Spider Identification & Prevention

What are spiders?

Spiders are arachnids. They are predators, which means that they feed on various living things, including insects and other spiders. Spiders have two body segments, eight legs, and they lack antennae and wings.

People tend to have a love/hate relationship with spiders. Most people hate to have large numbers of spiders living in their yard or, worse, in their home. It is unsettling to be gardening and come face to face with creepy spiders or find their unsightly webs strewn about your home. However, spiders are an essential part of the ecosystem and help to reduce the number of nuisance and dangerous insects living in our outdoor spaces; something most people love.

Are spiders dangerous?

Spiders have specialized mouthparts and hollow fangs they use to inject their venom into their prey. Unfortunately, their fangs are strong enough to bite people and inject that same venom.

While getting bitten by a spider is always an unpleasant experience, the good news is that most spiders do not have venom strong enough to cause significant medical harm to people. Only a couple of spiders living in the entire United States have venom strong enough to trigger symptoms that require medical attention.

Most spider bites are accidental; they are shy and rarely purposely attack people. Spiders are naturally reclusive and stay hidden in dark, hard-to-see areas. Bites from spiders typically happen when doing things like gardening, reaching into boxes or closets, getting into bed, or putting on clothing.

Why do I have a spider problem?

The wet, warm climate that Florida is well-known for provides the perfect habitat for spiders and the insects they like to feed on to thrive. Our Lake Worth properties, provide spiders with lots of dark nooks and crannies to hide in.

Spiders will be most problematic on properties that provide them with plenty of prey to take advantage of. Things that attract insects and hunting spiders to a Florida property include:

• Open trash cans and recycling bins
• Outdoor eating areas
• Exterior lights
• Standing water
• Tall grass, dense vegetation, and flowering plants

Where will I find spiders?

There are many different spaces in our yards where spiders will build their webs or burrows.

• Trees
• Shrubs
• Gardens
• On the exterior of homes 
• In doorways
• Under decks and roof eaves
• Under porch steps
• Behind siding or shutters.

After following their prey into our homes, spiders are likely to build webs and hide in corners of rooms and closets, under sinks, under furniture, and in bedding and stored clothing.

Since spiders like to hide in dark, quiet areas, it is easy to overlook them, allowing a large infestation to develop before you know it.

How do I get rid of spiders?

As soon as you begin to notice large numbers of spiders crawling through your Lake Worth, Florida yard or home, contact the local, family-oriented professionals at Above and Beyond Pest Control! We are leaders in the pest control industry and are always committed to protecting people and their properties from the many problems pests are known to cause.

Through advanced treatments and Integrated Pest Management, we can rid properties of pests in a manner that is safe for both people and the environment. Let’s work together to rid your property of spiders and the insects that are attracting them!

How can I prevent spiders in the future?

Don’t let spiders move in and out of your home as they please; use the following prevention tips to help keep spiders away from your yard and out of your house.

• Make your outdoor space less attractive to spiders by regularly mowing the grass, preventing landscaping from overgrowing, and removing debris from your yard.
• Many insects love to feed in trash cans and recycling bins. Keep lids on them to keep the insects that spiders like to feed on away from your property.
• Replace outside light bulbs with yellow insect-resistant bulbs to keep insects at bay. 
• Inspect your home’s exterior, sealing any openings discovered to keep spiders and their insect prey out of your house.
• Keep your home free of clutter to eliminate hiding spots for spiders. The sooner you discover their presence, the sooner you can stop them. 
• Regularly vacuum and dust your home to remove unwanted spiders and their webs. 
• Regularly inspect areas of your yard and house where spiders are likely living to help prevent a large-scale infestation.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions.