Is It Bad To Have Spiders In My Washington, D.C. Home?

12/27/2021

Spiders   

If there’s one pest that residents of Washington D.C. hate, it’s the spider. Technically, there are many different species of spiders in the area, but many people fear spiders regardless of the type.

However, the truth is that most spiders that invade homes aren’t that dangerous. Common house spiders include cellar spiders and wolf spiders, but these, and many other species, aren’t dangerous to people or pets.

All spiders technically do have fangs and venom. They use these tools to incapacitate their insect prey. However, most don’t have potent enough venom to hurt you or others. While bites do happen, most spiders aren’t aggressive and would rather avoid coming across people at all.

You can identify common house spiders by looking at these characteristics:

Wolf spiders: This species might look terrifying because they have hairy legs and stout bodies. They can also run quickly, but they aren’t dangerous. They are a mix of grey, brown, and black colors.

Cellar spiders: This small species makes irregular-shaped webs. They are often a yellowish color, and they have particularly long and spindly legs.

The Dangerous Spiders You Do Have To Worry About

While most of the spiders you’ll find around your home aren’t dangerous, some are. There are two dangerous spider species in the area that you should try to avoid. These are the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider, and they are the only two spider varieties in the country that are considered medically significant to people.

Black widow spiders are a jet black color with a red hourglass marking on their underbellies. Brown recluse spiders are a bit less distinctive in appearance; they are light brown and black markings on their legs.

Both of these spiders tend to prefer dark, cluttered areas to hide. Black widow spiders in particular often live in woodpiles, including firewood, while brown recluse spiders are often found in dark corners of closets or other undisturbed places.

If you suspect either of these species has bitten you, you should seek medical attention. While not all bites by one of these spiders will cause a serious reaction, it’s still best to get healthcare advice just in case.

Five Spider Prevention Tips For Homeowners

The main reason spiders will enter your home is because they are hunting down their insect prey. So, many of the best spider prevention measures involve keeping these bugs out, too.

These are five of the most effective measures you can easily take to protect your home from arachnids:

1. Work to seal up entry points into the house using caulk or foam to fix cracks and holes.
2. Spills and crumbs can attract smaller pests that in turn attract spiders, so always wipe them up immediately.
3. Keep firewood stored around 30 feet from the exterior of your house since black widows often live in these piles.
4. Purchase lids that fit tightly on all garbage cans.
5. Seek assistance from home pest control professionals.

What To Do About Spiders Hanging Around Your Property

If more spiders have started hanging around your home, especially if they are dangerous ones, give the experts at American Pest a call for assistance. We offer spider control plans that will eradicate spider species as well as their pest prey. Then, we offer ongoing pest control treatments to keep these arachnids from returning to your property again.

Feel free to give us a call to request a quote or to learn more about options.