Seeing Spider Man save the day in comics and movies might seem cool, but the first-hand experience with spiders can be much less so. From stumbling upon them when you least expect it to getting a web in the face, having these pests invade your home can be annoying and sometimes even dangerous. Not all spider bites lead to superpowers, after all! As pest control service experts in Austin, Buda & Kyle, Dripping Springs, and Round Rock, BrockStar has seen and dealt with every Texas spider imaginable. Here’s what you need to know.
Poisonous Spiders
There are around 88 different types of spiders found in Texas. Although some are more populous than others, spiders don’t abide by human boundaries, so it’s possible to find all of them across the state. Many, like the American Grass Spider and Long-Bodied Cellar Spider, aren’t harmful to humans. Even menacing-looking spiders, like the Grey Wall Jumping Spider, which possesses fangs and produces venom isn’t harmful to humans — in fact, they’re more likely to run away from humans than confront them. (Still arachnophobes might not be fans of the eight-legged creatures.)
However, several spiders can be harmful to humans and pets alike.
Yellow Garden Orb Weaver Spider
This spider has dorsal markings along the abdomen and elongated hind spinnerets for building its large-scale webs that are grand enough for Halloween decorations. Its sing is comparable to a bee sting, which will cause redness and swelling at the bite site but won’t be a serious issue for healthy adults.
Carolina Wolf Spider
This spider is intimidatingly large; the females can be almost an inch long. For some, the bite can feel like little more than a bee or wasp sting; however, for others, the venom can cause necrotic (dead tissue) lesions.
The Texas Recluse
A cousin to the better-known brown recluse spider, this insect loves to live in the hot outdoor areas of southern Texas. Although its bite may at first not even be noticed, it can be serious. Recluse spiders bear hemotoxic venom that can cause human tissue to die (necrosis).
Black Widow Spider
These spiders are easy to spot. They have dark brown or black bodies and a red or orange hourglass on the abdomen. The spiders prefer to nest near to the ground in dark, undisturbed areas where prey is likely to be caught in their tangled webs. The female spiders, which have large venom glands, can cause mammals painful bites. However, the bites rarely result in serious complications.
How to Avoid and Manage Texas Spiders
Spiders like to weave their webs off the beaten path. For example, in stacks of firewood, in dark storage areas like garages or sheds, in dark areas of your yard, and others. So, be mindful — and wear gloves — when you’re moving stacks of firewood or accessing storage areas. You should also regularly clean out garages, on and under porches, and mudrooms to make them less attractive for spiders to take up residence. If spiders are keeping you on the run like a superhero movie villain, you may need to call in your local pest exterminators to save the day.
How BrockStar Can Help Eliminate Texas Spiders
BrockStar Pest Services has been Keepin’ It Local since 2012, so we’ve been there and seen that. We can create a comprehensive pest control plan for your home. Call for a free estimate! 512-800-0437
