Spiders

What are spiders?

Spiders are eight-legged creatures that come to our yards while hunting their prey. Once they find a way into a yard, they tend to stay because our outdoor spaces provide them with easy access to food, shelter, and sources of water. Black widow spiders, house spiders, yellow sac spiders, and wolf spiders are examples of spiders we will find living in our Denver yards. It is usually only when their populations grow very large that they become an issue for us.

Identifying spiders is difficult and best left up to a professional, but a brief description of each is listed below.

Black Widow Spiders

They are shiny black except for the red hourglass-like marking on the bottom of their abdomen.

Yellow Sac Spiders

The bodies of female sac spiders are pale yellow or green, orange-brown, or red. Sac spiders lay eggs in a loose mass covered with a thin white sac.

House Spiders

House spiders have an elongated abdomen. They are usually a yellowish-brown color with dark stripes meeting at an angle on the body and legs.

Wolf Spiders

Adults have a stocky, robust body. They are dark, brown, or black with cream, gray, or yellowish markings. They are large and have eight eyes arranged in three rows.

Are spiders dangerous?

Living throughout the United States are only a couple of truly dangerous spiders; unfortunately, one lives in the Denver area: the black widow. The black widow spider and all dangerous spiders have venom that will cause health problems if injected into a person. In the case of a black widow spider, their venom causes issues with the nervous system.

Fortunately, the majority of the spiders living in the United States and our area of Colorado are not dangerous, they have venom, but the venom is only strong enough to paralyze their prey, not bring harm to people. Another positive when it comes to spiders is they are shy and don’t want to bite us. They only bite out of self-preservation, like being squashed or otherwise threatened.

Why do I have a spider problem?

Spiders move into homes on their own while searching for prey. Spiders are most attracted to properties with lots of insect activity. Things that attract insects include gardens, trash cans, and flower beds. Additionally, adult spiders or their eggs can accidentally get inside structures on potted plants, used furniture, or building materials.

Where will I find spiders?

Outside our homes, exterior lights draw many insects to them. Spiders hunt insects, so it is reasonable that spiders also gather around exterior lights. As spiders move around the exterior of our homes searching for prey, they often find a way inside through light fixtures, gaps around windows and doors, or through cracks in exterior walls.

Inside our homes, spiders live in closets, around windows, in basements, attics, and other dark, quiet areas. Spiders are reclusive and want to stay out of the sight of people and predators as much as possible.

How do I get rid of spiders?

If you live in the Denver area and are experiencing spider problems, you need to partner with Beeline Pest Control! We will solve your current spider problems through safe and eco-friendly treatments. We then implement quarterly spider control services to prevent new spiders from moving into your home. To learn more about ridding your home or business of annoying and possibly dangerous spiders, call today to receive a free quote!

How can I prevent spiders in the future?

Prevent future problems with spiders with the help of our easy and practical prevention tips:

• Place woodpiles, trash cans, and recycling bins away from the exterior of your home.
• Cut back shrubs and bushes from your home to limit hiding and nesting spots.
• Keep exterior lights turned off as much as possible to stop insects from being drawn to your home.
• Vacuum and dust regularly to remove spider webs and stray spiders.
• Get rid of the excess clutter from your home where spiders can easily hide.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.