Spiders have been used as a depiction of danger for centuries. Even in our modern-day and age, the mere sight of one of these pests is enough to cause most people concern, but why? Not all spiders are dangerous; only 30 species out of 43,000 have been responsible for human fatalities. To help you better understand spiders around Daphne and identify which ones mean you harm, here are a few things you ought to know.
Identifying Spiders
Most spiders you encounter daily are harmless and do not possess venom strong enough to cause you harm. The problem most homeowners face is not being able to discern the few dangerous spiders from the many harmless ones. Here are some species of spiders common to our area and how to identify each.
House Spider
Size: ⅛ to 5/16” long
Color: Yellowish-brown
Body Shape: large abdomen, long, thin legs
Markings: Dirty white markings on its abdomen and dark stripes on its legs
Threat Level: Low
Wolf Spider
Size: ¼ to 1 ⅜” long
Color: Dark to pale brown
Body Shape: large furry body and abdomen, long hairy legs
Markings: pale yellow stripes or markings
Threat Level: Medium
Long Bodied Cellar Spider
Size: ¼ to ⅜” long
Color: pale yellow to light brown
Body Shape: Small body, long abdomen, long, thin legs
Markings: Small black bands around its legs
Threat Level: Low
Black Widow Spider
Size: 1 ½ to 1 ⅜” long
Color: Black
Body Shape: Large abdomen, long, thin legs
Markings: A red hourglass mark on the bottom of its abdomen
Threat Level: High
Brown Recluse Spider
Size: ¼ to ½” long
Color: Light to dark brown
Body Shape: Medium-sized body and abdomen, long, thin legs
Markings: A backward dark violin mark just behind its head
Threat Level: High
What You Should Know About Dangerous Spiders
There are only two species of spiders that live in our area that have ever been responsible for human death: the brown recluse and the black widow. Between these two dangerous pests, black widows are the easiest to identify, as they are typically larger and have a very distinct appearance. Brown recluse, on the other hand, are often mistaken for other area spiders.
A bite from a black widow spider is extremely painful and leads to symptoms including muscle cramps and spasms near the area of the bite, chills, fever, vomiting, nausea, headache, severe back, belly, or chest pain, restlessness, stupor, and shock.
A bite from a brown recluse spider is equally painful and often involves symptoms including redness around the area of the bite, mild to severe pain for two to eight hours, an eventual open ulcer forming at the sight of the bite, chills, fever, vomiting, a rash, and dizziness.
One thing you should know is that being bitten by these spiders rarely results in human death and is typically only fatal to infants, the elderly, and people with preexisting medical conditions. That being said, if you are ever bitten by one of these two pests, seek medical attention immediately to reduce your pain and limit your chances of developing more severe symptoms.
What To Do If You Find Dangerous Spiders Inside Your Home
Spiders are an unwelcome addition to any household. To get and or keep these potentially dangerous pests out of your Daphne home, call the experts at Prewett Pest Control. One of our friendly service representatives will walk you through your options and help you find a pest control plan that best fits your individual needs.