Spiders Removal in North Carolina & Virginia
Spiders have eight legs and can be separated into broad categories as; burrowers, web spinners, active hunters or sit and wait ambushers. Black widow spider, brown recluse spider, cellar spider, funnel weaver spider, jumping spider, orb spider and wolf spider are all common species found in North Carolina and Virginia.
Unlike termites or ants, spiders do not destroy structures. Unlike cockroaches they do not eat our food or create allergens. Unlike rats they don’t spread diseases. The black widow and the brown recluse do have a toxic venom which will cause a painful bite.
There are over 40,000 species worldwide with around three times that of which are unidentified. They are a nuisance pest but also beneficial because they eat other insects.
Black Widow Spiders
Black widow spiders are usually recognized by their black shiny body with a bright red hourglass figure on the underside of their abdomen. Black widow spiders are shy and prefer to spin their web in dry protected locations such as under decks, wood piles, hollow stumps, or crawlspaces, garages and meter boxes. Black widow spiders will not go out of their way to bite people but the venom can cause a serious reaction in elderly people and young children and the bite will be painful.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown recluse spiders are often called fiddle backs, or violin spiders because of the violin shaped dark mark that begins right behind it’s eyes. They build an unsightly web and they prefer hidden locations such as in attics or in barns and sheds but have been known to crawl into shoes and other clothing. Brown recluse spiders, like black widows do have a very painful bite. They won’t instinctively bite humans, but the bite can produce an ugly, open, slow healing ulcer.
Cellar Spider
Cellar spiders are a web spinner spider and are often referred to as daddy longlegs spiders, but they are not to be confused with daddy longlegs. They have very long flimsy legs and live belly side up in webs which can be found in basements, garages, barns and sheds as well as crawlspaces.
Funnel Weaver Spider
Funnel weaver spiders build horizontal flat trampoline like webs from between bricks of under wood piles or in basements where they won’t be disturbed.
Jumping Spider
Jumping spiders can bite, but they are not considered dangerous. They are squat, tank like spiders with short legs which they rotate around in order to maximize their vision. Jumping spiders like to hunt in the day and they will pounce on their prey with feline precision. They will build their nest under furniture, between books on shelves, in cracks, around doors and windows, under stones and under loose bark, around decking, or bushes.
Most jumping spiders are small and some are brilliantly colored and often confused with the black widow spider.
Orb Weaver Spider
Orb weaver spiders are well known because they are large and conspicuous, many are colorful and the webs are easily seen in the day. They build the typical two dimensional web with radial spokes.
Wolf Spider
Wold spiders are a hunting spider. They can be distinguished by a row of four anterior eyes which provides them with excellent vision. They are generally large and hairy. Wolf spiders hunt during the night and sometimes during the day. Outside they tend to inhabit firewood, timbers, under stone, under decks and in structures they often remain near floor level and can be found under furniture and along walls. Wolf spiders can bite but it is extremely rate and they only bite if handled.
How to Prevent Spiders
- Caulk cracks around the outside of the home or building.
- Ensure doors and windows are fitted with screening.
- Use a dehumidifier in basements and crawlspaces which will lower the humidity in order to discourage spider habitat.
- Use yellow lighting outside which may reduce spiders outside, as well as other insects.
- When moving items which have been stored for a long period of time, wear gloves in case there are black widow spiders present.
- Shake out shoes before wearing, to check for spiders. As well as shake out clothes which have been stored in a hamper ready for washing.
- For any seasonal clothes, store them in sealed plastic containers.
- If you can visibly see a spider web, then use caution before putting your hands or feet there.
- If in doubt, get the vacuum cleaner out for the removal of spiders and their webs. Ensure the vacuum is emptied outside.
Dealing with a spider infestation can be a tricky job, especially if you don’t like dealing with them, or if you have something more serious like black widow spiders or brown recluse spiders. Unlike our Virginia & North Carolina pest control competitors we don’t charge additional for their removal and they are covered as standard as part of our maintenance programs. Otherwise you may have a one off requirement and we can help you with that too. Four Seasons and HomeTown cover the Outer Banks, Elizabeth City, Moyock, Newport News, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and everything in between.
