SPIDERS

Spiders are the largest order of arachnids, with 45,000+ species in the world. They play an important role in our environment by helping keep insect populations in check. Spiders have eight segmented legs, 2 body areas and most have 8 eyes. All spiders are predators, with the majority feeding on insects. 

Here in Ontario, spiders are abundent.The most common types of spiders that invade homes and businesses include the yellow sac spider, common house spider and daddy long legs spider .

For the most part, spiders are harmless to humans. There are very few species that bite people, and the venom of most types is harmless. There are some species (like the black widow spider and brown recluse spider) that can be very dangerous to humans, however they are not common to Ontario but have on occasion been found here.  

The best way to get rid of spiders, If you have a lot of them in your home or business or you believe you have a spider infestation, is to vacuuming up the spiders, webs and their egg sacs, and immediately throw out. It is best to ensure they are contained in a sealed bag and put in a garbage can stored away from your home or business.

If the case of a large spider infestation, espically when the type of spider is aggressive (or unknown) it is best to contact a professional pest control company experienced with getting rid of spiders.

Yellow sac spiders are small outdoors spiders, with yellow or beige colouring and a faint stripe that runs lengthwise on their body. They have 8 legs and 8 dark coloured eyes which are arranged in 2 two rows. Their first pair of legs is longer than their fourth pair of legs. They are very aggressive and will give a sharp, painful bite if they come into contact with humans. Their bites can cause swelling, red patches, itching and numbness around the bite area.

Yellow sac spiders build silken tubes or sacs in place that offer protection, like under logs or foliage. During the day they stay hidden in their sacs and at night, they venture out to hunt for insects to eat. These spiders will come indoors in early fall in pursuit of food (small insects), which is when their outdoor food sources dwindle. Once indoors, they commonly inhabit where walls and ceilings connect, and behind shelves and pictures. 

The best way to keep out yellow sac spiders is to prevent them from getting indoors by sealing cracks around entry points with caulking.

House spiders are white, brown or black, and have spots on their abdomen. They have comb-like hairs on their legs. They range in size from 2 to 50 mm, but the average size 7 millimeters in length.

The house spider commonly invades homes, garages, barns and other man-made structures. Once indoors, they favour building their web in dark secluded areas that have minimal human activity and ample insects to eat, basements, attics, crawl spaces, ceiling corners, window frames, closets and under furniture. House spiders build their webs to trap insects, like cockroaches and other house spiders.

House spider bites are uncommon, but they can hurt and leave a red mark for up to 24 hours. Their venom is harmless to people. Bites may occur if a person comes in direct contact with a house spider unknowingly and startling it, like when putting on clothing or shoes that a house spider has inhabited.

Getting rid of a common house spider infestation is done by preventing them from getting inside.Use a good quality calk to seal cracks around your doors, windows and other entry points, which will help keep spiders out, but also the other insects they feed on too. Regularly inspect their common habitat areas and remove any house spiders and their webs that you find, making sure to clean those areas thoroughly

The daddy long legs spider is a type of cellar spider, recognizable by 8 very long and thin legs. They can be  tan, yellow or gray in colour. They commonly infest heated homes and buildings and they do not bite humans or cause damage. Daddy long legs eat insects like ants and also other spiders. Daddy long leg spiders are web-building spiders. Unlike other spiders who consume their old webs, they continuously add on to existing spider webs. Their presence in a nuisance because their webs collect dust and make homes look unclean. 

Getting rid of daddy long legs spiders is done by preventing them.

• Use a good quality calk to seal cracks around your doors, windows and other entry points, which will help keep spiders out, but also the other insects they feed on too.
• Consider using dehumidifiers to manage internal humidity levels in basements.
• Install proper ventilation in cellars.
• Remove visible daddy long leg spiders and all spider webs with a vacuum, and dispose of in a sealed bag in an outdoor garbage can.