Spider Identification & Prevention

What are spiders?

When living outside, minding their own business, spiders don’t usually bother people; in fact, we tend to barely notice them. Spiders are reclusive creatures that want to stay out of sight and away from people. These arachnids are well known for their excellent hunting skills. Spiders are predatory creatures that feed on other spiders and insects, helping to control populations of dangerous and damaging pests.

Many gardeners and farmers view spiders living outside as their allies, but when spiders decide to move into more urban spaces to take over our yards and homes, they are unwanted intruders. No one wants to live in a space taken over by spiders. In our area of Nevada, the following spiders tend to cause the most worry for homeowners.

Black widow spiders are easy to identify because of their pitch-black color with a red, hourglass marking on their underside.

Desert brown recluse spiders are tan to yellowish-tan in color with lighter brown abdomens. Like other recluse spiders, they have a violin-like marking and six eyes instead of eight.

Wolf spiders are large, quick-moving spiders that are brown or grey. They are covered in hair with darker colored markings and bands.

Are spiders dangerous?

There are dangerous spiders living in the Las Vegas area. Both black widow spiders and desert brown recluse spiders have venom strong enough to trigger serious reactions in people that require medical attention.

A bite from a desert brown recluse spider can cause the skin around the bite site to become necrotic and infected. A wound from a brown recluse spider can take a long time to heal.

Black widow spiders have venom that affects the nervous system. Symptoms caused by their venom include fevers, severe headaches, chills, abdominal pain, vomiting, and chest pain.

Despite its large and frightening appearance, the wolf spider poses no significant danger to people. However, its large size means a bite from this spider is quite painful and may lead to a secondary infection.

Why do I have a spider problem?

Spiders live outside, and they will move around until they find an area that provides them with the things that they want, such as a sheltered spot to build their web or burrow, food to hunt, and sources of moisture.

Sources of water often attract both spiders and their insect prey to a property. Landscaping plants, dripping fixtures, leaking pipes, and dripping air conditioners often result in the moisture buildup these pests seek. Spiders move inside in search of prey and quiet, dark places to lay their eggs.

Where will I find spiders?

Spiders are attracted to areas with a lot of insect activity, either inside or outside your home. Spiders live outside in trees, garden areas, around trash cans or recycling bins, and on the exterior of buildings near outdoor light fixtures. Spiders prefer to live outside but regularly follow their prey indoors, inhabiting areas of a home where insects are typically present like crawl spaces, wall voids, closets, and around sinks and tubs. If you see a large amount of spider activity on your property, it is a good indicator that you have an insect problem that also needs to be solved.

How do I get rid of spiders?

Through effective and ethical pest control services, the Anderson Pest Control professionals will get rid of spiders from your property. Our family-owned company always goes the extra mile to provide excellent customer service and protect your home and family from spiders and other pests.

Through Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we provide our customers with a long-term solution to their pest problems. If you are ready to maintain a spider-free home or business and want to learn more about our spider control solutions, reach out to Anderson Pest Control today!

How can I prevent spiders in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from spiders with the following prevention tips:

• Eliminate clutter both inside and outside your home that could offer harborage sites for spiders.
• Clear away webs that you find inside or outside of your home; this annoys spiders.
• Maintain your property by keeping the grass cut short, maintaining gardens, and pruning overgrown shrubs and bushes away from your home’s exterior.
• Use caulk or another appropriate material to repair cracks in your home’s foundation and exterior walls to keep spiders out of your house.
• Repair roof damage and keep caps on chimneys.
• Repair leaky pipes, clogged gutters, and dripping hoses that could provide spiders and insects with a source of water.
• Place a motion sensor on outdoor lights to keep them off when not needed. Outdoor lights attract insects.