Are House Spiders Dangerous?

a common house spider climbs up the wall

When you see a spider in your house, the first thing you probably do is ask yourself if it’s dangerous. There are more than four thousand spider species in North America, and while most are harmless to humans, a few are venomous enough to pose a threat. Here in the greater St. Louis area where we operate, the species you’re most likely to encounter in your home is the common house spider, also known as the American house spider.

What Does the Common House Spider Look Like? 

Common house spiders have drab coloring overall: yellowish, tan, brown, or gray, with darker mottling or streaks. They have a round abdomen, with bodies that are higher than they are long, and usually include streaks on the side and V-shapes behind. Often, a whitish patch can be seen just behind the highest point of the abdomen. Their legs are usually ringed with a dark color. Females can range in length from 1/8″ to 3/8″ (not including legs). Males are smaller, typically only 1/8″. 

Where Do House Spiders Live?

You can find the common house spider throughout the United States and southern Canada. They appreciate quiet, undisturbed areas where food and moisture are available. Gardens, basements, attics, barns, and sheds are some examples, but they’re not limited to those areas–they can be found pretty much anywhere. During the day, they like to reside in the safety of their webs. Their webs can be messy and asymmetrical with spirals of silk originating from a central point. Left alone, house spiders can live indoors for as long as seven years. Outside, female spiders die in the cold and males rarely live longer than a year.

Do House Spiders Bite Humans and Are They Dangerous?

House spiders are generally shy around humans. They prefer to run, hide, or play dead when they feel threatened. They likely will not go out of their way to attack, but if you do get bit, their bites are relatively harmless with just minor swelling and redness.

House spiders are not very dangerous at all, but people consider them a nuisance for the unsightly webs they leave or because they give them heeby-jeebies. If you’re considering house spider removal, it’s worthwhile to consider the benefits a house spider brings to a house. They help control the population of other household pests. Flies, mosquitoes, wasps, cockroaches, beetles and many others are all on the menu. So while you may not like seeing a spider in your home, it’s much more likely to help than hurt you.

Prevent House Spiders from Getting In

Spiders are everywhere and if they want to get into your house, it’s difficult to stop them. However, we do have a few helpful tips for minimizing the number of house spiders who call your house home.

  • Keep the outside of your home tidy: Spiders often congregate around building exteriors. Removing firewood, stacked items, and debris away from the foundation helps reduce indoor migration. Shrubs, vines, and tree limbs touching the house should also be trimmed back since these afford spiders a convenient bridge to the structure. 
  • Seal cracks and crevices: Inspect your home’s exterior, paying attention to any cracks or crevices around doors and windows. These openings provide an easy way for spiders to get inside. Seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
  • Keep your house clean: A tidy house is less attractive to spiders than a cluttered one. Regularly sweeping and vacuuming will help to remove spider webs, eggs, and insects that spiders feed on. In addition, keep food stored properly in sealed containers to avoid attracting pests because pests will attract spiders.

Trusted Spider Exterminators in St. Louis

Still want to get rid of the spiders in your home? It may be time to call a professional spider exterminator.

Blue Chip Pest Services has been your local spider pro in St. Louis since 1971. Contact us today for a free quote!

Overwatering and Mosquitoes: What You Need to Know

a close-up of a mosquito outside

You need to water your lawn on a regular basis to keep your yard lush and green – but how much is too much? You don’t want to get dry patches from watering too little, though at the same time overwatering brings about its own problems. Excessive moisture in your yard can cause lawn diseases and attract pests like mosquitos. Read on to learn what you can do to prevent mosquitoes and enjoy your yard even more.

Mosquitoes and Moisture

Your lawn needs water, and so do mosquitos. These pests need high levels of moisture in order to live and reproduce. So if your yard has an excess of standing water, it can quickly turn into a breeding ground. Oversaturated lawns can form a thick layer of thatch that will protect mosquitos and other insects from predators and even certain pesticides. You don’t want to get to that point, so it’s important to properly maintain and irrigate for a healthier lawn you can use without being bothered by bugs. 

Am I Overwatering My Lawn?

How can you tell if you’re overwatering your lawn? Too much water in your yard can stunt root growth and make your grass more vulnerable to fungus and disease, but it might not be apparent until the damage is already done. Luckily there are warning signs you can look for to know if you’re watering to excess.

Squishy Soil 

There’s something called a “step test” that is a great way to tell if your lawn is oversaturated. It’s easy – all you need to do is step on your lawn in multiple places that haven’t recently been watered. If the soil feels squishy or soggy under your feet then it’s a good sign that you’ve watering too much.

Weeds and Fungus

You may have noticed that properly watered yards aren’t full of mushrooms and weeds. That’s because they need water to grow and thrive. If you notice this kind of foreign growth sprouting in your yard it may mean you need to water less. It’s also smart to remove these kinds of growth as you find them, as they can attract insects and potentially cause illness if consumed by children or animals.  

Runoff

You may not know this, but it’s possible for your soil to be completely saturated. That means it will no longer absorb additional water, resulting in a trail of runoff that strips the lawn of important nutrients. This leaves your yard vulnerable to certain diseases, as well as insects and fungi growth.

Can I Prevent Mosquitoes?

The easiest thing you can do to prevent the growth of mosquitos is to make sure that you aren’t overwatering your yard. Even if you live in an arid climate you may not need to water on a daily basis. The general consensus is that your lawn needs around 1-1.5 inches of water per week, which roughly equates to three days of irrigation for around thirty minutes a day.

Mosquito Control in St. Louis

Mosquitoes, whether they’re after an overwatered lawn or another source of standing water, can be a nuisance to any homeowner. You should be able to enjoy your lawn without a swarm of stinging instincts getting in the way, and with Blue Chip Pest Services, we can make that happen. Our team is expertly trained, and we go above and beyond to provide innovative and customized pest control solutions for homes and businesses throughout the St. Louis area. Contact Blue Chip Pest Services today and increase your enjoyment of your outdoor space.