Know Your Spiders: Oklahoma City Spider Control
Black Widow Spiders
Northern and southern black widow spiders can be found in Oklahoma. Southern black widows are well-known for red hourglass markings on the undersides of their abdomens. In Northern widows, this marking is incomplete, and can appear split in the middle. Northern widows also have a series of red dots along their backs.
Widow spider venom is 15 times more toxic than rattlesnake venom, so these spiders can be dangerous. Since these spiders are very timid, bites are infrequent, and tend to happen when people reach into webs.
Brown Recluse Spiders
These fearsome spiders have reddish-brown bodies and pale brown legs. On their backs, they have a dark brown violin-shaped marking. Brown recluse spiders prefer dark, undisturbed areas and can stay hidden in attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
Though brown recluse spiders aren’t aggressive, they can bite if they’re disturbed or handled. Bites lead to painful, deep wounds that take several weeks to heal.
Parson Spiders
These frequently reported spiders are easy to identify thanks to their distinctive patterning. Their bodies are black and gray, while their legs are chestnut brown. On their backs, they have a white pattern that resembles a cravat.
Parson spiders often enter homes in the fall to search for hibernation sites. While bites from parson spiders can be painful, they’re not considered to be dangerous.
Yellow Sac Spiders
These small spiders have pale yellow legs and bodies. The tips of their legs are dark brown, which creates the impression that they have dark feet.
Yellow sac spiders hunt for prey at night, and you may see them roaming around your home. They may bite if they get pressed against a person’s skin by clothing or bedsheets. These bites are painful, but not otherwise dangerous.
How to Control Spiders
To keep spiders outside, seal any cracks or gaps that they could use to gain entry to the home. Install door sweeps and tight-fitting window screens, and seal any other cracks and crevices with caulk.
Indoors, get rid of clutter in your basement, attic, and garage. Old cardboard boxes, old clothing, and other debris provide places for spiders to hide. Vacuum and dust regularly to get rid of spiders and their egg sacs.
Individual spiders can be killed with glue boards or fly swatters. Vacuuming will also kill most spiders. If necessary, insecticides can be used to control spiders.
If you have a spider problem in Oklahoma, we can help. Call Armor & Shield, the trusted Oklahoma City spider control company, today.
