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Many people fear or dislike spiders but, of the large, round abdomen (Fig. 2).
for the most part, spiders are beneficial The body, excluding legs, is 5/16 to 5/8
because of their role as predators of inch long. Only the larger immature
insects and other arthropods, and most female and adult female spiders are
cannot harm people. Spiders that might able to bite through a person’s skin and
injure people—for example, black inject enough venom to cause a painful
widows—generally spend most of their reaction.
time hidden under furniture or boxes,
or in woodpiles, corners, or crevices. The adult male black widow is one-half
The spiders commonly seen out in the to two-thirds the length of the female, (actual size of body
has a small abdomen, and is seldom /16 to 5/8 inch long)
5
open during the day are unlikely to bite
people. noticed. The male black widow does
possess venom, but its fangs are too Figure 1. Adult black widow spider.
IDENTIFICATION small to break human skin. The top
Spiders resemble insects and some- side of its abdomen is olive-greenish tough and paperlike on the surface. A
times are confused with them, but they gray with a pattern of cream-colored female may produce several egg sacs.
are arachnids, not insects. Spiders have areas and one light-colored band going Tiny, young black widows, which are
eight legs and two body parts—a head lengthwise down the middle. The nearly white in color, disperse to new
region (cephalothorax) and an abdo- hourglass mark on the underside of locations by ballooning and infest new
men. They lack wings and antennae. the abdomen typically is yellow or yel- areas.
Although spiders often are found on low-orange and broad waisted. The legs
plants, they eat mainly insects, other are banded with alternating light and Where the Spiders Live. Black widow
spiders, and related arthropods, not dark areas. Contrary to popular belief, spiders occur in most parts of Califor-
the female black widow rarely eats nia. They and their associated webs
plants. Most spiders have toxic venom,
the male after mating but may do so if usually are found in dark, dry, shel-
which they use to kill their prey. How-
hungry. Like males, young female black tered, relatively undisturbed places
ever, only those spiders whose venom
widow spiders are patterned on the top such as among piles of wood, rubbish,
typically causes a serious reaction in
side. In the early stages they greatly or stones; in culverts, hollow stumps,
humans are called “poisonous” spiders.
resemble males but gradually acquire and old animal burrows; in garages,
See the sidebar: Spider Bites. Common
the typical female coloration with each sheds, barns, crawl spaces, utility meter
spider families are described in Table 1.
shedding of the skin. In intermediate boxes, and outhouses; and sometimes
stages they have tan or cream-colored, among plants. People are most likely to
Black Widow Spider olive-gray, and orange markings on the
The black widow spider, Latrodectus be bitten when they disturb the spider
top side of the abdomen, a yellowish while they are cleaning out or pick-
hesperus (Fig. 1), is the most common orange hourglass mark on the under-
harmful spider in California. Venom ing up items in such places. A sensible
side, and banded legs.
from its bite can cause reactions rang- precaution is to always wear gloves and
ing from mild to painful and serious, a long-sleeved shirt when working in
Webs and Egg Sacs. The web of the
but death is very unlikely and many black widow is an irregular, tough-
symptoms can be alleviated if medical stranded, sticky cobweb mesh in which
treatment is obtained. Anyone bitten the spider hangs with its underside up.
by this spider should remain calm and During the day it often hides under an
promptly seek medical advice; it is object at the edge of the web or stays in
helpful if the offending spider can be a silken retreat in the center. The black
caught and saved for identification. widow may rush out of its hiding place
when the web is disturbed, especially
The typical adult female black widow if egg sacs are present. The egg sacs are
has a shiny black body, slender black mostly spherical, about 1/2 inch long
legs, and a red or orange mark in the and 5/8 inch in diameter, creamy yel- Figure 2. Two variations of hourglass
shape of an hourglass on the underside low to light tan in color, opaque, and markings of black widow spider.
