The weather is getting colder. The leaves are falling. Wolves are fat and looking for warm, dry spots to get away during the long, winter months ahead. The creepiest reptiles (spiders) make their existence many we know – just in time for Halloween.
Are all spiders dangerous?
We get this question all the time. This is not surprising. Next to snakes, people are afraid of pests other than spiders. Are all spiders dangerous?
Of all the spiders we encounter around our homes, you can find some comfort in knowing that only a few of the thousands of species pose a serious threat to humans.
Do all spiders bite?
Spiders are natural predators. They are inherently dangerous to their prey. And almost all species of spiders are poisonous. But most spider fangs aren’t strong enough to pierce human skin, let alone deliver a lethal human-sized amount of venom.
Spider prey usually consists of small flies, mosquitoes, or insects that find their way into the webs. Spiders have passed through a person’s arm, and suddenly they will not find people delicious. If this happens, our entire food chain will be in trouble. If spiders are disturbed or feel threatened, certain species may react with a bite similar to a mosquito bite. This is rare, but it does happen.
Types of spiders
Let’s take a look at some of the more common spiders we see in our area. Education is always the best defense against any pest problem. So let’s go over some quick spider facts to help put some of your fears to rest.
The cellar spider
Cellar spiders, also known as “daddy longlegs,” are often found in damp, dark places such as basements or cellars. With their thin body shape that often appears pale yellowish, light brown or grey, the sight of these spiders can scare anyone, but there’s no need to fear! Cellar spiders are not known to bite humans. However, they will kill and eat almost any insect.
Wolf spider
Monster spiders are found in nature under wood, leaves, rocks and other natural leaf litter. However, when indoors, the wolf spider prefers to crawl along walls, hide under furniture, and in basements where there are other insects to feed on. The dark brownish gray wolf spider with striped markings on their legs is hairy and scary, but they are not actually harmful spiders to us. Wolf spiders are not aggressive and only bite people when they feel threatened.
Orb Weaver
Orb weavers, more commonly known as garden spiders, rarely bite and only do so when they feel threatened. They have a brightly colored pattern and build large, intricate webs overnight. These spiders live in areas frequented by their prey, such as tree branches, weeds or tall grass. Orb weavers hang upside down in their nets. They have big bellies, which might make them look like scary pregnant creatures, but these guys are good guys. The guardians of the garden, if you will. 🙂
It would also be very strange to find one of these in your home. They prefer gardens. Lots of snacks there. Spider snacks. Not human snacks.
Jumping Spider
Commonly mistaken for black widow spiders due to their black appearance, jumping spiders get their name from their impressive jumping ability when catching their prey. Jumping spiders are not aggressive and harmless to humans. You can follow all kinds of accounts of people’s jumping spider pets on instagram and tik tok. They are actually quite cute.
Why are there so many spiders in my house?
Spiders are usually there because there are plenty of snacks for them. They eat other insects. If you eliminate their food source and their convenient ability to build webs all over your home, you will eliminate the spider population.
Pushing spider mites away from where they belong, removing cobwebs, and preventing spiders from building a web outside your home are all part of the benefits of our quarterly service, the Healthy Home Maintenance Program. From us a free quote today!