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Spiders (Araneae)

Below are some of the common spiders of concern.  Please scroll down for more information.

Hobo Spider (Aggressive House Spider)

 (Tegenaria agrestis)

• Member of the funnel web (or funnel weaver) spiders because they build webs in dark moist areas and sit at the mouth of the funnel waiting for prey

• Mature males and females are most abundant in the fall

• They appear to have a 2 year life cycle however mature females may live 3 years or more

• Can produce skin injuries similar to the Brown Recluse Spider and are slow to heal, however this is inconclusive and under debate in certain circles

• There are three types of Hobo spiders

Widow Spiders (Latrodectus)

•  32 recognized species worldwide but the most common species associated with pest problems in Washington State is the Black Widow.

• More common in Eastern WA  although isolated populations are in Western WA as well.

• The female black widow usually (but not always) has the red hourglass, two marks, or a dot  on the underbelly.  Underside marking can also be yellowish-orange.

• The female black widow bite is venomous but seldom fatal.  They are shy, non-aggressive spiders typically attempting to escape rather than bite unless trapped against the skin such as being carried in with firewood.

• Usually found in dark undisturbed areas such as wood piles. Outhouses, unused areas of garages, and crawl spaces and does not like to venture from her web

• Widows spend a majority of life upside down and their webs have a very disheveled appearance

• Immature black widows look very different from their mother.  They can be gray or pale brown with banding patterns.  They may have red, red-orange, yellow or lights spots or stripes on the top of their abdomen.  Adult male black widows look similar to immature females except they have large knob-like structures originating from the first body segment.

Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum)

• Have been found in gardens up in the Seattle area.

• Bite is typically compared to that of a bee sting.

• Necrotic ulcerations are rare, however some people have experienced several unpleasant reactions to this spider’s bite.

Brown Recluse Spider (Fiddleback)

  (Loxosceles reclusa)

• Both male and female are poisonous
• Has not become established in the pacific northwest, mostly found in the southern United States.

Wolf Spider  (Lycosidae)

• Can be found in coastal and inland regions.
• Hunters
• Nocturnal
• Carry their eggs
• Can inject venom if agitated

 

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Spiders are found all over the world except in extreme cold climates such as Antarctica.  Some scientists say there are over 40,000 species in existence today ranging from small to very large and eating from insects to birds.  The life cycle of a spider is usually not over 3 years however it is said that tarantulas in captivity have lived up to 25 years.  Spiders in the North America can breed in the spring, summer, or fall.  They typically appear more abundant in autumn because most of the web weavers have reached adulthood and with less foliage on the trees, their webs become more visible.  Also, autumn is mating time for many of the hunting spiders like wolf spiders, and others.  Because of this, the males will frequently enter homes and other businesses looking for mates.  Spiders can enter the home or business in many different ways.  They can walk in, be transported in through boxes and plants, enter through window sills, and spider babies can even be blown in by the wind.  

Because there are so many close resemblances in various spider species, often it is necessary to view under a microscope in order to correctly identify.

Spider Basics

Treatment

It is difficult to completely eradicate spiders from a structure because they don’t drag their bodies over pest control products like ants and wasps.  However, the population can be greatly reduced by sprays, dust, and a variety of other measures in conjunction with each other.  Our spider service is very involved as we do several things to knock the population down.

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Immature Black Widow

Mature Female Black Widow

Male Black Widow

Hobo Spider

Yellow Sac Spider

Brown Recluse Spider

Wolf Spider