Although spiders have similar appearances and habits across the board, each spider species has its own preferences that set it apart from other arachnids. Whether a spider is a web-weaver or a hunter, one thing is for sure: it is a nuisance to have in the house. Arachnophobia – the fear of spiders – is one of the most common fears in the world, so it is completely normal to be wary of any eight-legged pests making themselves at home in your own space. You can find many types of spiders in Chesterfield, but there are two species that stand out as the most dangerous – and some of the most common.

Brown recluse spiders are true to their name in that they are brown-colored and prefer to be hidden away from the world. They like to stay hidden near idle boxes and building materials in particular. Since brown recluses are hunters, they do not build webs and therefore are not easily detected by the typical spider habitat. The majority of brown recluse bites are the result of a surprise attack, and by that, we mean that both the person and the spider are surprised. When someone disturbs the spider’s habitat by moving the objects and revealing the hidden arachnid, its instinct is to attack the “enemy” with its venomous bite. If left untreated, the infection can spread through the human’s body and eventually lead to detrimental health issues, such as necrosis. 

Black widows are one of the most well-known spiders ever, likely because of their signature red-orange hourglass marking on their abdomens. These black spiders love dark and dry places that are covered enough for them to comfortably construct their webs. Female black widows secure their egg sacs to these webs, then sit and wait for any unsuspecting insects to fly into the sticky strands and become her next meal. Black widows are always defensive, but they are even more territorial once they lay eggs and become extremely protective of them. If someone disturbs the web without killing the spider first, the adult black widow will deliver a dangerous bite. The person will experience more symptoms as time goes on, with the most common being nausea, shaking, and cramping. With professional medical care, these bites will go down quickly. 

If you or anyone in your home is bitten by one of these spiders, please seek medical attention immediately. Their bites are completely treatable when they are instantly addressed. However, even if the spiders in your home are not as dangerous as these two, it is essential to get them removed before they reproduce. Pointe Pest Control has long-term solutions for all kinds of Missouri spiders, and our highly-trained team is committed to solving every spider problem as thoroughly as possible. Contact us for more information on our environmentally-friendly services and to learn how our Chesterfield team will keep you spider-free all year long.