PEST NOTES
University of California
Publication 7442
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November 2007 Spiders
shaped mark (with the neck of the bee sting. However, because of the vari-
violin pointing backward) on the top ety of tarantulas sold in the pet trade
side of the head region (cephalotho- industry, there is a spectrum of venom
rax). However, the mark is not always potencies among these creatures. These
distinct, so it should not be used as spiders ranges from 1 to 2 inches in
an identifying character. A unique body size. (actual size
feature of recluse spiders is their six of body ~ 1/4 inch)
eyes, arranged in pairs in a semicircle The hobo spider, Tegenaria agrestis, also
(Fig. 4), which can be seen with the use called the aggressive house spider, is
of a good hand lens. Most other spiders a common spider in the Pacific North- Figure 5. Adult common house spider.
have eight eyes. west. It builds funnel-shaped webs in
dark, moist areas such as basements,
All recluse spiders make large, window wells, wood piles, and around
irregular, flattened, cobweb-type the perimeter of homes. It is a large (1
webs with thick strands extending to 13/4 inch, including legs), fast-run-
in all directions. These spiders avoid ning brown spider with a herringbone
light, are active at night, and tend to or multiple chevron pattern on the top
build their webs in out-of-the-way of the abdomen. The hobo spider has (actual size
places. Chilean recluse spiders may not been documented in California, of body ~ 1/4 inch)
be found indoors in boxes, in corners, but it has expanded its range from the
behind pictures, in old clothing hang- Pacific Northwest to northern Utah,
Figure 6. Adult longbodied cellar spider.
ing undisturbed, and in other similar Wyoming, and Colorado. Although it
places. Desert recluse spiders appear has been stated as being a poisonous
outdoors where they may be found spider, recent research is challenging
under rocks or wood. the original data that elevated this door living places. The more insects
spider to medical importance. See Pest that exist inside a building, the more
More detailed information on these Notes: Hobo Spiders, listed in the Refer- likely it is to have spiders living there.
spiders is available in Pest Notes: Brown ences section. Usually spiders are most abundant in
Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders, listed fall following the first few rains of the
in the References section. One spider frequently found indoors season. Immature and adult female
is the common house spider, Achaeara- burrow-living spiders sometimes wan-
Other Spiders nea tepidariorum (Fig. 5), which makes der for a time during the rainy season if
In addition to the species mentioned a cobweb in corners of rooms, in they have had to abandon wet burrows.
above, there are only a few other spe- windows, and in similar places.
cies of spiders in California that may Another is the marbled cellar spider, MANAGEMENT
on occasion bite humans. (Remember, Holocnemus pluchei, which was intro- Remember that spiders are primarily
if the bite of any spider causes an duced into the state in the 1970s and beneficial and their activities should
unusual or severe reaction, contact a has since displaced the once common be encouraged in the garden. Pesticide
physician). longbodied cellar spider, Pholcus pha- control is difficult and rarely neces-
langioides (Fig. 6), a long-legged spider sary. The best approach to controlling
One kind of red and black jumping that resembles a daddy-longlegs. These spiders in and around the home is
spider, Phidippus johnsoni, may bite if spiders are only marginally capable of to remove hiding spots for secretive
it is disturbed, but the bites are usu- biting humans because their fangs are spiders such as black widows and
ally not serious. The female spiders are too short to pierce people’s skin; they regularly clean webs off the house with
black with red on the top side of the primarily cause problems by producing brushes and vacuums.
abdomen whereas the males are all red. messy cobwebs.
These spiders range in size from 1/4 to Prevention and
1/2 inch long. Various kinds of small hunting spiders Nonchemical Control
may wander indoors and occasionally, Spiders may enter houses and other
Tarantulas are long-lived spiders that rather large, hunting-type spiders are structures through cracks and other
occupy burrows in the ground during discovered in homes or garages. Often openings. They also may be carried
the day but often come out at night to these are fully grown wolf spider or in on items like plants, firewood, and
hunt insects near the burrow. They tarantula males that have reached boxes. Regular vacuuming or sweeping
commonly are feared because of their maturity and are searching for females. of windows, corners of rooms, storage
large size and hairy appearance. Some When these spiders are wandering, one areas, basements, and other seldom
poisonous tarantulas occur in tropical or more may accidentally get indoors. used areas helps remove spiders and
parts of the world, but the bites of Cali- New houses and other structures in their webs. Vacuuming spiders can be
fornia tarantulas are not likely to be developments may be invaded by wolf an effective control technique because
serious—at worst, they are similar to a spiders that have lost their usual out- their soft bodies usually do not survive
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this process. Indoors, a web on which be killed only if the spray lands directly REFERENCES
dust has gathered is an old web that is on it; the spray residual does not have a Akre, R. D., and E. P. Catts. 1992.
