items such as plants, firewood, clothing, and other items stored in attics, basements, or other storage areas.
Do Spiders Pose a Health Risk?
While most spiders pose little or no danger to people, some species can deliver venomous bites that may cause significant medical issues. In the U.S., the two most common venomous spiders are the brown recluse, distinguished by the violin-shaped marking on the top of its cephalothorax, the body part consisting of the spider’s fused head together with its thorax. The other important venomous spider is the black widow, notable for the red hourglass shape on the underside of its jet-black abdomen.
Common Spiders You May Encounter
Jumping Spider
All spiders can spin silk, but not all spiders create webs. For example, the jumping spider does not spin a web but rather waits for a fly. Jumping spiders are ambush predators. They wander around until they find their prey. Once found, the jumping spider will attach a bit of silk to its starting point and then perform a jump attack. The line of silk acts as a bungee cord that protects the spider from falling and getting hurt. Jumping spiders often hide in the spaces around your doors and will get inside whenever you open one. Baby spiders are small enough to fit through many of the cracks and gaps around your doors and windows. Bites from jumping spiders can be painful but are not considered to be medically significant.
Brown Spiders
Common
There are hundreds and hundreds of little brown spiders. They range from wolf spiders to grass spiders and everything in between. Most brown spiders are wandering spiders that stalk prey and attack. Many are active at night. Other types of brown spiders will build funnel-looking webs and wait for prey to fall inside. Since they are small, it is easy for them to find a way inside of your home. If you use firewood, do not store it inside of your home. Many brown spiders love wintering in firewood. The warmth of your home will bring them out of hibernation. To avoid an influx of spiders during the winter, burn your firewood while the wood is still cold.
Painful and Poisonous Spiders
Most spiders are terrified of you. Venom takes a lot of energy to create, and they do not want to waste it on something that cannot be a food source. Spider bites most often occur when a spider feels threatened. That means if a spider gets caught between skin and clothing, or bedsheets and skin, it will bite. The spider feels like it is going to be smashed and will bite to protect itself. There are, however, a few spiders that will bite without provocation.
The yellow sac spider has been known to bite people without any reason. The good news is that while painful, yellow sac spider bites are not medically significant.
Black Widow
The most dangerous spider you will likely encounter in the northeast of the U.S. is the Black Widow. Their venom is a neurotoxin that disrupts the communication of your muscles, including your heart. While most people will recover from a black widow bite, you should always seek medical attention.
Brown Recluse
Another spider you do not want to cross is the brown recluse. It looks like a common brown spider, but its bite has often been associated with skin necrosis. In distinguishing the brown recluse from common house spiders, the brown recluse is all-brown with a violin shape on its back, while the house spider is brown with stripes on its thorax and a zigzag pattern on its abdomen. Brown recluses love hiding in stacks of wood or cardboard. If you find poisonous spiders in or around your home, a call to Millette Pest Control is a must…we are trained to eliminate the problem.
What Can you Do to Prevent Spiders?
Spiders often come into your home because they think it is a safe place for them to live. These simple practices will show them your home is more hostile than friendly:
- Remove outdoor debris. Spiders like to hide and make webs in debris. Getting rid of it will help eliminate spider real estate.
- Keep your home clean. When you dust and vacuum, you eliminate established webs and egg sacs. Once a spider’s home is destroyed, it will look for a new place to live. Plus, keeping your home clean helps prevent visits from the other insects that spiders feed upon.
- Change outdoor light bulbs. Spider food (insects) are attracted to white outdoor lights. Replace outdoor bulbs with those that cast a yellow light to detract insects.
- Seal cracks around the exterior of your home, and repair or replace window screens. Do not give spiders an easy but hidden way to enter your home.
Millette Pest Control – Your Best Resource for Spider Control and Elimination
Millette Pest Control will conduct a thorough inspection to find where spiders are nesting and determine the causes of the infestation. We can identify spiders that may be considered dangerous and remove them in safe manner. Most important will be their instructions on how to make your home less conducive for these eight-legged invaders.