One of the few spiders in Bucks County that has a potentially dangerous bite is the agrarian sac spider. Bites from this arachnid are always excessively painful, but they occasionally also develop a complication in which the tissue in the wound decays.
With the combination of pain and possible complications, it is never a good idea to allow an agrarian sac spider to remain indoors. Still, a single spider is not necessarily cause for concern. Having one of these arachnids in the yard or landscaping actually is beneficial as this spider does have a considerable appetite for consuming pests.
What if the owner of residential or commercial property begins to notice several of these spiders living inside the structure? This indicates that the building has one or more vulnerabilities that are making it easy for spiders and other pests to come inside. With large numbers of these spiders present, the risks of being bitten multiply. It is critical in these circumstances for the property owner to contact a pest management professional.
Identifying the openings through which agrarian sac spiders and other pests are entering the building is not always easy or obvious. An experienced pest control technician has learned to spot the likely access points and knows precisely how to block them. This keeps pests outdoors where they belong.
Moreover, these technicians are licensed to utilize specialized products that help to put a permanent end to pest infestations in a manner that is both safe and effective.
WHAT AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS LOOK LIKE
The cream-colored or light yellow body of the agrarian sac spider makes it easy to identify members of this species from other common spiders in the region. The abdomen features a dorsal stripe, and the tarsi and chelicerae are dark brown. The legs are of uneven lengths with the forelegs being clearly longer than the other six. Five to ten millimeters is a common length for the adult female, but males tend to be smaller.
WHERE DO AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS LIVE?
These spiders tend to be nocturnal creatures as this is when their prey is most likely to be active. Daytime is spent in a silken cocoon that the spider weaves, typically in an elevated location. The cocoon may be placed in a tree or a bush outdoors, and finding one indoors may be as easy as looking at the seam between a wall and the ceiling in any room where sleeping sacs are likely to be placed. The sleeping sac is shaped like a tube and is approximately one-inch long. These sleeping sacs are one of the most prevalent signs of an infestation.
Agrarian sac spiders also like to be in surroundings that are dark, dusty and cluttered. This means that they are more likely to be found in storage rooms, sheds, garages and other places that rarely are disturbed. Still, if an infestation boasts a particularly large population, the arachnids may place their sleeping sacs in rooms that are routinely used by people.
WHAT DO AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS EAT?
Although the agrarian sac spider is capable of spinning webs, it does not use these creations to trap food. Instead, this is a hunting spider that uses its remarkable speed to chase and pounce upon insects and even other arachnids.
Agrarian sac spiders will eat virtually any insect, many of which people consider pests. A great number of these insects are hated pests in gardens, produce patches, orchards and agricultural fields, making agrarian sac spiders welcome visitors in many of these places. In general, these arachnids have no interest in the foods that people and pets consume, so food will not be contaminated by their presence.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS
Property owners probably will not notice any structural damage associated with infestations of agrarian sac spiders in Bucks County. Still, most people do not like to see multiple sleeping sacs scattered across a room, and cleaning them up can become an ongoing chore.
ARE AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS AGGRESSIVE?
Although the agrarian sac spider generally prefers to avoid contact with people, encounters frequently result in people being bitten. This is because the person surprises the spider while it lurks in a carton or other dark place. This propensity has given the agrarian sac spider a reputation for outsized aggression. With the bites being extremely painful, it is always advisable to avoid such encounters.
DO AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS CARRY DISEASE?
Agrarian sac spiders are equipped with venom, which is used to disable insects and arachnids that are going to be eaten. A small amount of this venom is transmitted with every bite, but the venom is not particularly potent on people. In general, this does not cause any illness.
An itchy red welt most commonly results from the bite of the agrarian sac spider. It can be extremely annoying for a day or two, but the symptoms typically subside fairly quickly. In some instances, the tissue at the center of the spider bite will begin to decay. When a bite from a spider is too slow to heal or shows signs of additional problems, it is wise to seek immediate medical assistance.
Excessive scratching can lead to infections in the wound as well. Occasionally, bite victims will experience an allergic reaction to the spider's venom. Nausea, headache and dizziness are the most common signs of an allergic reaction.
HOW TO DETECT AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS
Signs of an agrarian sac spider infestation include:
• Several people receive painful spider bites on the property • Sleeping sacs are found in one or more rooms • Spiders that are predominantly yellow or cream colored are seen
HOW TO PREVENT AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS
To help prevent agrarian sac spiders issues the following steps should be taken:
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they do not contact building exteriors • Seal up possible entrance points in building exteriors • Have routine pest control appointments to limit the food supply • Eliminate indoor and outdoor clutter
HOW TO TREAT FOR AGRARIAN SAC SPIDERS
The agrarian-sac spider is a serious pest and one that must be removed immediately. If a home or business owner suspects that sac spiders are present, a professional should be called since not only can females produce as many as 200 eggs in a mating season, but also cause painful bites.
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we don't take your spider problems lightly. That's why we use a multifaceted process including the treatment of wall voids, attics, and cracks and crevices throughout the premise with gels, dusts, and other specialized products to rid your Bucks County home or office of spiders.
