Spiders

Over 45 Years of Experience | Locally and Family Owned | Ohio State Lic. 965

Over 45 Years of Experience
Locally and Family Owned
Ohio State Lic. 965

The Good News and Bad News About Spiders

Ernie's Pest Control has good news and bad news about spiders. The good news is that most spiders kill and eat other pests around your home. The bad news is that there are two species that can be harmful to humans and will leave annoying bites. Back to the good news: if you think you have a spider problem, contact us immediately for 24-hour emergency service!

Facts About Spiders

Characteristics

Spiders have four pairs of legs, eight in total
Most spiders have six to eight simple eyes in various arrangements
All spiders have a pair of jaw-like structures, the chelicerae, each of which ends in a hollow fang through which venom can be injected
Spiders have two body regions

Cephalothorax - fused head and thorax
Abdomen
They're joined by a narrow waist

The tip of the abdomen has a group of fingerlike spinnerets to produce silk

Spider Bites

Only two species of spiders are dangerous to humans

The brown recluse spider
The black widow

The sac spider species (clubionids) are suspect for most spider bites

Their venom is cytotoxic
It causes tissue around the bite to die

The vast majority of spiders are harmless to humans
Usually, there is no more than a slight swelling of the bitten area
Most spiders fangs are too small or weak to puncture human skin
Spiders don't bite unless they are pressed or held against the skin
Some will actively protect their egg sacs and young

Habitat

Some like damp places:

Basements
Crawl spaces
Damp parts of buildings

Others like dry, warm areas:

Subfloor air vents
Upper corners of rooms
Attics

They will hide in dark areas

Diet

Spiders are predators and feed on living prey, mostly other insects
They produce a venom that is poisonous to their normal prey
Venom is injected through the hollow fangs
Venom immobilizes the prey and begins the digestion process
Then they suck the digested liquid food
Some species build webs to trap prey, other spiders actively hunt
Passive hunters lie in wait for prey rather hunting

Reproduction

Spiders produce egg sacs which are laid either in a web, attached to a surface, or carried in the female
Spiders may produce several egg sacs, containing several hundred eggs
Spiders grow by molting or shedding its skin multiple times before reaching maturity
In many species, males wander in search of a mate
Some species live for many years, but most only live for one season

Sanitation is the best control and preventative measure.