Is that spider skittering across your floor harmless? Or should you be concerned?
Today, we’re tackling a common pest (and phobia): spiders. How can you tell what type of spider is infiltrating your home, and when are spiders a problem?
Keep reading to learn all you need to know!
Types of Spiders in Ohio
There are quite a few different spider species in Ohio and the Tri-State area. There are too many to list here, but common spiders in our area include:
- Funnel weavers
- Orbweavers
- Ground sac spiders
- Woodlouse spiders
- Ground spiders
- Sheetweb weavers
- Wolf spiders
- Prowling spiders
- Lynx spiders
- Running crab spiders
- Daddy long-legs spiders
- Nursery web spiders
- Jumping spiders
- Spitting spiders
- Six-eyed spiders, including the brown recluse spider
- Cobweb weavers, including the black widow
What Is a Spider—and What’s Not
Spiders aren’t actually insects: in fact, they are arachnids (a class of arthropods that also includes mites and ticks).
Spiders vary in appearance and size. They can be just about any color, from the gray-brown of the burrowing wolf spider to the yellow, black, and white-striped garden spider. They can be a few millimeters long to more than three inches long (though the ones in our area are on the smaller end of the spectrum).
There are a few things that make a spider, a spider:
- Body divided into two parts (instead of three, like insects) separated by a narrow region
- Eight legs (four on each side)
- No antennae
- No wings
If the pest you’re seeing has these features, it’s a spider!
It’s usually not very difficult to spot a spider, but there are a few exceptions. Some small spiders can be confused with ticks (another arachnid with eight legs). Also, the daddy long legs spider is often confused with a different insect called a harvestman. (Both have extremely long, thin legs and small, brownish bodies.)
How to Spot the Dangerous Spiders
While almost all the spiders in Ohio have venom, most are harmless to humans and pets. (Phew!) However, there are several spider species that can be harmful to humans: brown recluse spiders and black widow spiders.
Fortunately, these dangerous spiders aren’t too common, nor are they aggressive. (They typically only bite when feeling threatened.) Still, it’s a good idea to know how to spot them! Here is what you should look for:
Black Widow Spiders
- Shiny and black in color
- Have a reddish, hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of their abdomen
- Between 1/8 and 1/2 inches long
Brown Recluse Spiders
- Tan to dark brown in color, with no stripes, bands, or mottling
- Have a dark, violin-shaped marking on their back
- Have long, thin legs
- About the size of a quarter (including the legs)
If you aren’t sure what type of spider is infesting your house, call a pro! The experts at ScherZinger can help you identify what type of spider you have and if it’s harmful.
Need Help with a Spider Problem?
The odd spider here and there is generally a nuisance, not a hazard. However, if your home has a spider infestation or has a significant number of venomous spiders, that’s a different story!
In the case of a spider infestation or issues with black widows or brown recluse spiders, it’s time for pest control. You might have a spider infestation if you see a large increase in the number of spiders in your home. Also, you might get a spider infestation following an infestation of a different pest! (That’s because spiders might come into your home to feed on the other pests.)
For help with a spider problem, call ScherZinger Pest Control today. We’re here to help you get your home spider-free!
Contact the experts at Scherzinger Termite and Pest Control. We’re a trusted pest control company with more than 80 years of experience serving Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or via web inquiry, Facebook or Twitter.