Grass Spider A steady stream of grass spiders can be a sign of pest problems.
ABOUT GRASS SPIDERS
Grass spiders generally prefer to spend their lifetime in the outdoors. However, cold, unseasonable conditions may drive them indoors. While they are not known to cause any specific damage, a Yardley home or office seeing too many grass spiders may indicate a serious pest problem.
Grass spiders are common throughout the Yardley area. Few lawns are totally without a web or two during the summer. This situation is nothing to worry about. In fact, grass spiders help to control many other common pests that make a nuisance of themselves.
However, when property owners notice that they seem to have a large number of grass spiders, then they may have an overall problem that requires intervention by a pest control professional.
APPEARANCE
Grass spiders have a solid upper shell, which is referred to as a carapace, that is a brownish-yellow. Two distinctive stripes run longitudinally along the carapace. The abdomen may be a noticeably darker color. Adult females may measure anywhere between 10 and 20 millimeters in length with males measuring between nine and 18 millimeters.
DIET
A variety of insects make up the diet of the grass spider. Ants, flies and mosquitoes may be trapped in their funnel-shaped webs along with other arachnids, caterpillars and various other species. Accordingly, it can be said that grass spiders perform natural pest control services.
HABITATS
Grass spiders prefer to live in lawns where they weave a funnel-shaped web. The web has a den in the rear where the spider can hide, emerging when prey wanders into the funnel. Webs also may be placed on weeds or on ground-covering plants. Brush piles and bushes are other places where this spider may place a web.
DIET
Many unwanted pests are on the list of foods that spiders ordinarily eat. Flies, mosquitoes, wasps and ants all are commonly consumed. Spiders frequently eat other arachnids, and they will try to eat virtually any insect that gets tangled in their web. For many gardeners who are dealing with a pest problem, spiders actually may be welcome guests as long as their numbers do not become too great.
PROBLEMS WITH GRASS SPIDERS
Noticing an inordinate number of grass spiders in and around the home or business may be cause for concern.
This is because grass spiders feed on insects and other arachnids. They are drawn to places where there is an abundant food supply. Anyone who feels that they have a large number of spiders on their property should be alerted to the fact that they may have other ongoing pest issues. Species such as termites and carpenter ants can cause property damage, and stinging insects can bring health concerns. It is worthwhile to have the property inspected by a pest control professional to determine if there is an insect problem that needs to be addressed.
BEHAVIOR
Grass spiders usually have an approximately one-year lifespan. Mating typically occurs in the summer, with the female most frequently depositing an egg sac late in that season or early in the fall. The white egg sac overwinters before hatching late in the spring. Between spring and summer is when most people notice a definitive rise in the population of grass spiders.
In general, this species prefers to be outdoors. A wet, cold summer or early fall may drive them to seek shelter indoors. Grass spiders weave funnel-shaped webs that are not sticky. These typically are found in the grass, and prey that wanders into these traps has little hope of extricating themselves. The grass spider injects their prey with venom to immobilize and consume it.
Grass spiders are inherently shy and seek to avoid contact with humans. They are most likely to run and hide when encountering a person, and they pose little threat.
HEALTH ISSUES
Few health risks are associated with the grass spider. They have small fangs that cannot easily penetrate human skin. Accordingly, small children and the elderly are among the most susceptible to the grass spider's bite because they have thinner skin. If a grass spider is able to penetrate the skin, they will inject venom. The possibility of the victim developing a bacterial infection or a necrotic skin lesion does exist, so if complications are noted, they should be reviewed by a doctor.
SIGNS OF A SPIDER INFESTATION
Indications of a grass spider problem include:
• Many webs lying across lawns or other vegetation, particularly visible after dew or rainfall • Yellowish-brown spiders with distinctive stripes inside the home or office in the fall
PREVENTION TIPS
SafeGuard Pest Control recommends the following grass spider prevention methods:
• Remove clutter both indoors and out • Wipe up spills and crumbs in the kitchen immediately • Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter • Frequently mow the lawn • Keep vegetation under control • Do not allow limbs and branches to touch building exteriors • Keep brush piles well away from buildings • Regularly remove spider webs from the interior and exterior of structures
SPIDER CONTROL
DIY products are not usually successful in controlling spider populations. To keep a home’s spider population under control, a pest control company should be called.
Safeguard Pest Control will use a variety of treatments including dusts, gels, and specialized products to eliminate spiders in your home including attics, wall voids, and cracks and crevices.
