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Are spiders dangerous? We get this question a lot at All-American, so we thought it was time for a blog all about spiders! Seems fitting since we just had Halloween, the spookiest holiday of the year and spiders seem to top the list of the spookiest pests that people encounter. Since we deal with spiders in TN all the time, these arachnids have lost their ‘spooky’ factor to us, but we understand that homeowners often dislike these pests the most inside their homes. Probably the biggest factor in their fear of these pests is not knowing whether or not spiders bite. Tales of the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider often have homeowners shaking in their shoes! Here are just a few of the Tennessee spiders you may find in your home and some information on whether or not you should be worried about a toxic spider bite!
The common house spider- this is the generic term for different spiders that are found around human dwellings. Typically, the most common house spider is the American house spider; it is dull brown in color with a pattern that appears vaguely spotted. They are approximately a quarter of an inch long, but have been known to be up to an inch long, including their legs. They typically blend into their surroundings, to escape being noticed. These spiders feed on other household pests and will only bite humans in self-defense. The bite of an American house spider is typically no more painful than a bee sting and medical attention is not usually required.
The brown recluse spider- This spider has a venomous bite. They are approximately ¼ of an inch to ¾ of an inch in length and have a distinguishing brown fiddle shaped mark on the tops of their bodies. These spiders are found throughout Tennessee and can deliver a venomous bite that may not be noticed immediately. Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite may appear anywhere between 2 and 8 hours after the bite and may include redness, blistering, pain, itching and ulcerating and necrosis of the tissue that may take a long time to heal. For information on brown recluse spider removal, click here!
The black widow spider- This spider also has a venomous bite. They are approximately 1 and a half inches long and shiny black in color with a distinctive red hour glass shape on their abdomen. These spiders deliver venomous bites that may not be noticed at first; the severity of the bite depends on how much venom is injected, where the bite occurred on the body and individual sensitivity. Symptoms of a black widow spider bite include severe muscle cramping, tremors, fever and labored breathing. Fortunately, it is extremely rare to experience long term complications or death from the bites of these spiders, but you should still seek medical attention if bitten by this spider.
The wolf spider-These spiders range in size from .04 inches to 1 and ½ inches in length, not including their legs. They are typically brown, but because they depend on camouflage for protection, their coloration is generally appropriate to suit their favorite habitat. Wolf spiders have the ability to inject venom with their bites if they are aggravated, but bites typically only result in swelling, mild pain and itching.
Fortunately for home and business owners in Tennessee, although we do have some venomous spiders around, they typically don’t deliver life-threatening bites. If you are finding large infestations of spiders around or even inside your property, contacting the Nashville pest control professionals at All-American is your best choice for spider control. Contact us today for more information on our services and to learn more about how we can help you achieve a spider-free home or business!