Spiders and their Control

There are thousands of species of spiders, most of which are beneficial because they eat mosquitoes and other insects. Many spiders can deliver painful bites, however; and a few species are venomous.

Spiders are not insects, but arachnids. Unlike insects, spiders have eight legs as adults (insects, by definition, have six), and only two body segments. (Insects have three). Here are some of the spiders people call exterminators about in Ohio.

Black Widow Spiders

Black Widow SpiderBlack widow spiders are extremely poisonous arachnids. Their venom is 15 times as poisonous as the venom of the prairie rattlesnake. These venomous spiders are found in warm and temperate climates all around the world. Black widows live in dark places such as in drain pipes, under logs, in manholes, and in other secluded places.

Brown Recluse Spider

Brown Recluse SpiderThe brown recluse spider is not very common in Ohio. They are native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi, and only occasionally are found in Ohio. Brown recluse spiders hide in dark, secluded areas. When disturbed, they can inflict a painful bite that develops into a "bulls eye" pattern, with a blister in the middle of a red ring. When the blister breaks, a scab forms over the wound. In some cases, brown recluse spider bites can result in a more serious condition in which the wound ulcerates, and surrounding tissue is progressively destroyed.

For help with spiders, web removal, or any other pest problem, please contact us.