What Makes Spiders Tick?
Spiders are born with eight legs, fangs, and venom which they eventually use to take down prey. These pests are also born with a built-in anti-freeze-like system that keeps them from freezing in sub-zero temperatures. Spiders do, however, slow down as temperatures drop and go into a state of dormancy or hibernation when it gets cold enough.
Species Of Spiders Around Chicago
Many species of spiders are native to Chicago. Most are harmless, some are dangerous, and many love to invade homes. To help you get a better understanding of some common spiders in our area, here are a few you should know about.
The house spider is the most common home-invading spider in our area. This 3/16th to 5/16th long, web-building pest has a bulbous abdomen and is yellowish-brown in color with dark stripes and markings. Besides being creepy and annoying, house spiders pose no threat to humans or their pets.
The wolf spider is another regular home-invading spider in our area. This ¼ to 1 ⅜” long, dark brown pest has pale markings, a distinctly large body, and is known for hunting its prey from the ground. Apart from its slightly painful bite, this pest is not considered dangerous or a threat around homes.
The brown recluse spider is not a common home-invading pest but will invade if conditions are right. Identifiable by the dark violin mark located just behind its head, this ¼ to ½ inch long spider hunts from the ground and poses a serious risk to human health with its venomous bite. If bitten by this pest, seek immediate medical attention to minimize your risk of serious symptoms.
The black widow spider is found around unkempt webs and will infest homes if food outside is scarce. Identify this spider by its bulbous abdomen, black coloration, 1 ½ to 1 ⅜” long body, and the red hourglass mark on its underside. Much like the brown recluse, the black widow has a painful bite that is harmful to humans, so seek medical attention if you are ever bitten by this pest.
As we head deeper into winter, pests will be looking for ways to get into your home. This will draw spiders indoors considering that this arachnid’s main source of food is other pests, like cockroaches, flies, centipedes, and many others. For this reason, we recommend looking into options to keep spiders out of your home ASAP.
A Guaranteed Way To Handle Spiders Around Your Home
If spiders are crawling around inside your Chicago home, look to the experts at Aerex Pest Control. We are a team of dedicated professionals with a commitment to providing top-tier pest control services to property owners here in Chicago. Whether you are dealing with spiders or other over-wintering pests this holiday season, do not hesitate to get our team involved.
With custom plans designed with your home in mind and a dedication to a job done right, you can know you are making the right choice when you hire us. Contact us today to find a long-term solution to keep these pests out of your Chicago home.