Spiders

What are spiders?

Spiders are arachnids and are closely related to mites, ticks, and scorpions. Spiders are common household invaders. All spiders have two body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen), eight legs, and fangs (chelicerae). Spiders come in a wide range of colors and sizes. They are beneficial predators, feeding on many nuisance insects.

Two common spider species that can be found in our area of northern New Jersey are the brown recluse spider and the yellow sac spider.

Brown recluse spiders
Brown recluse spiders are yellowish-gray to dark black and their abdomen is covered in gray hairs. Their long legs are darker in color than their bodies. Brown recluse spiders have a unique violin-like pattern found on the top of their bodies. They have three pairs of eyes that are distinctly arranged in a semi-circle.

Yellow sac spiders
Yellow sac spiders are a small species of spider. These spiders are pale beige to yellow in color, and they often have a green tinge. The tips of their eight, long, thin legs are dark brown, and their dark brown eyes are arranged in two rows of four.

Are spiders dangerous?

All spiders have venom, but the venom that most household-invading spiders possess is not strong enough to cause significant health problems in people. Most spiders are nuisance pests and pose no significant threats to people.

Other spiders like brown recluse spiders and yellow sac spiders are dangerous and should be avoided if possible. Their venom is strong enough to cause severe health problems in people that require medical attention and monitoring. Brown recluse spider venom causes necrosis of the tissue around the bite site which can lead to serious infection. A bite from a yellow sac spider causes about as much pain as a bee sting. Its symptoms are similar to brown recluse bites, but these bites are much less severe.

Why do I have a spider problem?

Spiders live outdoors and can be found on almost any northern New Jersey property. Spiders thrive on properties that offer them easy access to their basic necessities of food, water, and shelter. Clogged gutters, bird baths, and dripping hoses can provide spiders with water sources. Gardens, heavy vegetation, and piles of debris attract spiders and offer both food (insects) and shelter. Spiders prefer an outdoor lifestyle, but when their prey moves indoors, they will follow. Spiders may also move indoors and become a problem for homeowners if the weather becomes too hot, dry, cold, or wet for them to live comfortably outdoors.

Where will I find spiders?

Outside, spiders create their webs or burrows in gardens, shrubs, bushes, overgrown vegetation, tall grasses, between rocks and stones, and in woodpiles. Spiders find their way into homes through cracks and crevices in their exterior. Inside homes, spiders create webs and hide in dark, quiet places, such as in the corners of closets and ceilings, in basements, attics, and crawlspaces. They also live inside boxes, in clothing or draperies, under furniture, and underneath sinks.