There are approximately 2,500 different types of spiders in North America. Most spiders are not house dwellers, instead preferring an outdoor habitat. However, a few do enjoy dark places like basements, and they eventually find their way into the rest of the house.

They creep, they crawl, they sneak about and descend suddenly from high places–spiders have an unnerving ability to make even the biggest, bravest adult jump. But the truth is, they are just as happy to avoid you as you are to avoid them. The Midwest is home to hundreds of species of spiders, some  who live outdoors and some who live with you

Two spiders to fear most in the United States are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. These two venomous spiders have bites that require medical attention, especially for young children and the elderly. Learn to identify these two poisonous spiders with the tips below.

Identify a Poisonous Brown Recluse Spider

The Brown Recluse is found in the Midwestern to Southern United States. Other spiders in the Recluse family live in the desert Southwest. If you are not in the normal habitat of the poisonous recluse, you probably do not have a poisonous Brown Recluse spider. These spiders favor dry, undisturbed places like storage areas and wood piles.

You need to:

• Capture the spider. Use a glass jar or bowl to trap the spider. Do not touch the spider in case you have caught a poisonous Brown Recluse.
• Identify the spider. A poisonous Brown Recluse is brown in color, not striped, and has a “violin” shaped pattern on its back. They are only a half inch in size, not including the legs. The spider has fine hairs on the legs, not spines. Its most remarkable feature–if you can get that close–is the eye pattern. A Brown Recluse has three pairs of eyes. While most spiders have eight eyes, the poisonous Brown Recluse Spider has only six eyes.

Identify a Black Widow Spider

The highly poisonous Black Widow spider lives in all parts of North America, and thrives in all the temperate regions of the globe. They build low lying webs and are often found in garages, wood piles and even BBQ grills. Capture the spider, using a glass jar or bowl. Do not touch the spider in case you have caught a poisonous Black Widow spider.

Identify the spider. Black Widow spiders are shiny, black or brownish-black, with a row of bright red to orange spots on the belly. The spots often resemble an hour glass. Females are about a half inch across, not including the legs. Males are much smaller, but not poisonous.

Spiders can be beneficial insects, but we know that to many people spiders are just “creepy.”  So if you have spiders that have become unwelcome guests, call us to rid your home of  these creepy, crawly insects.