Our technicians use environmentally safe products to repel spiders and discourage breeding and population growth.
Grass spiders generally prefer to spend their lifetime in the outdoors. However, cold, unseasonable conditions may drive them indoors. While they are not known to cause any specific damage, a Yardley home or office seeing too many grass spiders may indicate a serious pest problem.
Grass spiders are common throughout the Yardley area. Few lawns are totally without a web or two during the summer. This situation is nothing to worry about. In fact, grass spiders help to control many other common pests that make a nuisance of themselves.
However, when property owners notice that they seem to have a large number of grass spiders, then they may have an overall problem that requires intervention by a pest control professional.
APPEARANCE
Grass spiders have a solid upper shell, which is referred to as a carapace, that is a brownish-yellow. Two distinctive stripes run longitudinally along the carapace. The abdomen may be a noticeably darker color. Adult females may measure anywhere between 10 and 20 millimeters in length with males measuring between nine and 18 millimeters.
DIET
A variety of insects make up the diet of the grass spider. Ants, flies and mosquitoes may be trapped in their funnel-shaped webs along with other arachnids, caterpillars and various other species. Accordingly, it can be said that grass spiders perform natural pest control services.
HABITATS
Grass spiders prefer to live in lawns where they weave a funnel-shaped web. The web has a den in the rear where the spider can hide, emerging when prey wanders into the funnel. Webs also may be placed on weeds or on ground-covering plants. Brush piles and bushes are other places where this spider may place a web.
DIET
Many unwanted pests are on the list of foods that spiders ordinarily eat. Flies, mosquitoes, wasps and ants all are commonly consumed. Spiders frequently eat other arachnids, and they will try to eat virtually any insect that gets tangled in their web. For many gardeners who are dealing with a pest problem, spiders actually may be welcome guests as long as their numbers do not become too great.
PROBLEMS WITH GRASS SPIDERS
Noticing an inordinate number of grass spiders in and around the home or business may be cause for concern.
This is because grass spiders feed on insects and other arachnids. They are drawn to places where there is an abundant food supply. Anyone who feels that they have a large number of spiders on their property should be alerted to the fact that they may have other ongoing pest issues. Species such as termites and carpenter ants can cause property damage, and stinging insects can bring health concerns. It is worthwhile to have the property inspected by a pest control professional to determine if there is an insect problem that needs to be addressed.
BEHAVIOR
Grass spiders usually have an approximately one-year lifespan. Mating typically occurs in the summer, with the female most frequently depositing an egg sac late in that season or early in the fall. The white egg sac overwinters before hatching late in the spring. Between spring and summer is when most people notice a definitive rise in the population of grass spiders.
In general, this species prefers to be outdoors. A wet, cold summer or early fall may drive them to seek shelter indoors. Grass spiders weave funnel-shaped webs that are not sticky. These typically are found in the grass, and prey that wanders into these traps has little hope of extricating themselves. The grass spider injects their prey with venom to immobilize and consume it.
Grass spiders are inherently shy and seek to avoid contact with humans. They are most likely to run and hide when encountering a person, and they pose little threat.
HEALTH ISSUES
Few health risks are associated with the grass spider. They have small fangs that cannot easily penetrate human skin. Accordingly, small children and the elderly are among the most susceptible to the grass spider's bite because they have thinner skin. If a grass spider is able to penetrate the skin, they will inject venom. The possibility of the victim developing a bacterial infection or a necrotic skin lesion does exist, so if complications are noted, they should be reviewed by a doctor.
SIGNS OF A SPIDER INFESTATION
Indications of a grass spider problem include:
• Many webs lying across lawns or other vegetation, particularly visible after dew or rainfall • Yellowish-brown spiders with distinctive stripes inside the home or office in the fall
PREVENTION TIPS
SafeGuard Pest Control recommends the following grass spider prevention methods:
• Remove clutter both indoors and out • Wipe up spills and crumbs in the kitchen immediately • Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter • Frequently mow the lawn • Keep vegetation under control • Do not allow limbs and branches to touch building exteriors • Keep brush piles well away from buildings • Regularly remove spider webs from the interior and exterior of structures
SPIDER CONTROL
DIY products are not usually successful in controlling spider populations. To keep a home’s spider population under control, a pest control company should be called.
Safeguard Pest Control will use a variety of treatments including dusts, gels, and specialized products to eliminate spiders in your home including attics, wall voids, and cracks and crevices.
Our technicians use environmentally safe products to repel spiders and discourage breeding and population growth.
