South Carolina is home to hundreds of different kinds of spiders. While that might not be what you want to hear, keep in mind that only a few of these are a potential threat to you and your family. In fact, there are only four types of spiders that can inflict a venomous bite on people. Learn more about the spiders you should be watching for, so you can get help from professional SC pest control services if needed.
Widow Spiders
South Carolina has three kinds of widow spiders. All of these spiders are venomous, but they’re also highly unlikely to bite people. Widow spiders typically stay out of the way in crawlspaces, piles of wood and other areas that provide them with plenty of shelter. If they do bite, you should see your doctor just to be safe. However, bites from widow spiders are rarely serious or fatal. The following are the three types of widow spiders that SC pest control professionals deal with.
Southern Black Widow
Southern black widows have the most recognizable appearance out of the widow spiders. Females of this species are black with a red hourglass shape on their abdomen. Males have red spots on their abdomen rather than the hourglass shape. Southern black widows lay beige egg sacs that can have more than 200 eggs inside them.
Northern Black Widow
Northern black widows don’t have the hourglass shape on their body. Instead, these spiders have red markings that look like dots or splotchy patches. The eggs sacs that these spiders lay have a pear shape and can have as many as 200 eggs inside them. The number of eggs overall tends to be smaller than that of the southern black widow.
Brown Widow
Brown widows are relatively new to SC. They didn’t arrive here until the late 1990s. These spiders, which are more colorful than black widows, have a light or medium brown coloring with a yellow or orange hourglass shape on their abdomen. They also have white stripes and spots on their body. Brown widows have eggs sacs with spikes covering their surface.
Brown Recluse
Brown recluse spiders are commonly confused with harmless southern house spiders. They have a light brownish or yellowish coloring, a smaller body and longer legs. They also have six eyes instead of eight, which sets them apart from most other spider species. These spiders lay egg masses that have about 40 eggs inside them. Despite the dread that these spiders produce in SC homeowners, you’re not very likely to run into them. These spiders are rare in SC and tend to find well-hidden places to stay when they do come around.
What to Do About Spiders
What should you do about spiders if you have them around? If you have a venomous species around, it’s best to let professional SC pest control experts handle them. This lowers your risk of being bitten while also eliminating them from your home. If you have non-venomous spiders in your home or yard, you can let them be as long as you only have a few around and get rid of any egg sacs or masses you find. These spiders feed on common household and garden pests.
How to Prevent Spider Problems
You can lower your risk of having a spider problem in your home by keeping it as pest-free as possible. Taking steps to keep flies, ants and other pests away means that spiders won’t have anything to feed on. Maintaining a clean home by sweeping up crumbs, vacuuming and eliminating clutter can reduce your risk of having pests that spiders consider food.
If you have a spider problem at your home or business in the Hilton Head area, please contact Island Pest Control. Our team of SC pest control professionals can handle your spider problem safely and effectively.
