Spider Identification & Prevention

What are spiders?

Spiders are not insects; they are a type of arachnid and are related to mites and ticks. Spiders have two body regions, eight legs, and three or four pairs of eyes, depending on the species. These arachnids are wingless and have no antennae. All spiders have venom, but most spiders that we come across do not have venom that is strong enough to cause health problems in people. Spiders, in general, are shy, solitary creatures that want to stay away from us as much as we want to stay away from them. In our area of Texas, some of the most dangerous species of spiders are wolf spiders, black widow spiders, and brown recluse spiders.

Are spiders dangerous?

Whether or not a spider is dangerous depends on the species and the potency of their venom:

• Wolf spiders are large, hairy spiders that are intimidating to look at, but are actually harmless. They are nuisance spiders and pose no health risks to people.
• Black widow spiders have a telltale orangish-red marking on the undersides of their abdomens. These spiders are dangerous because their venom attacks the nervous system of a person when bitten.
• Brown recluse spiders have a violin-shaped pattern on the tops of their bodies. These spiders have venom that causes a difficult to heal ulceration to form around the bite site.

It is important to note: while a bite from either a black widow spider or brown recluse spider is serious, the symptoms are usually easily managed with proper medical attention.

Why do I have a spider problem?

Gardens, tall grass, woodpiles, shrubs, bushes, and trees all make great hideouts for spiders and the insects they prey on and are typically found in all of our yards. You’ll also find spiders under siding, shingles, and shutters, all of which provide them with suitable hiding spots. As spiders move around our homes searching for prey and shelter, they often find their way inside through small openings they come across. They also find their way inside homes on plants, firewood, storage boxes, and other objects brought indoors after being outside.

Where will I find spiders?

A better question would be, "Where won’t I find spiders?" Spiders live in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations, trying their best to stay out of view of people and predators. Spiders place their webs in tall grass, bushes, vegetation, under decks, in doorways, along the roofline, and in other dark, secluded places. Inside, spiders take refuge in less-traveled areas of a home such as basements, attics, closets, under furniture, and crawlspaces are common indoor hiding spots for spiders.

How do I get rid of spiders?

For Texans looking for exceptional pest control services, turn to the locally owned and operated experts at Lonestar Safe Pest. We take pride in offering our residential and commercial pest control customers excellent customer service; customer satisfaction is our number one goal. Our experienced professionals understand the pest pressures Texas home and business owners face each day.

At Lonestar Safe Pest, we will work with you to eliminate pests from your property once and for all, using our modern pest control solutions. If you would like to learn more about our home pest control or commercial pest control services, reach out to Lonestar Safe Pest today!

How can I prevent spiders in the future?

Protect your Texas property from spiders with a combination of our professional spider control services and these helpful spider prevention tips:

• Seal up openings in your foundation, exterior walls, and roofline to keep spiders out of your house.
• Cut back overgrown vegetation from the exterior of your home.
• Remove spider webs from your home.
• Repair any loose or torn screens.
• Place weatherstripping around windows and doors.
• Make sure storage areas in your home are neat, organized, and free of clutter.
• Remove fallen trees, leaf piles, rock piles, and excess woodpiles from your yard that spiders can hunt and hide.