funnel spider in web

Should You Worry About the Venom of the Top 5 Common Spiders in Your Home?

Seeing spider webs on Halloween is a fun, spooky treat for young and old alike. However, if you spot spider webs in your home, it can be eerily creepy. If you cannot tolerate these webs, no one will blame you as they make your house look unsightly.

On top of that, seeing these critters elicit fear. You cannot help but wonder if your home’s resident arachnids are poisonous or not. Should you squash them with your slippers and hope for the best?

Notably, spiders are part of the ecosystem because they prey on pests like flies, mosquitoes, moths, and gnats. Check out this quick guide to help you determine which of the five common spiders are a health hazard. This can help you determine if you can perform DIY treatments or seek professional pest control.

1. The American House Spider

The National Wild Life Federation says this creepy-crawly lives up to its name as it is indeed the most common house spider in North America. They are usually off-white or a yellowish brown with spots on their abdomens. They measure 4 to 9 millimeters long with bulging bellies and skinny legs.

They love living close to humans, so it is common to find them in these areas:

  • Closet

  • Under furniture

  • Window frames

They thrive in dark and moist places, creating classic-looking cobwebs. However, you should not fear them as they are not aggressive. In fact, when they see people, they tend to run and hide rather than bite.

Of course, it is a different story if you try to grab and crush them. In this case, the bitten area can feel tingly and itchy. However, the bites are not lethal, so you can wash them off with soap.

2. The Jumping Spider

This spider gets its name from the unique way it feasts on its prey. They jump on their meals and can astoundingly leap 25x the length of their own bodies. These spiders are unique because they do not build webs. You will typically find them outdoors, especially in grassy areas.

According to the National Geographic, these spiders have two distinct characteristics. First, the shape of their bodies is unique. Second, they have four large eyes in the front of the head, with the other four positioned at the back of the head. Though there are almost 6 thousand variants of Jumping Spiders, they all share these two distinguishing features.

Since they mostly stay outdoors, you do not need to worry about them infiltrating your house. However, if you like to hang out on your patio, you may get bitten, which will only cause minor skin discomfort. Thankfully, their bites are not lethal, so it is up to you if you want to get rid of them or keep them feasting to take out harmful mosquitoes and annoying flies.

3. The Brown Recluse Spider

This is another spider that is perfectly named because it is reclusive and shy. You may have a hard time spotting this species because they are nocturnal in nature. You will typically spot them in secluded areas like:

  • Underneath porches

  • Deep within closets

  • In hidden corners

  • High up in attics

This spider can be light or dark brown with violin-looking markings on its back. You will know it is a Brown Recluse because these spiders have six eyes arranged in a semi-circle. They are longer, too, at 6 to 11 millimeters long.

Though it is rare for this creature to bite humans, you must take the bite seriously. Their venom is poisonous and can cause reactions like chills, fever, and nausea. It would be best to seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

If you spot this variant living in your home, you must call for professional pest control. They have a long life and are extremely resilient. They can lay 150 eggs annually, so you can deal with a major infestation if you do not nip things in the bud.

4. The Wolf Spider

The Wolf varies in size with a range of 10 to 35 millimeters. They are hairy and brown, so some people confuse them with a Brown Recluse or Tarantula. However, these spiders do not build webs and burrow in the ground.

You can usually spot them outdoors in your garden, the woods, or riverbanks. However, they can come creeping into your home when the weather turns cold because they seek warmth. Though they are not aggressive, they can still bite.

Fortunately, the bites are not lethal. You will know that they are ready to attack with they stretch their legs and show their fangs. Since they are large, you must get out of the way. Otherwise, you may get red welts that itch.

5. The Black Widow Spider

This spider type has earned a notorious reputation because of how it looks and the way it acts. Live Science says females supposedly eat the males after mating. In fact, these solitary spiders that prefer staying in the ground only interact when it is mating seasons.

Females are lustrous black with yellow, orange, or red spots. They measure 3 to 10 millimeters long and have a red hourglass on their abdomens. Meanwhile, males look the same but without the red hourglass. They are also usually half the size of females.

Pay close attention when you see these spiders as they are venomous. They are a health hazard in your home. If you get bitten, you can feel the following symptoms:

  • Chills

  • Fever

  • Nausea

  • Abnormal sweating

  • Vomiting

  • Severe back pain

  • Debilitating belly pain

  • Skin inflammation

Noteworthy, the female Black Widow has more potent venom than a rattlesnake. Though the male is much less potent, it is equally dangerous too. If you get bitten, seek medical intervention right away.

On top of that, do not forget to call your pest control specialist to eradicate these treacherous spiders from your property. It will be a terrible shame if you and your children get bitten by one.

Call for Professional Help

If you have spotted any of these spiders on your property, you may want a professional to inspect your home. Though most spiders are harmless, you do not want to take your chances. The last thing you need is a dangerous and deadly arachnid in your home.

Should you live in St. George, Utah and need advice, call us at Nature's Gate Pest Control company. Our team is ready to help you prevent spider infestations inside your home and in your garden. We can identify the variant and set up a safety plan to ensure poisonous spiders stay far away from your family.