Did you know that there are 38 known species of spiders located in Georgia? Here are twelve of the most common eight-legged creatures invading Georgia homes, and they may pose a threat to you and your family.
1. Black Widow – Venomous
The black widow spider is venomous and is black and shiny with a characteristic red hourglass shape on its underside. They tend to stay hidden under rocks and in woodpiles. When it is cold or to chase prey, this spider will slip through a crack to come indoors to seek shelter. They hide in common places around your home like eaves, empty boxes, and even shoes that are stored away and never worn. Black widows can be harmful to humans if bitten, but death is uncommon if treatment is received quickly. Males typically do not bite, but females have been known to be aggressive, especially when they are guarding their eggs. Black widow bite symptoms include fever, elevated blood pressure, nausea, and sweats.
2. Brown Recluse – Venomous
A brown recluse spider is brown and has a dark, violin-shaped mark on its head leading down its back. This is a venomous spider that can produce a painful bite when on the defensive. These bites are very painful and often leave an open, ulcerating sore that must be treated by a medical professional quickly. Symptoms include fever, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. If untreated, the bite can lead to a necrotic ulcer that can spread. The brown recluse tends to stay hidden outdoors under rocks, in debris, and woodpiles. However, it will venture indoors and hide in shoes, underneath furniture, inside storage bins, around baseboards, and other concealed spaces. They are also found hiding out in attics, crawlspaces, and closets.
3. Cellar Spider
The cellar spider has long legs and hangs upside down from the ceiling in attics, bathrooms, cellars, and other rooms. It’s a fragile spider that doesn’t pose much of a risk to people or pets. Because it breeds continuously, it can turn into a massive infestation within a few months.
4. Common House Spider
They are called common house spider because it is extremely common in people’s homes. They come in multiple colors, but most of these spiders are yellow to brown with elongated abdomens. They are most often found in ceiling corners, under furniture, and inside closets, basements, garages, and crawlspaces. They are not a threat to humans.
5. Crevice Spider
Crevice spiders look similar to brown recluse spiders. The big difference is that they do not have the brown recluse’s signature violin-shaped markings. Just like their name, these spiders are often found in crevices and corners. They are typically located along baseboards, window frames, and ceiling corners. These spiders can be beneficial to homeowners as they eat common household pests like flies, roaches, beetles, and wasps. They rarely bite only when threatened.
6. Hobo Spider
The hobo spider’s coloring is light to medium brown with an oblong abdomen. This spider received its name by “hitching” rides with humans along highways in the Pacific Northwest. These spiders build funnel webs which open at both ends. During the mating season, which is from June to October, males wander to locate females and come into contact with humans. Males bits more than females due to a higher level of contact with humans. Their bites are not dangerous. Hobo spiders are found in almost any habitat like holes, cracks, or crevices. They thrive in dark, moist environments like basements, crawlspaces, and window wells.
7. Lynx Spider
The lynx spider is the color of a bright green plant leaf. Sometimes they have orange on their legs and black dots. These spiders have long black spines on their legs. The Lynx spider is very quick and able to jump large distances while capturing their prey. They hang out in open fields with tall grass surroundings. These spiders are not a threat to humans but will bite if on the defensive.
8. Orb Weaver Spider
These spiders can vary in size and coloring but are often mistaken for brown recluse spiders. Orb weavers are brightly colored, have hairy or spiny legs, and a large abdomen. They create distinctive sheet webs up to three feet in diameter with an escape tunnel at the rear. They are nocturnal spiders and build or repair webs at night. Orb weavers do not pose a threat to humans. They will bite if cornered, but the bite is comparable to a bee sting.
9. Trapdoor Spider
This spider is a large, hairy spider that is yellowish-brown to reddish-brown to black. They have sharp fangs and powerful jaws. These spiders get their name from the burrows they construct with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation, and silk. They stay underground and then usually hunt at night. They are not aggressive and are often timid when confronted.
10. Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are dark brown with pale markings or stripes and grow to over an inch in length. Their legs are spiny and long. Most wolf spiders have hair on their bodies. Indoors, wolf spiders stay on or near the floor, especially under furniture and along walls. They come inside hidden on firewood. While wolf spiders can bite, these incidents are rare, and they don’t pose a significant threat to humans. Wolf spiders chase their prey down using their speed instead of a web.
11. Yellow Garden Spider
The yellow garden spider is a large, yellow, and black spider. They are known for spinning large round webs. Females are black with bright yellow patches on their abdomens. Males are smaller, with less yellow coloring on their abdomens. They are located outdoors in sunny areas with plants. Garden spiders produce venom that is harmless to humans but immobilizes flies, bees, and other flying insects that are caught in the web.
12. Yellow Sac Spider
The yellow sac spider has a pale-yellow coloring and measures about a half-inch in length. They like gardens and landscaped areas. They can produce a painful bite if provoked but are not dangerous. When indoors, this spider stays hidden in crevices and cracks.
Prevention
Most people prefer to keep spiders out of their homes. To prevent spiders from being in your home, follow these tips:
- Keep your attic, garage, and basement clear and decluttered
- Keep shoes and clothing off the floor
- Seal any crevices and cracks around your home
- Enclose your crawlspace
- Sweep any cobwebs that appear
Contact a professional pest control company for a free inspection and evaluation to remove all pests from your home and property.
Contact Us
Choose Proactive Pest Control for professional, comprehensive, guaranteed pest, and lawn management. The pros at Proactive will work diligently to gain your trust, confidence, and your total satisfaction. CALL US TODAY at 770-800-PEST to schedule a free, no-obligation inspection and evaluation for your home or business. Or, contact us for a FREE consultation. Let us show you why Proactive Pest Control is northeast Georgia’s first choice for pest, termite, and lawn services.