You will come across many different species of insects and rodents in your day to day life. Some are harmless, some very dangerous, and some can be very destructive to your home and surrounding property costing thousands of dollars in repairs. On this page we will take a look at some:
Common Spiders
|
Appearance *Range in size from 1/4 to 2 inches long *8 eyes, arranged in 3 rows *A distinct Union Jack impression on its back *8 long, hairy legs * Grayish brown with lighter stripes two sharp, horizontal fangs Wolf spiders are rather large in size, and can be up to two inches long. They get their name due to their stalking and hunting of prey, much like wolves, although unlike wolves, they are unable to move their eyes, forcing them to rotate their body position when stalking. Wolf spiders have a vast range, found on all continents but Antarctica.They are nocturnal and do not rely on a web to catch prey.
Threat Although non~aggressive, a wolf spider will bite when threatened. Their bite is venomous but, fortunately, not lethal. Their bite symptoms commonly include swelling, mild pain and itching. Occasionally, a fever and swelling of lymph glands will develop. First aid and medical attention should be sought asap, particularly for children or the elderly.
|
Apperance Brownish in color, hobo spiders are often confused with other brown spiders, including the brown recluse,because they have very few distinct features. Only an arachnologist, or other specifically trained person, should attempt to make a positive ID of this species. Below are some identifying characteristics: *Distinct zigzag (herringbone) pattern on top side of the abdomen *Females are 1/2 -2/3"; males are smaller being 1/4-1/3 inches *Rapid, darting movements *Evenly colored, fairly smooth legs. If rings are seen around legs, its defiantly NOT a hobo spider. *Males have two large palaps between the front legs, which resemble boxing gloves. These are often mistaken for venom sacs, but are actually male genitalia.
Threat Hobo spiders are not aggressive, however, they will bite when threatened or pressed against skin. The poison released by a hobo spider bite is not strong enough to cause life threatening complications. A hobo spider bite, however, can cause pain and other unpleasant symptoms, including severed headache, extreme nausea, weakness, fatigue, temporary memory loss and vision impairment. People who believe that they have been bitten by a hobo spider should seek medical attention immediately.
|
Appearance Black widow spiders are easily recognizable. They have plunp, shiny black abdomens that bear an hourglass shaped red, red orange or yellow mark (use cation, just because there is no hourglass marking does not mean its NOT a black widow). Black widows weave erratic sticky webs that lack any shape or form. Their silk is stronger than virtually all other spiders. Other distinguishing features are: *Females are 1/2~1 1/2 inches long. Males are half the size, with smaller bodies & longer legs. *Females "usually"have a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of the abdomens. In some species, females have a series of red spots & two crosswise bars on the underbelly. *Male black widows often have yellow & red bands and spots on their backs, as do both sexes of black widows in their immature stages. * Juveniles of both sexes resemble the male & are harmless to humans.
Threat Considered the most venomous spider in the United States, the venom of a female black widow spider is 15 times as toxic as the venom of a rattlesnake. Fortunately, black widows only bite when disturbed, and contrary to popular belief, most victims do not sustain serious harm. Though rare, their bites can be fatal, with young children, the elderly and infirm at highest risk. If you suspect a black widow bite, get medical help as soon as possible. The black widow's venom is neurotoxic.
|
|
Cat Faced or Jewel Spider
Appearance Cat Faced or Jewel spiders make there webs near lights, closed spaces, & on the sides of buildings, their webs are very distinctive & are spun with a great deal of sophistication. They can also be found under wood, overhangs, or guarded places such as animal burrows. They come in varying colors but are easily identified by the two horn shaped growths on their relatively lardge abdomen. Their color changes from summer to winter. The female will die within days of laying a single egg sac with hundreds of eggs. Egg sacs can survive over winter, & the emerging spiderlings will eat their brothers & sisters. The babys ride strands of silk in warm air currents, able to transport them to locations miles away.
Threat There is generally no threat, They are considered harmless & have low toxicity venom. Cat Face Spiders or Jewel Spiders are a useful natural predator for insects. what we in the Pest Industry would call a Beneficial.
|
|
|
Appearance Brown Recluses, also referred to as violin spiders, have a dark brown violin shaped marking on the cephalothorax, which is the portion of the body to which the legs attach. However, to accurately identify a recluse, you need to look at the eye pattern, six eyes in pairs with a space separating the pairs. The characteristics that best describe a Brown Recluse are: *Sis eyes arranged in pairs (most spiders have 8) *A dark violin shape on the cephalothorax. *Body length of 3/8". If a spider is greater than 1/2" it is not a recluse.
Threat Despite the media hype and public hysteria surrounding brown recluse spiders, their bites are not life threatening. These withdrawn and timid spiders prefer to spend daylight hours in retreat. Still, when provoked, a recluse will bite. They use their short fangs to inject a cytoxic venom into victims, which will cause a welt and a noticeable sore. The wound can be slow to heal and could require medical attention if a secondary infection occurs. However, according to Dr. Phillip Anderson, a Missouri physician well-recognized authority on brown recluse bites, there has never been a confirmed death as a result of a brown recluse spider bite in North America. In fact, the doctor and other brown recluse experts have noted that almost all recluse spider bites heal in two to three months without any medical treatment.
|
Map of the region in which the Brown Recluse may be found.
All of us who work in the pest industry have heard the horror stories of brown recluse bites. Sometimes its the victim making the ID of the spider, sometimes its a customer insisting they have seen them running throughout their home, and sometimes its a doctor making a misdiagnosis because they do not know what their patient had been bitten by.
Rest assured that unless any of you on the west coast are traveling to the Gulf Coast or perhaps receiving freight from the area being bitten by a Brown Recluse is probably the least of your worries.
With that being said there are many different species of insects that can cause severe medical issues right here at home. If you have any questions or concerns give Halo Pest Elimination a call!!
|
|
|
