The sight of a spider is enough for most to reach for the nearest boot. And the bigger the spider, the more motivated people can be to get rid of it as quickly as possible. But before you get ready to stomp out a particularly big spider in your home, find it within yourself to stop and take a closer look. If it’s a wolf spider skittering across your floor, the last thing you want to do is squish it. If you do, you may be faced with a creepy scene. Read below to learn more about the wolf spider and her many babies, and how Ja-Roy Pest Control can help keep you from having to cross paths with this “happy family”!
Identifying the Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are on the larger side of their species, averaging four inches leg to leg – a little smaller than tarantulas. They have fang-like chelicerae and eight legs positioned along their cephalothorax and abdomen. Because of their appearance, they may be confused with other, more dangerous spiders like the black widow or the brown recluse. Wolf spiders are distinct, though, in that they are less afraid of being around human beings. They also live without webs, choosing instead to hunt for food on foot where they can run two feet a second. Because of their size, they are capable of eating other, smaller spiders, as well as larger insects like grasshoppers.
What really separates the female wolf spider from others is her parenting techniques. Since she doesn’t have a web, the female wolf spider chooses to carry her young on her abdomen. From egg to young, she will have hundreds of spiderlings attached to her. That’s why we strongly advise against squishing any wolf spiders you see, out of the possibility of scattering her young in every direction and creating a mess no one would want to clean up. With that being said, what’s the best way to control a wolf spider if you see one?
Controlling Wolf Spiders
Good news: wolf spiders are not considered a household pest in Louisiana. They prefer for the most part to live out their days outdoors, hiding in firewood or leaf litter by the thousands. When they do come inside it’s mainly through chance, and it’s a chance you can easily prevent through a few careful precautions. You can control the presence of wolf spiders, and spiders as a whole, by doing the following:
- Regularly sweep and vacuum
- Reduce clutter in closets, garages, basements and attics
- Move firewood or any debris that’s against the exterior of the home
- Clip any shrubs and tree limbs that touch the exterior of the home
- Install fitted window screens and door sweeps
It can be a lot to handle on your own, and it’s okay if you need help. For homes and businesses in Covington LA and beyond the spider exterminators at, Ja-Roy Pest Control can help with your spider infestation.
Spider Control with Ja-Roy Pest Control
At Ja-Roy Pest Control, we can craft a plan that’s customized to your home, using traps to capture any existing spiders and exclusion techniques to keep more from getting in. When we’re finished, you’ll be able to live more comfortably without the risk of playing party host to a carnivorous momma and her hundred little babies. So if you’re faced with an infestation, choose pest-free by choosing Ja-Roy Pest Control. Contact us today to get started!
What to Do With Wolf Spiders in Southern Louisiana
Ja-Roy Pest Control Services is a local Pest Control and Extermination company helping homeowners and businesses with pest issues across Southern Louisiana.
