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The most common spiders in Utah are: black widow, brown recluse, yellow sac spider, camel spider, huntsman spider and wolf spider.
The Black Widow Spider can be found throughout North America. It is a surprisingly common one amongst other spiders in Utah.
Black Widow spiders mature when they turn black and show a distinctive red hourglass mark. Black Widows that aren't black are often called the “red hourglass” spiders.
Black widows usually live in undisturbed areas of the environment with little to no activity going on around them. These areas include, but are not limited to, piles of wood, rocks, on or inside fences, crevices of buildings and homes and often nestle where debris has settled. It is important to realize that this spider is classified as one of the most dangerous species in Utah.
A bite from a Black Widow spider will leave you with two small holes on the surface of your skin. Spiders sometimes “dry bite”, which means no venom was actually released in the bite. According to Wikipedia, “a spider that self-protects itself by biting without injecting venom may dry bite if it is threatened, but does not want to waste its venom”. So basically this means that spiders are a lot more delicate than people make them out to be!
Brown recluse spiders typically range between 6 and 20 millimeters (0.24 to 0.79 in) in length, but may grow larger. These spiders are usually light to medium brown, although they can be white or blackish gray. The Brown Recluse spider has a distinctive marking along its back and neck that is often said to resemble the shape of a violin outline.
Brown Recluse spiders are found in most areas of the US, where they hunt for insects. A bite from a Brown Recluse spider usually looks like a small bump and is painless. However, if left untreated, it can cause severe skin damage and even death.
Hobo spiders are common in Utah. This spider has an abdomen with V-shaped patterns in the middle of its body, which can be found towards the head and chest regions. These V-shaped patterns point upwards towards the head region. The Hobo spider also has a light line running down their back, which is typically lighter tan to light brown in coloration, but can also be darker brown.
Hobo spiders were first discovered in Utah in the 1990s. They are extremely fast runners, but they are not good climbers and usually build their webs close to the ground. Hobos live in small holes or crevices where they will strategically build funnel-shaped webs.
A Hobo Spider bite can result in necrosis, where the skin around the area of the bite begins to die. Although this spider is classified as a dangerous arachnid, there are very few documented cases of severe bites. This spider moves and attacks quickly. Its victims rarely see or catch it after their incidences occur.
Wolf spiders are extremely common in the United States, especially in Utah. Scientists have identified more than 120 species of wolf spider in the U.S., and many fear at the sight of a wolf spider due to its large stature (some species grow up to 2 inches in length), but on the contrary, wolf spiders are currently classified as one of the most dangerous spiders in Utah.
The Wolf Spider is seen on the ground in open areas like farm land or grassy areas. It is often seen with a splotchy-stripes and typically camouflaged from predators.
Wolf spiders are considered one of the most dangerous species of spider, but their bite is not lethal. That being said, a bite from a Wolf spider can be very painful for some people. Additionally, some people may have an allergic reaction to the venomations produced by this species of spider. If you suspect that you’ve been bitten by a Wolf Spider, seek medical attention immediately and tell your doctor about it.
Most people living in Utah are unaware of how common the yellow sac spider is. Many other characteristics also exist, including an average length of only 6 mm and a brownish tint to its eyes and mouth.
Yellow Sac spiders travel from place to place at night. They are nocturnal creatures and are only found around the evening time. They spin a flat silk sac for defense purposes and reside there until the next evening comes, which makes them quite easy to catch.
The Yellow sac spider has the highest toxicity rating of any Utah spider. Emergency Room doctors recommend that you apply hydrogen peroxide to the bite and surrounding area, then apply ice. If you get nausea or vomiting, visit a doctor immediately.
Big, hairy, and scary looking is the best way to describe the characteristics of the Camel spider.
Camel spiders are typically found under rocks or any shelter from the sun, in dry and hot areas. Some species of camel spiders can hiss, and will use this as a defense mechanism towards predators. While these spiders are undoubtedly large, they do not bite humans.
If you have been bitten by a Camel Spider, you are not in any danger. They are harmless and typically leave only small, harmless bites. If the bite is severe enough, we recommend visiting a doctor immediately for treatment.
The Huntsman belongs to the giant crab spider species. These spiders are typically brown in color, with darker areas around their eyes and legs.
Huntsman spiders are found in Southern Utah, and tend to be located in warmer states across the U.S. They usually live on shrubs or rocks, or on the ground. A rare occurrence is for Huntsman spiders to crawl through ceilings. These spider like creatures are not typically seen as dangerous to humans because their size is so large.
If you have been bitten by a Huntsman spider and believe it may be infected, clean the bite with hydrogen peroxide, apply ice and compression, and seek medical attention.
Utah has almost 4000 different species of spiders; however, only a small portion are dangerous. The vast majority are harmless and do not pose any danger to humans.
To help you identify what spider you are dealing with, I put together this short guide to the most common spiders that can be found in Southern Utah.
The aggressive house spider, or western hobo spider, is found throughout Europe and Asia. Unfortunately, they were accidentally introduced to the Northwestern United States in the 1980s. Fortunately, they are found primarily in Washington state. Hobo spiders belong to the family Agelenidae, a group of arachnids known for their funnel-like web construction. They spin horizontal layers of entangled silk threads that serve as nests, detection devices, and traps for potential prey. Male hobo spiders are more likely to bite humans because they roam around in the open more often than females, so they encounter humans more often than females do.
