A fear of spiders is one of our most primal instincts, one that evolved in humans as we were learning as a species to fear the things that could easily kill us. The vast majority of people either fear or dislike spiders, with only a very small minority claiming to like them. So when we come across a spider in our homes, the reaction many people have is to kill it as quickly as possible. However, where one spider has managed to get in, others can and will follow.

Spiders 101

Spiders are relatively unique in the insect world because in reality they aren’t insects at all! Spiders are in fact arachnids. Where insects have six legs and three body segments, arachnids have 8 legs and two body segments. They have fangs which can inject venom to kill their prey. Spiders mostly feed off of insects and other spiders, but some larger species have been known to kill and eat birds and lizards. Spider venom is incredibly powerful, especially considering the size of the prey they normally feed on, and this high-powered venom makes them potentially very dangerous to humans and domestic animals. Spiders generally use the silk they produce to create webs to ensnare their prey instead of seeking out prey, but they can and do leave their webs to find better locations and will bite perceived threats.

Why They’re Pests

Nobody likes uninvited visitors in their homes, and spiders are more than willing to move in without welcome. They can stay unnoticed by hiding in corners, crevices, nooks, and crannies, and they are able to populate your entire house with their offspring without your knowledge. Furthermore, certain kinds of spiders that like to move in to our homes can be deadly.

Why They’re Dangerous

The majority of spiders we find in our homes are not actually harmful. The problem arises when you run across those spiders that are poisonous to humans or pets (the most common offenders in Georgia are the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow). These spiders can easily remain unnoticed in your home until you or your child or pet has been bitten and an emergency situation arises. Spider bites can range from merely annoying to life threatening, so it is essential for any spider bite victim to see a doctor immediately. What may not seem like a bad bite could end up costing a limb or a life if it does not receive proper medical attention.

Extermination and Control

Because they are so adept at hiding, it can be difficult to find everywhere spiders have set up shop. You may believe that you’ve killed every last one in your home only to find an occupied web floating from your ceiling the next moment. The only way to truly control spiders in your home is to call out a professional extermination team and have them address your problem. Your professional exterminator will exterminate the spiders living in your home, create a barrier around your home to prevent newcomers from finding their way inside, and remove spider webs from around your structure. They can also recommend further exclusion measures you can take to avoid having eight legged “friends” move into your home in the future.