No, that big spider nestled in a web over your front door isn’t a forgotten Halloween decoration. It’s real, and it, along with many of its species, like to make their way in and around your home.

Aside from the fright factor, most spiders around Raleigh, NC are not harmful. They often help us by getting rid of other insects. Many arachnids only bite humans in self-defense, and even then, don’t always inject venom. However, two of the most common spiders that are dangerous, the black widow and the brown recluse, can be found in North Carolina.

Recognizing Dangerous Spiders

With at least eleven types of spiders common to our area, including crab, jumping, wolf, fishing and garden spiders, how can a homeowner identify the ones that can be hazardous? Experts suggest not directly handling any type of spider, but a few tips on recognizing the black widow and brown recluse can be helpful.

The Black Widow Spider measures about 1.5 inches, and is known for a red, hourglass mark on the abdomen. Its venom is said to be 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. It can cause illness in healthy adults and can be fatal to small children, older adults, or people who are already sick.

The Brown Recluse Spider is ½ inch long. Primarily found in the central and southern United States, it has a dark brown violin shape on its back, near where the legs meet the body. It also has a distinct eye pattern of six eyes in pairs, with a space separating the pairs. As with the black widow, a bite from the brown recluse spider can cause muscle pain, difficulty breathing, fever, itching or rash, but is unlikely to be fatal.

If you get bitten by any type of spider and have symptoms, you should check with a medical professional to rule out any complications.

How Spiders Enter Your Home

With so many types of spiders, it is less likely that the one in your home is poisonous—but that doesn’t mean you want it to stay there, unleashing 2 to 1000 eggs.

Spiders get into your home the same way other critters do—through gaps in window frames and doors. Many are attracted to the outdoor lighting around your home. Some pilgrim spiders may have first entered the home clinging to original building material and supplies. You may be seeing several generational descendants of spiders that first entered your home.

How to Get Rid of Spiders

If you find an occasional spider or spider web, it’s a simple process to knock down the web with a broom and sweep the spider away. Vacuum areas that are prone to harboring webs, such as baseboards, corners and bookshelves.

Insecticides can be used for targeted areas, but if you have a spider infestation of a larger area or room, you may need the help of professionals to ensure the existing spiders and any of their eggs are destroyed, and to make sure the spiders don’t return.

Questions about spiders in and around your home? Please call us at Critter Control of the Triangle at 1-800-CRITTER or 919-382-0651 in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary NC and the Triangle area.