For many people, a spider is the last thing they want to discover in their home. Some even suffer from arachnophobia, or the irrational fear of spiders. But is that fear really so irrational? After all, don’t many spiders bite or even inject venom that can harm you?
It’s true that there are venomous spiders in the world. But out of over 43,000 species of spiders, fewer than 30 can kill you. That’s just one-tenth of one percent! Even among the most dangerous spiders, prompt treatment almost always results in recovery.
So you might not be surprised to learn that the vast majority of spiders commonly found in homes are completely (or mostly) harmless. If you do find a spider in your home, it’s most likely to be one of the following:
House spider. These yellowish brown spiders are very small, usually well under half an inch long, and typically harmless. They might bite if they feel attacked but will generally just avoid you (while catching bugs in your house). Their bites aren’t harmful, though.
Daddy long legs. You’ll recognize a Daddy long legs if you see one. They have tiny bodies and long, spindly legs. Contrary to urban legend, Daddy long legs do not bite and are not venomous. Their fangs are too small to even puncture your skin. However, they do often create large, messy webs.
Orb weaver spiders. Orb weavers are admittedly a bit terrifying. They tend to be much larger than house spiders, and brightly colored with yellow stripes on their backs. However, they are actually quite shy. They don’t bite unless they feel threatened, but the bites do sting a bit (similar to a bee sting).
In the US, only brown recluse and black widow spiders are considered dangerous. Luckily, these types of spiders are very shy and rarely enter the main area of your house. If you do encounter one around your home, it’s more likely to be in your garage, storage shed, or attic.
Hopefully these facts reassure you about your safety. But if you find spiders in your home and want them gone, give us a call to discuss pest control services.