Spider Identification & Prevention

What Are Spiders?

Spiders are nocturnal predators that hide during the day and emerge at night to hunt. Beneficial in nature, spiders help reduce the populations of nuisance insects. However, when they decide to move into our homes, they turn from helpful to unwanted. Spiders range in size, color, and behaviors, but all adults have two body segments and eight legs. Spiders are arachnids, and like all arachnids, they have no wings and antennae. The most common species of spiders that live in Henry County yards and homes are:

• Common House Spider
• Cellar Spider
• Brown Recluse Spider
• Wolf Spider
• Black Widow Spider
• Jumping Spider
• Orb-Weaver Spider
• Hobo Spider
• Yellow Sac Spider
• Tarantula

These are some of the most common spiders found in homes, gardens, and outdoor areas, with varying levels of potential threat to humans based on species.

1. Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)
Size: About 1/4 inch
Color: Light brown or gray
Location: Indoors, in corners of ceilings, windows, and basements
Web: Irregular and tangled

2. Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides)
Size: Small body with very long, thin legs
Color: Pale yellowish-brown or gray
Location: Basements, cellars, and damp areas
Web: Irregular, loose webbing in undisturbed areas

3. Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa)
Size: 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Color: Light to dark brown with a violin-shaped marking on its back
Location: Dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, and basements
Venomous: Yes, can cause necrotic skin lesions

4. Wolf Spider (Lycosidae family)
Size: 1/2 to 2 inches
Color: Brown, gray, or black with distinctive patterns
Location: Outdoors in gardens, grassy areas, or under rocks, occasionally indoors
Behavior: Hunts prey instead of building webs

5. Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus spp.)
Size: 1/2-inch body, legs span about 1 1/2 inches
Color: Black with a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen
Location: Dark, sheltered outdoor areas like garages, woodpiles, and sheds
Venomous: Yes, potentially dangerous to humans

6. Jumping Spider (Salticidae family)
Size: 1/8 to 3/4 inch
Color: Often brightly colored or patterned
Location: Both indoors and outdoors, commonly on windowsills, walls, and plants
Behavior: Known for their excellent jumping ability and good vision

7. Orb-Weaver Spider (Araneidae family)
Size: 1/4 to 1 inch
Color: Varies; some have bright markings
Location: Gardens, forests, and outdoor areas, typically builds large, circular webs
Web: Intricate, wheel-shaped webs, often seen in gardens or between trees

8. Hobo Spider (Eratigena agrestis)
Size: 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Color: Brown with subtle markings on the abdomen
Location: Basements, garages, crawl spaces, and outdoor areas near foundations
Web: Funnel-shaped webs in cracks or corners

9. Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium spp.)
Size: 1/4 inch
Color: Pale yellow or greenish-yellow
Location: Indoors in corners, ceilings, and windowsills, outdoors in gardens
Behavior: Often active at night, known to bite humans

10. Tarantula (Theraphosidae family)
Size: 4 to 12 inches leg span
Color: Brown, black, or brightly colored, depending on species
Location: Found outdoors in burrows, deserts, or tropical forests (mostly in southern U.S.)
Behavior: Large, hairy spiders that rarely bite unless provoked

Are Spiders Dangerous?

Most of the spiders we come across in our yards and homes are harmless to people. Spiders usually only bite when provoked. As long as you give spiders their space, they are not aggressive and will do their best to stay away from you. However, there are dangerous spiders living in Henry County and surrounding areas; both the black widow and brown recluse have venom potent enough to trigger negative reactions in people. While neither species is typically life-threatening, being bitten by one does produce symptoms that a healthcare provider should take a look at.

Why Do I Have a Spider Problem?

The reason spiders are on your property is because it provides food, shelter, and water that they and their insect prey can utilize. Yards with a lot of vegetation, gardens, and standing water are attractive to insects. The more insect activity you have on your property, the more spiders you will see.

Where Will I Find Spiders?

Spiders hide away during the day in their dark, secluded hiding spots. Some of their favorite hiding spots include trees, shrubbery, woodpiles, and yard debris. They also like to hang out under decks and porch steps, doorways, roof eaves, and outdoor light fixtures. Spiders move indoors following their prey, moving through openings in your home’s exterior that they discover while crawling along its surface. Inside, they hide in dark, quiet areas like in basements, closets, and the corners of rooms, above cabinets, and under couches and other large pieces of furniture.

Most people associate finding spider webs with a spider infestation, but it is important to note that not all spiders make webs. Just because you don’t see spider webs doesn’t mean your home is free of spiders! Many spider species create burrows instead of webs.

How Do I Get Rid of Spiders?

The best way to protect your Henry County property from a spider infestation is to partner with a professional. At Jerry's Pest Management, we can help you make spiders feel unwelcome on your property with the help of our effective pest control treatments. We care about our customers and are committed to solving your pest problems, no matter how big or small they may be! You can trust that Jerry's Pest Management will rid your property of spiders and help prevent them from returning. To learn more about getting started with spider control for your home, reach out to Jerry's Pest Management today!

How Can I Prevent Spiders in the Future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from spiders with the following prevention tips:

• First and foremost, inspect your home’s exterior and seal any openings you discover in the foundation or exterior walls.
• Keep covers on vents, chimneys, and drains.
• Keep your lawn well-maintained.
• Keep landscaping trimmed to eliminate hiding spots.
• Keep your home and yard free of the clutter and debris that spiders and their insect prey like to hide in.
• Make your property less attractive to the insects that spiders hunt by keeping lids on trash cans, keeping outdoor eating areas free of food debris, and keeping outdoor lights off whenever possible.

Why Choose Jerry's Pest Management for control of Spiders?

• Over 40 years of trusted service in Henry County and surrounding areas.
• Safe, family-friendly treatment options.
• Experienced, professional technicians who care about your comfort and peace of mind.

Let Jerry's Pest Management help you reclaim your space. Call us today to schedule your treatment for Spiders! Experience the difference that family dedication and decades of experience can make. 

At Jerry's Pest Management, we’re here for you — because protecting your home and business is our family tradition.