ABOUT SPIDERS
Though spiders are commonly referred to as “bugs,” they do not fall within the realm of other insects. Spiders are arachnids, meaning they are eight-legged creatures, as opposed to insects which have six. Other arachnids include mites, ticks, and scorpions.
The most commonly encountered spiders by Warwick area home and business owners would be the the broad faced sac spider, the common house spider, the grass spider, and the wolf spider.
APPEARANCE
All spiders consist of two separate body sections. The head section is called the cephalothorax and behind it is the abdomen. The cephalothorax is where all of the eight legs are attached (including two pedipalps which are mini-legs used to snare prey, etc.), the multiple eyes, mouth, and fangs. The abdomen holds the reproductive and digestive systems. Silk (for webs) is produced via glands on the underside of the abdomen.
Female spiders are generally larger than males. Spiders can vary greatly in both color and size, depending on the species. The wolf spider can grow to be one inch in length with a hairy, dark brown body. The sac spider, however, is lighter-colored and grows to an average length of 2/5 of an inch.
Spiders do not have antennae or wings.
DIET
Spiders are predatory creatures that use couple of different methods to capture their prey. Some species of spider spin sticky webs that trap live insects such as mosquitoes, millipedes, flies, ladybugs, etc. Larger spiders will attack and feed on frogs, minnows, and lizards.
HABITATS
Spiders can be found in most places throughout the world. They generally prefer a temperate environment since the temperature of their bodies is directly affected. This is why spiders are more likely to be spotted inside a home or office when fall and winter arrive.
PROBLEMS WITH SPIDERS
All spiders contain venom, which means that all spiders are poisonous. However, very few spiders have the ability or even the desire to bite humans. Most spiders are unable to bite humans due to their size, and their venom is weak and harmless to anything other than an insect. Unfortunately, when a person is bit by a dangerous spider, it can cause serious medical issues, and in some cases, death.
BEHAVIOR
Spiders are not social creatures. They live as solitary predators and only interact with other spiders when it is time to mate. One exception to this is a number of tropical species that create large webs and live together in groups.
Spiders design and create based on their particular species, while still other spiders do not use webs at all but rather jump, hunt, and capture with their spectacular eyesight. Some species even use deception by mimicking an insect trapped within a web in order to overwhelm its owner by surprise.
HEALTH ISSUES
The majority of spider bites cause very little issue; the person may develop hives, itching, and a rash. Someone who is allergic to spider bites may have to visit the emergency room. However, if an individual is bit by a black widow spider or brown recluse, immediate medical attention is necessary. A spider infestation tends to cause more unease and anxiety in the people who live in the home than actual physical problems.
Children and the elderly are more susceptible to the health issues of spider bites, as are people who enter dark crawlspaces, attics, garages, and basements where spiders might be hiding.
Spiders do not transmit viral or bacterial diseases to humans.
SIGNS OF A SPIDER INFESTATION
Indications of a spider problem include:
• Numerous webs around the home, on the lawn, in trees, and inside the home in corners, in the basement, and other dark, less accessible locations.
• The existence of an insect infestation of some type that is serving as the spider’s food.
• Spotting an excessive number of spiders in different locations around the home.
PREVENTION TIPS
SafeGuard Pest Control recommends the following spider prevention methods:
• Keep the home and the yard environment clean. This has a dual affect - first, insects will not be drawn to the home looking for shelter or food, and secondly, spiders will not, then, be drawn to the insects.
• Immediately use a vacuum to destroy any webs that have been created inside the home, such as in the corners of ceilings or peaked roofs.
• Trim all foliage and brush away from the structure to prevent insects (and then spiders) from entering the home.
• Seal any gaps with caulk where plumbing and other utility cables enter the house. Be sure that all windows and doors close tightly. Consider installing insect screens in the summer.
SPIDER CONTROL
DIY pest control methods rarely are recommended. Many such measures are ineffective. At their worst, they pose a hazard to health and safety when they are incorrectly utilized.
To keep a home’s spider population under control, a pest control company should be called.
Safeguard Pest Control uses a variety of treatments and specialized products to eliminate spiders in your Warwick home or office.
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