no longer being used by a spider. long-lasting effect. This means a spider Spiders. Pullman: Wash. State Univ.,
can walk over a sprayed surface a few Cooperative Extension Publ. EB1548.
Individual spiders can also be removed days (and in many cases, a few hours)
from indoor areas by placing a jar over after treatment and not be affected. Hedges, S. A., and M. S. Lacey. 1995.
them and slipping a piece of paper Control by spraying is only temporary Field Guide for the Management of Urban
under the jar that then seals off the unless accompanied by housekeeping. Spiders. Cleveland: Franzak and Foster
opening of the jar when it is lifted up. It is just as easy and much less toxic to Co.
crush the spider with a rolled up news-
To prevent spiders from coming paper or your shoe or to vacuum it up. O’Connor-Marer, P. 2006. Residential,
indoors, seal cracks in the foundation Sticky traps offer a noninsecticidal way Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control.
and other parts of the structure and to remove spiders from your home as Oakland: Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat.
gaps around windows and doors. Good long as you can place the traps where Res. Publ. 3334.
screening not only will keep out many pets and curious children can’t tamper
spiders but also will discourage them with them. Vetter, R. S. In press 2007. Pest Notes:
by keeping out insects that they must Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders.
have for food. Sorptive dusts containing amorphous Oakland: Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat.
silica gel (silica aerogel) and pyrethrins, Res. Publ. 7468. Also available online,
In indoor storage areas, place boxes which can be applied by professional http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/
off the floor and away from walls, pest control applicators only, may be PESTNOTES/pnbrownrecluse.pdf
whenever possible, to help reduce their useful in certain indoor situations.
usefulness as a harborage for spiders. Particles of the dust affect the outer Vetter, R. S. June 2006. Pest Notes:
Sealing the boxes with tape will pre- covering of spiders (and also insects) Hobo Spiders. Oakland: Univ. Calif.
vent spiders from taking up residence that have crawled over a treated sur- Div. Agric. Nat. Res. Publ. 7488. Also
within. Clean up clutter in garages, face, causing them to dry out. When available online, http://www.ipm.
sheds, basements, and other storage applied as a dustlike film and left in ucdavis.edu/PDF/PESTNOTES/pnho-
areas. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid place, a sorptive dust provides perma- bospider.pdf
accidental bites. nent protection against spiders. The
dust is most advantageously used in Vetter, R. S., G. K. Isbister, S. P. Bush
Outdoors, eliminate places for spiders cracks and crevices and in attics, wall and L. J. Boutin. June 2006. Verified
to hide and build their webs by keep- voids, and other enclosed or unused bites by yellow sac spiders (genus Chei-
ing the area next to the foundation free places. racanthium) in the United States and
of trash, leaf litter, heavy vegetation, Australia: Where is the necrosis? Amer.
and other accumulations of materials. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 74 (6): 1043-1048. v
Trimming plant growth away from
the house and other structures will
discourage spiders from first taking
up residence near the structure and
then moving indoors. Outdoor lighting
attracts insects, which in turn attracts
spiders. If possible, keep lighting fix-
tures off structures and away from
windows and doorways. Sweep, mop,
hose, or vacuum webs and spiders off
buildings regularly. Insecticides will
not provide long-term control and
should not generally be used against
spiders outdoors.
Chemical Control
Typically pesticide control of spiders
is difficult unless you actually see the
spider and are able to spray it. There
are various insecticides available in
retail outlets labeled for spider con-
trol, including pyrethrins, resmethrin,
allethrin, or combinations of these
products. If you spray a spider, it will
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