Spider Identification & Prevention

What Are Spiders?

Spiders are arachnids. They all have two body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen) and eight legs. They are wingless and also have no antennae. Spiders feed on a variety of nuisance garden insects and are considered beneficial to the environment. Most spiders that invade properties are harmless, but some do pose significant dangers to people.

Three of the most common species of spiders here in the Dallas Metropolitan area are listed below:

• Black widow spiders
  Black widows have a unique red, hourglass-shaped mark on their undersides, with light red or white markings on their abdomens and backs. Their round bodies are shiny and black, and they have eight slender legs. Females are larger than males.
• Brown recluse spiders
  These spiders range in color from yellowish-gray to black and have a distinctive violin-shaped pattern on top of their bodies. Gray hair covers their abdomens, and their long legs are darker color than their bodies. Additionally, the brown recluse has three pairs of eyes arranged in a unique semicircle. They avoid light and are most active at night.
• Wolf spiders
  Wolf spiders are dark brown with pale yellow markings, and their robust bodies and powerful legs are covered in hair. Wolf spiders are not web-building spiders. They create burrows where they wait for prey to come by so they can hunt them down. These spiders prey on insects that are walking or resting on the ground. 

Are spiders dangerous?

Spiders can be dangerous, depending on their specific species. Both the black widow and brown recluse are examples of dangerous spiders that live in the Dallas area. These spiders have venom that is strong enough to cause serious health consequences for people. Nevertheless, most species of spiders are just a nuisance and pose no real threat. For example, wolf spiders may look intimidating, but they are harmless and their venom is not strong enough to affect humans.

Why do I have a spider problem?