WHAT ARE Spider Pest Control?

Spiders are arachnids with eight legs, six to eight eyes, and two body segments like ticks and scorpions. They differ from insects which have three body segments. There are over 40,000 known species of spiders that are found all over the globe on every continent except Antarctica. Of those 40,000 species, roughly 3,000 are found in North America. Spiders don’t have wings or antennae and instead have pincer-like fangs that they use when getting food. Most spiders use webs as their way to catch their prey which is typically insects. Although not all spiders hunt with webs, all spiders produce silk which they can use to build webs, climb, tether themselves to things, create egg sacs, make nests, and many other things. Spiders on average can vary in size from 0.5 to 90mm (0.02 – 3.5 inches) but can be even bigger with the largest spider reaching up to a foot long. Among the common spider species in our area are: American House Spiders, Jumping Spiders, Wolf Spiders, Black Widow Spiders, and Brown Recluse Spiders.

ARE SPIDERS DANGEROUS?

Spiders are undoubtedly one of the most hated insects in our lives today. They are constantly making webs in our basements and seem to show up everywhere. The good news is that most spiders are actually harmless to people, although there are some species that can be very dangerous. Most won’t come near you and even if they do bite you, they most likely won’t inject any venom. Of the 3,000 species found in North America, only about 60 of those have actually been found to be dangerous. Though most spiders are harmless, there are some species that we need to be wary of because of the threat they pose to you and your family. Among these spiders that can cause harm are: Hobo, Yellow Sacks, Brown Recluse, and Black Widow. Brown Recluse spiders are a species that are not commonly found in homes, but when they are, they need to be taken care of quickly. The Brown Recluse’s venom can be quite dangerous. Black Widows are especially dangerous and are recognizable by their black color with red markings. These spiders are dangerous because their venom can be up to 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake.

WHY DO I HAVE A SPIDER PROBLEM?

Spiders are attracted to areas where they can find food. As far as insects go, spiders are considered the hunters and the carnivores of insects. This simply means that their food is other bugs. When weather conditions start forcing bugs into the home, spiders will show up as well. Another reason they could show up in your home is because of easy access to entry points around windows and doors. Spiders are considered a beneficial insect due to the fact that they do help eliminate other bugs around the home, but nobody wants spiders inside the house. Year-round spiders can be found wandering about in search of food. More common than other times of the year, spiders can be found indoors in the fall and late summer due to breeding season.

HOW TO GET RID OF A SPIDER PROBLEM?

Many times, getting rid of spiders is as simple as finding any cracks, crevices or bad seals on windows and doors. Another very common and successful way to get rid of spiders is to eliminate the spiderwebs. Ultimately they will continue coming back if there is a food source for them, and thus we recommend getting on our Code Green Unlimited Subscription to eliminate all pests. Our Service Technicians at Recon are trained to target the areas spiders are likely to be found.