Spiders and how to control them.

Spiders are arthropods, but not insects. They have eight legs and no wings.  They are generally docile animals that feed primarily on insects and other small animals. They are commonly found in dimly lit, cool places that are seldom disturbed by people.

My personal experience with spiders was an unpleasant one.  I was summering in New Hampshire at our summer  home, which is not occupied during the winter due to the bitter cold.  -40 degrees should be tough on spiders but not on the one that found me that year.  In early May, I was bitten over the course of three days a total of 6 times, at night!

All of the bites were in one general location on the back around the shoulder.  For the next few days, the area remained swollen and hot.  I was searching everywhere for my attacker and finally located it behind the headboard of my bed. It appeared to be a common wolf spider, not a feared black widow or brown recluse.

Once the problem was eliminated, I felt relieved but dealt with a week and a half of pain and lethargy.  Having the home pest control maintained on a regular basis, I was surprised to discover spiders have to have direct contact with chemical solutions in order for them to be effectively controlled.

Most spider bites occur when people are cleaning or working in basements, garages and barns.  When disturbed or intimidated, spiders bite their victims with hollow, fang-type protrusions that can hold the victim and inject fluids from modified salivary glands. The wounds produced by spider bites may become infested with microorganisms associated with food particles and other decaying organic matter commonly found on the fangs.

In the US, the black widow, brown widow and brown recluse have the most dangerous bite. Venom from the black widow may cause hypertension, muscle spasms, weakness and paralysis. Venom from a brown recluse spider causes local ulcerations.

Controlling spiders

Control spiders by removing the insects they feed on, their webs and spraying pesticides directly on them or dusts that can be applied in their hiding places.