Adios, Arachnids: Get Spiders Under Control with APS
We all know spiders do their part to control the populations of many other troublesome pests. The arachnids help to keep the numbers of mosquitoes, earwigs, and many others in check. Regardless, their presence is almost always an unwelcome sight in your home, beloved outdoor spaces, or place of business.
Alabama's Climate Encourages Spiders
An invasion of spiders is, unfortunately, an inevitability at some point. These pests travel indoors to search for food when heavy rains come, though they also find their way in during drought conditions when water is scarce. In any case, spiders will find cause to come calling. It may seem like there’s just no winning, but APS is here to help. Keep reading to learn what to look out for when it comes to Alabama’s spiders and how we can keep all eight of those legs far away from you and yours.
Nearly 900 species of spider call Alabama home because of the state's plentiful food sources and warm climate. Due to those inviting temperatures, the vast majority of spider populations persist year-round in Alabama, allowing specific warm climate spiders like the Southern house spider to thrive. Our area also plays host to spiders found throughout the continental U.S., like the common house spider and the triangulate house spider.
Of the many spiders found here, there are two categories you ought to get familiar with:
- Orb weavers are spiders that tend to be larger and more vibrantly colored and patterned.
- Jumping spiders appear more mundane; they’re generally smaller and harder to identify.
Within the category of jumping spiders are the general Habronattus and Phidippus, which make up roughly half of all spiders in the United States. For the purpose of identifying any spider on your property that might cause concern, don’t rule anything out based on your region. From Huntsville to Montgomery and Mobile, there’s little regional variance in spider distribution across the length of the state.
Despite their obvious ick-factor, the vast majority of Alabama’s spiders are relatively harmless, albeit a nuisance. Only a tiny fraction are venomous, and of those, only a small number pose any threat to people. As you’d expect from their large share of the population, the state’s nonvenomous spiders vary widely from tarantulas to wolf spiders. Bites from non-venomous species often result in little more than a welt similar to a mosquito bite.
Despite most spiders being harmless to humans, some of the U.S.’s most infamous venomous species also call Alabama home. The brown recluse, for instance, is one such species that should always be left to professional exterminators as their bites can cause infection-prone lesions if left untreated. The black widow, however, is by far the most notorious of Alabama’s venomous spiders. Its bite can contain enough venom to cause erratic muscle contractions, nausea, difficulty breathing, and in extreme cases, death. Both of these spiders are found in dark, out-of-the-way hiding places so you may not see them. Again, home and business owners should take the utmost precaution around these species and always leave any solutions to trained professionals like ours at APS.
Now that you’re familiar with some of Alabama’s common spiders and the threats they pose, let’s discuss how APS’ experienced pest control teams can help. The first step is an inspection of your residential or commercial property followed by a free estimate from one of our experts. Then, we move on to treating your property’s interior and exterior with the highest grade pesticide solutions, taking care to keep your family and pets safe. Our Pest Plus plan even includes exterior cobweb removal to eliminate any trace of the pests’ presence.
From Birmingham to Butler County and anywhere you may live in Alabama, APS is here to help you say "so long!" to spiders. Contact us today to schedule your free pest control estimate.
