Spiders
There are about 1000 species of spiders in the United States. They
live everywhere, including homes and buildings. Some species are able
to bite humans and inject venom into the skin. The brown recluse and
the black widow are considered venomous spiders. However, most spiders
are not harmful to man.
All spiders have 8 legs and 2 body regions. They are
predators, feeding primarily on insects and other arthropods. When
feeding, spiders inject a digestive fluid into their prey, and then
suck up the digested food. They can survive for long periods of time
without feeding.
Spiders are of interest because some enter homes, some are
considered poisonous and still others are raised as pets. Several
species of spiders enter homes and become a nuisance. When numerous,
spiders are annoying because they construct webs. Abandoned webs
collect dust, resulting in cobwebs. However, spiders are considered
beneficial because they feed on insect pests.
Because spiders feed entirely on living insects, they may
search actively for their prey, hide and wait for them to pass, or
build webs to trap insects. Most web-building spiders build and abandon
several webs per year. Webs are produced by glands on the spider's
abdomen. Silk is a liquid, which hardens when exposed to air, and is
used to construct webs, safety lines, egg sacs and even parachutes.
Spiders reproduce by laying eggs in silken sacs. The egg sac is either
carried around by the female or hidden in the web. Each egg sac may
contain several hundred eggs, which hatch in 2 - 3 weeks. Young spiders
mature to adults in about 1 year. Spiders live separately and only come
together to mate. Males are usually smaller than females with different
color markings. Newly hatched spiders are tiny and can easily enter
homes through screens and loose fitting doors and windows. If insects
that they eat are not plentiful, spiders are less likely to infest a
home.
Almost all spiders found in the United States are harmless to
humans and most species do not attempt to bite unless they are
provoked. Spiders usually remain hidden and do not seek out humans to
bite. Most spiders cannot penetrate human skin with their fangs. Almost
all spiders possess venom, but only a couple are considered dangerous
to humans, such as the brown recluse and black widow.
The brown recluse spider is recognized by the distinctive dark
violin-shaped mark located on its head and thorax. It is a medium size
spider, about 1/4" - 1/2" long. It is light tan to deep reddish brown.
It is usually found in sheds, garages and areas where items are stored.
It may hide in arms or legs of stored garments or in beds that have
been unoccupied for some time. Persons bitten by the brown recluse
usually do not feel the pain for 2 - 3 hours. A blister arises followed
by inflammation. Eventually, the tissue dies leaving a sunken sore, and
may take 6 - 8 weeks to heal.
The black widow spider is glossy black and has a complete, red
hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen. It is usually found
outdoors, in protected areas, such as under rocks and boards, and in
and around old buildings. With its legs extended, the black widow is
about 1 1/2" long.
The bite of the black widow spider feels like a pin-prick. The initial
pain disappears rapidly, leaving local swelling and 2 tiny red marks.
Muscular cramps in the shoulder, thigh and back usually begin within 15
minutes to 3 hours. In severe cases, pain spreads to the abdomen. Death
seldom occurs if a physician is consulted and treatment is prompt.
Allgood Pest Solutions provides Pest Control and Termite Control
for Georgia including Atlanta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta, Roswell,
Duluth, Suwanee, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Dalton, Macon, Dublin,
Sandersville, Vidalia, Douglas, Savannah, McRae, Milledgeville,
Swainsboro, Brunswick, St. Mary's.
For more information about the pests that Allgood Pest Solutions can control at your home, please click on the following links: