When they are confined to gardens, spiders are beneficial. This is because they are capable of consuming many insects, a number of which are considered pests.
Most of these spiders are not particularly dangerous. They are more likely to leave people alone, and they are not known for causing a great deal of property damage. Accordingly, many people are inclined to think of spiders in the house as a nuisance.
Unfortunately, this leads them to take no action in a situation that actually may be quite serious. This is because spiders feed on numerous destructive insects such as termites, carpenter ants and carpenter bees. Even other, somewhat less destructive species can cause massive disruptions in households.
All of these insects may be eaten by spiders. Controlling these insect populations is the best way to discourage spider activity in homes. The wisest course of action for controlling pests is to ask an exterminator to handle the job.
WHAT DO SPIDERS LOOK LIKE?
All spiders are eight-legged arachnids, but their appearance can widely vary.
Agrarian sac spiders have dark brown chelicerae while the rest of the body may be anywhere from light yellow to cream colored. Females usually measure around five to 10 millimeters in length with the males growing to a maximum of eight millimeters.
Female broad-faced sac spiders generally measure between seven and 10 millimeters with males measuring only six millimeters. The chelicerae and carapace on these spiders are reddish brown, and the abdomen may be light gray or pale yellow with a darker dorsal stripe. This species is distinguished by their thin rear legs and thicker front legs.
With their dirty white abdomens that include distinctive dark stripes, common house spiders are among the easiest species to identify. They have abdomens that are shaped like spheres. Females grow to as much as eight millimeters long, but the males measure a maximum of five millimeters.
Often identified by their funnel-shaped webs, the rarely-seen grass spider has long spinnerets. On their abdomens and carapaces, they tend to be brown or yellowish-brown and have dorsal markings. While some females may measure as much as 20 millimeters, the male can grow to as large as 18 millimeters.
Cousins to the agrarian sac spider, long-legged sac spiders are similar in size. Their coloring tends to be similar as well, but the cephalothorax tends to be pale yellow and the abdomen exhibits a greenish tinge.
At more than six millimeters long, female wolf spiders look quite ferocious. This is mainly because they are covered in brown, gray or black hair.
WHERE DO SPIDERS LIVE?
Many of the spider species that are frequently encountered in Feasterville are most likely to be found beneath stones, boards and leaf litter. Alternatively, they may conceal themselves beneath the edge of siding on a building or under a windowsill. Indoors, these spiders may lurk in cluttered, dusty, dark areas.
Some spiders, such as the common house spider, are more likely to be encountered indoors than in the garden. These web spinners generally prefer elevated locations like the upper corners of rooms, light fixtures or the upper corners of windows.
Other web spinners prefer to stay closer to the ground. They may spin their web across the surface of grass or soil.
WHAT DO SPIDERS EAT?
Spiders sometimes eat each other or other arachnids. However, a variety of insects tends to make up the majority of their diet. The spider's preferred habitat may have an influence over the food they are likely to consume.
Web-spinning spiders that place their webs in elevated locations are most likely to trap and eat flying insects such as mosquitoes, butterflies, moths and flies. Spiders that spin webs across ground surfaces or that do not spin webs at all are more likely to eat walking insects such as crickets, grasshoppers and beetles.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY SPIDERS
Unlike termites and rodents that are capable of causing wholesale property damage, spiders are relatively benign. Nonetheless, their many webs do cause an unsightly mess, and many people are bothered by the need to constantly clean up after them.
Many homeowners are extremely upset when they discover spiders in their home. These unpopular pests give plenty of people nightmares, and it can be difficult to relax when a large scale infestation is underway.
Moreover, it is possible that the spiders are feeding on insect species that are destructive. This makes early action imperative to ensure that damage is minimized.
ARE SPIDERS AGGRESSIVE?
Spiders generally prefer to ignore people, but they will bite a person if they feel threatened. In fact, some species, like the long-legged sac spider and the agrarian sac spider, are known to bite without provocation as they crawl across a person's skin, which may make it particularly vital that an infestation be addressed with all possible speed.
DO SPIDERS CARRY DISEASE?
Spiders may be a threat to human health even if they do not transmit diseases with their bites.
Most spider bites are relatively harmless, featuring minor reactions that may include redness, swelling and itching, sometimes for just a few hours.
Agrarian sac spiders and long-legged sac spiders have particularly painful bites, and some victims experience a severe reaction that includes malaise, fever, nausea, cramps and burning.
Additionally, the broad-faced sac spider's habit of feeding on decaying arthropods and then biting people may lead to medical complications. People who experience unusual health symptoms after a spider bite may need to visit the doctor.
HOW TO DETECT SPIDERS
The following signs may indicate a potential spider issue:
• Frequently walking into spider webs when entering or leaving the home • Constantly needing to remove spider webs • Encountering spiders indoors on a regular basis
HOW TO PREVENT SPIDERS
To help avoid a spider problem the following steps should be taken:
• Routinely knock down spider webs on building exteriors with a broom • Power wash building exteriors once or twice per year • Remove clutter from around building exteriors and interiors • Vacuum and dust indoor areas to remove spiders and webs • Prevent trees and plants from touching building exteriors • Have regular pest control services performed • Eliminate cracks and openings in the building's exterior
HOW TO TREAT FOR SPIDERS
Proper spider treatment involves the detection and elimination of all webs. If this is not done, spiders are likely to re-infest the structure. Generally, spider infestations should be treated by a pest control professional with the equipment and experience to get the job done safely and effectively.
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control, Inc., we do not take your spider problems lightly. That is 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.
