What are spiders?
Spiders are not insects. Rather, they belong to the class Arachnida, and are closely related to ticks, mites, and scorpions. Spiders are identified by their two body parts which are a fused head and thorax, and abdomen. Spiders have between six and eight eyes, eight legs, no wings, and no antennae. Spiders do not have chewing mouthparts - they use digestive enzymes in their saliva to break down their food before eating it.
Three of the most common species of spiders found living in and around Northern Illinois homes are wolf spiders, brown recluse spiders, and cellar spiders.
Wolf spiders
Wolf spiders do not hunt with webs. Instead, they chase down their prey using their eight, strong, long legs. Wolf spiders are dark brown in color, with paler or yellowish markings. Their robust bodies and legs are covered in hair.
Brown recluse spiders
Brown recluse spiders are often identified by a dark brown violin shape on their backs. Their bodies are light to dark brown in color. They have six eyes uniquely arranged in three groups, or two each in a semi-circle. Their eight legs are long and thin.
Cellar spiders
Cellar spiders, or “daddy longlegs” as they are commonly called, have small bodies and long, skinny legs. Their oval-shaped bodies are pale yellow to light brown or gray in color.
Are spiders dangerous?
Despite what most people think, spiders are shy and reclusive, and rarely bite people. Most spiders found living throughout the United States are harmless, and are considered nuisance pests. However, there are some dangerous species of spiders found in the United States, such as brown recluse spiders. Brown recluse spiders are considered dangerous because their venom is strong enough to cause health concerns. If bitten by a brown recluse, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Why do I have a spider problem?
Spiders are living on your property because it is providing them with what they need to live - food, water, and shelter. Clogged gutters, bird baths, gardens, heavy vegetation, and piles of debris all attract spiders and their main food source, insects. Spiders, once on your property, will then find their way into your home, shed, garage, or other outbuildings as they follow their food sources. This is especially true when the weather outside becomes too hot, cold, dry, or wet.
Where will I find spiders?
Spiders want to stay away from people as much as possible. Inside homes they are found hiding in dark, out-of-the-way places. They prefer to hide in basements, corners of rooms, doorways, in closets, under furniture or beds, or in crawl spaces. Outside, spiders make their webs or burrows in tall grasses, inside bushes and shrubs, between rocks, underneath decks and porches, under rooflines, in gardens, wood piles, and in the corners of doors.
How do I get rid of spiders?
The best solution to a spider infestation is a professional solution. At Crown Exterminators, our certified service technicians provide outstanding spider control solutions to eliminate your current pest problems, and prevent future problems with pests.
The experts at Crown Exterminators are dedicated to using the latest scientific techniques and up-to-date products, practices, and procedures to get rid of and control spiders and other household-invading pests. To learn more about ridding spiders from your Sauk Valley or Northern Illinois-area home or business, or to schedule a free inspection, call Crown Exterminators.
How can I prevent spiders in the future?
Keeping spiders off your Illinois property and out of your home can be difficult.
There are a few things you can do to help to deter them:
Caulk cracks and crevices in the foundation and exterior walls of your home.
Make sure screens are intact.
Place weather stripping around windows and doors.
Locate gardens and wood piles a distance away from the outside of your home.
Repair clogged gutters and leaky fixtures.
Keep storage areas organized and clear of clutter.
Regularly remove spider webs that have been created around your home and property.
