Spiders

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Spiders

Updated: 22 Jul 2021

Description:

Spiders have eight legs, two body regions, no wings and no antennae. Some spiders like moisture and are found in basements, crawl spaces and other damp parts of buildings. Others like dry, warm areas such as subfloor vents, upper corners of rooms and attics. They hide in dark areas.

Habits:

They feed on insects, other spiders and any other prey they are able to subdue. Spiders have three or four pairs of eyes. Many spiders have poor eyesight, but some spider species, such as the jumping spider, have exceptional vision. Spiders do not have chewing mouthparts and commonly use digestive enzymes in their saliva to break down their prey before consuming it. In addition, a spider's gut is too narrow to allow consumption of large food particles. Nearly all spider species are predators, although one plant-feeding species has been documented.

Spiders are capable of producing silk that is elastic, adhesive and strong. This silk is used to spin webs, as well as to construct egg sacs and lines of spider homes. The size and shape of webs vary by species: some are orb-shaped, while others are funnel-shaped; some webs are orderly, while others appear haphazard. Some spider species live in burrows instead of webs, while others are free-living and shelter in crevices.

Defense:

1. Keep the spiders out to start with: A good way to prevent spiders from entering your home is to make sure you do not have an environment around your home that attracts spiders. Spiders often make their homes outside in plants, piles of leaves or wood, or dark, undisturbed places such as old tires or buckets. Having these things right next to your house makes it more likely that a spider will wander. Create some distance between these things and your home, so that a spider is less likely to find a way in.
2. Get rid of their food source and shelters: Making sure your home is clean is generally a good way to decrease the number of pests in your home. In the case of spiders, not only will a clean home provide fewer places for spiders to hide, but it will also make it less likely that small insects will be around for spiders to eat. Without a reliable food source, and with fewer hiding places, it will be more difficult for spiders to stay.

You should contact a pest professional for assistance.