These medium-sized spiders have a dark brown color and long legs.
They also possess two large palpi (mouth parts) that look like boxing gloves, making it easy to distinguish the male from the female.
Additionally, females tend to have a larger and rounder abdomen when compared to males. Wolf Spiders are solitary hunters at night, so they will most likely be in hiding during the daytime hours.
The wolf spider can produce a defensive bite if handled, but this is not believed to cause serious injury or death; however, some individuals may experience mild symptoms such as itching and localized swelling around the bite area which should ease within several days without further action being required on your part.
Their abdomens have several chevron shaped markings with yellowish legs, eyes that appear black with red pupils under white fangs viewed from above give them an eerie appearance! Image Hobo Spider Image Hobo spiders are more likely than other kinds of wild spiders to enter homes because
There are many kinds of orb weaver spiders. They vary in color, size, shape and pattern. One kind of orb weaver spider is 2 to 3 centimeters long for the female and about 1.5 cm for the male body length. The adults usually have a brown or grey body with a stripe on it, which may be white or brown edged with white. They also have two humps on their bodies, one up front and one at the back of their abdomen, called "chelicerae". Despite these intimidating features, they are not harmful unless provoked.
Ground Spiders are hairy, brown spiders that live on the ground. They prefer to inhabit areas with thick vegetation and open terrain, such as a meadow or woodland area. Ground spiders rarely venture from their homes, except to hunt for food at night and during the evening hours.
While there are many common spiders in Southern Utah, such as the black widow and recluse spider, these two are much more dangerous.
The black widow spider is one of the most venomous spiders found in North America. The female black widow bite can be deadly to small children and adults, so it's important that you seek medical attention immediately.
This is definitely one I hope I don’t come across! They are usually a tan to dark brown color and 1/4 – 1/2 inch long. The desert recluse is known for the fiddle-shaped marking on its back. One of their tell-tell features is that they have 6 eyes instead of the normal 8. They tend to stay away from populated areas, they like the outdoors and are found in pack rat dens. The Desert Recluse is highly venomous! In the event that you are bitten by one of these poisonous spiders seek medical attention and if possible bring them with you as well
If any of these spiders have found their way into your home or garden shed, the best way to control their presence is by removing their source of food. Spiders primarily eat other insects, so reducing the presence of other pests in your home will make spiders less interested in invading your home.
When you place the spider eggs on a newspaper or cardboard egg carton, you can use a piece of paper to prevent them from drying out, as it may kill them and hatchlings if they are still moist. If hatched spiders are still damp, they will crawl away and hide because they do not know how to walk yet and don’t want to be eaten. Be sure that no one is around when you remove them from the egg cartons with forceps. You can collect some adult female moths that have emerged from these eggs after sitting for 30–45 days, depending upon weather conditions and temperature. The moth larvae will pupate within 2–3 days, then you should see winged adults emerge after another 30–45 days (up to 60 days). The easiest method for killing all stages, including baby moths is by lightly blowing air over an area or using a stream of water directed at an area where there are moths flying around, this will result in deaths immediately without taking much effort.
If you're dealing with unwanted spiders, call Bybee Pest Control or fill out our quote request here to have a member of our team reach out to you as quickly as possible.
1.Black widow venom is 15 times stronger than the venom of a rattlesnake
Black widow spider bites are perhaps one of the most notorious and feared of spider bites. In humans, bites may cause muscle spasms or nausea; however, symptoms of the bite are often mild and very rarely lead to death, contrary to popular belief. Deaths are most likely to occur in children and the elderly, if at all.
2.Black widows will often devour their partner after mating
In black widow society, females are very much so the dominant sex, and it is true that they often eat their partners after mating. Ever wonder how black widows got their name? Now you know.
3.Female black widows have poor eyesight
In order to capture prey, this ocularly-challenged arachnid will spin a complex web and then hide nearby. The black widow is able to feel the vibrations of her prey when it becomes entangled in the web, allowing her to locate and kill her latest victim.
4.Not all widow spiders are black
There are, in fact, up to 30 different species of black widows worldwide, with colors ranging from brown to red in addition to the infamous black for which the spider is named.
Found a black widow in or near your home?
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Sources: https://www.thoughtco.com/fascinating-facts-about-black-widow-spiders-1968549
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/black-widow-spiders/
How to Treat a Black Widow Bite
The black widow spider is often cited as deadly, making it one of the most feared spider species. The truth is, black widow bites are rarely fatal, and in fact, these spiders are not inherently aggressive at all. Black widows will usually only bite when provoked, and in such instances it is only the female black widow who will bite.
How to Identify a Black Widow Bite
If you have been bitten by a black widow, you might not even notice initially. If you do feel the bite, it reportedly feels like a pinprick. Soon, you will feel a sharp pain at the site of the bite, which will feature two puncture wounds and appear red and swollen. Minutes after the initial bite, symptoms will manifest.
Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Severe chest pain
What should I do if I’ve been bitten by a black widow?
Though death is an unlikely result of a black widow bite, you should seek medical attention immediately if you notice such a spider bite. Symptoms may be worse in children, the elderly, or those who are ill. Following your hospital visit, call your local pest control company to ensure that you won’t get bitten again in the near future.***Bybee Pest Control offers simple, stress-free services for all of your spider-related needs. Call us at 435-256-0561 or fill out our contact form to set up an appointment today!
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