Most Common Types Of Spiders Living In Your House
Spiders are one of the most common nuisance pests people encounter in their daily lives. These eight-legged, air-breathing arthropods belong to the class Arachnida and, like many pests, are attracted to the food, shelter, and moisture found in and around human homes. Below, the experienced exterminators with our pest control company list seven of the most common types of spiders found in Florida homes.
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Black Widows
Black widows are known worldwide for their unique appearance and painful bite. These infamous spiders are more common in Florida homes than many homeowners may realize. Female black widows have shiny black bodies and a red hourglass shape on their abdomen, while male black widows have dark gray or brown bodies and a white hourglass shape. Widows tend to hide out in basements, sheds, barns, crawl spaces, and cluttered areas around the home. While black widows are venomous and their bites are very painful, they are rarely fatal. However, if you believe you’ve been bitten by a black widow you should seek medical attention.
Brown Recluse
Brown recluse spiders are the most common recluse spiders in North America. As their namesake suggests, brown recluse spiders are reclusive, choosing to hide in out-of-the-way spots, such as in sheds, garages, and basements, and behind boxes, dressers, and picture frames. You can identify brown recluse spiders by their light to dark brownish color and the violin-shaped markings on their back. Additionally, whereas most spiders have eight eyes, brown recluses spiders only have six. Brown recluse spider bites can cause necrotic skin damage and require immediate medical attention. Fortunately, brown recluse bites are rare and only occur when the spider feels directly threatened.
Jumping Spider
Jumping spiders come in a variety of different colors and sizes but can be identified by their jumping behavior and rectangular-shaped faces. These spiders are commonly found underneath furniture, cracks in hardwood floors, between books, under doors, and in window moldings. The bite of a jumping spider isn’t venomous but can cause itchiness, redness, stinging, and/or swelling.
Domestic House Spider
Domestic house spiders are often dark orange or brown with dark bands on their legs and a pale mark on their breastplate. Additionally, you may be able to identify a domestic house spider by its funnel-shaped web. These spiders are commonly found in attics, basements, storage spaces, and other undisturbed places throughout the home. These spiders rarely ever bite and are harmless if they do. Often, these spiders can be trapped in a cup and released outside fairly easily. However, if you suspect your home is infested, don’t hesitate to contact us for spider control services.
Daddy Long Legs
The term “daddy long legs” is used to refer to a number of spider species with small, round bodies and exceptionally long, thin, spindly legs. These spiders could be anything from yellow to light brown to grey and are commonly found in damp places such as basements and crawlspaces. Additionally, you may spot these spiders in the corners of windows, garages, ceilings, and closets. These are some of the most common house spiders in Florida and are harmless.
Yellow Sac Spider
Yellow sac spiders are generally pale in color, ranging from yellowish to beige, and have front legs that are longer than the others. These spiders like to live in gardens and organic debris but may enter homes seeking warmth. Some common places yellow sac spiders may be spotted in a home include corners where the ceiling and wall meet, along baseboards, behind picture frames, and in other undisturbed locations. While their bites are painful, they shouldn’t cause any medical complications except for allergic individuals.
Southern House Spider
Southern house spiders, sometimes referred to as crevice spiders, are a large species of spider that are commonly found in and around Florida homes. Males of this species are uniformly brown with slender bodies and females have compact bodies and are often either dark brown or black. Similar to tarantulas, the bodies of southern house spiders are covered in fine hairs. While they may look like tarantulas, southern house spiders are largely harmless.
