American House Spider

(Parasteatoda tepidariorum)

 

The American house spider is an extremely common spider that is fairly likely to escape notice since it tends to build its tangled web in secluded locations. Its behavior on its web is quiet and efficient, so it generally does not draw attention to itself. There are several species of this genus, Achaearania. Their coloration consists generally in patterns of shades of brown, and they are rather dull in appearance, all of which makes it more easy for them to slip into the background. They are not known to bite people with any high degree of frequency, and their venom is not known to be dangerous to human beings.

 

Black Widow Spiders

(Lactrodectus mactans)

 

Black widow spiders are most recognized for the red hourglass shape under their abdomen. Contrary to legend, female black widow spiders rarely devour the male black widow spider after mating.

 

Brown Recluse Spiders

(Loxosceles reclusa)

 

Brown recluse spiders have a characteristic dark brown violin marking on their back.

 

Wolf Spider

(Rhabidosa rabida)

 

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae. They are robust and agile hunters with good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic hunters pouncing upon prey as they find it or even chasing it over short distances. Some will even wait for passing prey in or near the mouth of a burrow. There are many genera of wolf spider, ranging in body size from less than 1 to 30 millimetres (0.04 to 1.18 in). They have eight eyes arranged in three rows. The bottom row consists of four small eyes, the middle row has two very large eyes (which distinguishes them from the Pisauridae), and the top row has two medium-sized eyes.d your own text and edit me. It's easy.

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Black Widow Spiders

 

Female black widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female black widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn’t always the case. Geographically, black widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States.

 

• Size: 3/4" to 3/8"

• Shape: Round

• Color: Black with characteristic red "hourglass" on back

• Legs: 8

• Wings: No

• Antenna: No

• Common Name: Black widow spider

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Arachnida

• Order: Araneae

• Family: Theridiidae

• Species: Lactrodectrus mactans

Diet:

Black widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders!

Habitat:

Black widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact:

The bite of a female black widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male black widow spider does not bite. A black widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

Prevention:

• Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time.

• Shake out your shoes before putting them on.

• Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.

Find information on black widow spider control at the official NPMA website.

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Brown Recluse Spiders

 

Brown recluse spiders get their name because of their tendency to hide in corners. They are identified by the dark brown violin shaped markings on their back. Native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, they are nocturnal pests.

 

• Size: 5/8"

• Shape: Round

• Color: Light to dark brown, with a dark brown violin shaped marking on their back.

• Legs: 8

• Wings: No

• Antenna: No

• Common Name: Brown recluse spider

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Arachnida

• Order: Araneae

• Family: Sicariidae

• Species: Loxosceles reclusa

Diet:

Brown recluse spiders eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets.

Habitat:

Brown recluse spiders live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact:

The brown recluse spider only bites to protect itself. Its bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore. The center of their bite becomes a blister surrounded by an angry-looking red ring, which is then surrounded by a white ring. A red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours of being bitten. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.

Prevention:

• Don’t leave clothing on the floor.

• Store clothes and shoes inside plastic containers and shake them out before wearing them.