Spiders are beneficial arachnids that eat other arachnids and insects. They can be a problem when they get in houses, however. Here are some common spiders that call Queen Creek home.
- Black Widow: The adult female black widow spider is shiny black with a red triangle on the bottom of the abdomen. Immature black widows are born with tan legs and a cream abdomen with black spots. Males are much smaller than females and have cream abdomens with a darker racing stripe on each side of the abdomen and a darker longitudinal stripe. All sexes and sizes of this spider have venom that is toxic to humans.
- Brown recluse: The brown recluse is a tan spider with a darker spot on top in the shape of a violin. The venom of the brown recluse is toxic to humans.
- Giant crab spider: This spider is brown with hair on its abdomen. It bites but is not dangerous.
- Yellow and black garden spider: Also called an orb weaver for the shape of its web, this spider is yellow and black and quite striking. The bite is not dangerous.
- Jumping spider: This spider is small and hairy and has two eyes centered on the top of its head. Its bite is not dangerous.
- Tarantula: Tarantulas are big spiders with lots of hair on them. The bite hurts but is not toxic. Do not handle them or you can get a rash from the irritation their hair causes.
- Wolf spider: This spider is large, usually mottled grey, and carries its babies on its back for a while after they hatch. The bite hurts but is not toxic.
Medical Issues
While all spiders have fangs and venom, most of the fangs are not able to penetrate human skin and deliver the venom, or it is in such small amounts it is not toxic to humans. Black widows can penetrate human skin. Their venom is a potent neurotoxin. While the bite is usually painless, symptoms start about an hour after the bite. While symptoms most often resemble the flu, the venom can be fatal. If bitten, seek immediate medical attention. There is an antivenin for black widow spiders that can be taken to lessen or avoid the effects of the venom.
Black Widow Spider Habitat
Black widows are shy and only bite to defend themselves and their eggs. They can be found in rodent burrows, in rock crevasses, and in other places where they can hide during the day and come out at night. They can nest in holes or recesses in a brick that is part of your house. Inside, they nest in crawl spaces, dark corners of the garage, in clutter, inside spigots on the side of the house, and in other spaces where their prey might pass by. Their webs are messy but the silk is very strong. It was used to make gun sights during WWII.
Getting Rid Of Black Widow Spiders
Because black widow spiders have such a toxic venom, getting rid of them yourself is dangerous. You need professional help from someone trained to eliminate black widow spiders in your house safely. Pro Active Pest Control can help. When you contact us, we will send out a trained technician to inspect the inside and outside of your house. We develop an individual treatment plan for your problem. Using pet-friendly products, we kill the spiders. We then come back every other month or quarterly and make sure they stay gone. Contact Pro Active Pest Control today to get rid of your black widow spiders.