There are thousands of types of spiders around the world. These eight-legged creatures are both fascinating and frightening, and even in the cleanest home, you’re never far from one. Louisiana is home to a very wide range of arachnids, ranging from the impressive but not dangerous to the tiny but deadly.
Although not exactly the poster children of the bug world, spiders are a valuable part of our ecosystem. They help to manage the pest population, and a few well-placed webs can help keep a home free of flying bugs. However, this doesn’t mean that all of them are safe to have around. In fact, in Southern Louisiana, there are several species of spiders that are downright dangerous.
We at Ja-Roy receive many questions about spiders from our customers, so we put together a brief guide to the ones you really need to watch out for. Understanding the different spiders you might encounter at home or out in the yard can help you determine whether you should call Ja-Roy for help, or if you’ve got a friendly helping hand in eliminating some other potential threats.
Louisiana Spiders to Look Out For
There are several species of spiders that call Louisiana home today, either brought in by human migration or native to the area. However, the vast majority are harmless.
Of course, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a harmless spider and one that does pose a danger to you and your family. Some of the spiders you might encounter in your home or yard include:
Brown Recluse
About an inch long, the brown recluse is a dangerous spider, although they are not aggressive. Most bites are only painful, although a small fraction do result in tissue necrosis.
Black Widow
One of the most infamous spiders in the US, the black widow features an easily identifiable red hourglass marking on its abdomen. Black widow bites can be very dangerous, and medical attention should be sought if bitten.
Brown Widow
The brown widow is a larger relative of the black widow, and like its more famous cousin, its bite is poisonous. Also like its relative, the brown widow is not aggressive and usually prefers to flee rather than fight.
Other Widows
There are several other “widow” spiders, including the red widow. They are all recognizable by the hourglass marking on their abdomens, and all have similar bite consequences.
Yellow Sac Spiders
These spiders are easily identified by the pale yellow abdomen. While their bite causes pain and lesions, they are not lethal, and the spider only bites when threatened (not aggressive).
House Spiders
House spiders are the most common spiders on the planet, and frequently take up residence in houses, barns, and other manmade structures. While they can bite, they are harmless.
Wolf Spiders
Louisiana is home to several different species of wolf spiders, but all can be identified by their trademark hairy bodies. They are not aggressive, but will bite if threatened. Bites are not dangerous, though swelling and itching will result.
Jumping Spiders
There are multiple types of jumping spiders in Louisiana, and they vary in size dramatically. Most bites are inconsequential, but very large jumping spiders have bites that can cause pain (often as severe as a bee sting), although there is no actual danger from the bite.
What to Do When You Find a Poisonous Spider in Your Home
First off, avoid putting your hands and feet into any dark areas where a spider may be hiding. Spiders love to nestle in dark areas, like shoes. They can be easily surprised when you accidentally put your foot into their new home. Also, be careful when reaching into dark areas that you cannot make out clearly, as you might accidentally put your hand into a sticky Black Widow web.
Second, know what to look for. While any spider can technically bite, and some of them may cause some swelling, it is traditionally the fiddleback family, or in this case, the hourglass family, that is considered extremely poisonous. They are easy to spot due to their markings and should be avoided at all costs.
If you do get bitten, remain calm. The venom of all three spiders can act pretty quickly, but getting excited about it won’t help things, as this will just increase your blood flow. Immediately put the wound under ice or cold water, and call for medical assistance.
Poison Control would be a good place to start, and if the victim is young, 911. Remember, a spider’s venom is fast-acting and doesn’t require a lot to poison someone substantially, so be careful and use your head if you think you were bitten.
It’s important to remember that not all spiders are poisonous, and that when we encounter them, they are probably more afraid of us than we are of them. As a bit of comfort for those with arachnophobia, spiders don’t actively seek out people for confrontations.
Call in the Spider Extermination Experts
Of course, it can be difficult to tell if a spider is dangerous or not. Most of them won’t sit still for you to inspect their abdomens for that red hourglass, and larger spiders can be frightening even if they’re harmless. The best defense is to leave the spider alone and contact a spider exterminator to ensure that your home hasn’t become a haven for dangerous pests that might do harm to your family.
Ja-Roy can answer just about any question about the spiders of South Louisiana. If spiders are a problem in your home, contact Ja-Roy to learn more about our available pest control options.
