Did you know that there are over 58 species of spiders living with us in Florida? In this Spiders in Florida Series, we will discuss the most common domestic spiders in the Tampa Bay area:
Most Common Domestic House Spiders
- American House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)
- Daddy Long Legs (Opiliones order)
- Domestic House Spider (Tegenaria domestica)
- Jumping Spiders (Salticidae family)
- Southern House Spider (Kukulcania hibernalis),
- Yellow Sac Spiders (Cheiracanthium genus)
We will also take a look at the most dangerous venomous domestic house spiders in this series as well:
- Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa)
- Brown Widow Spider (Latrodectus geometricus)
- Northern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus variolus)
- Red Widow Spider (Latrodectus bishop)
- Southern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus genus)
Most Common Domestic House Spiders
Here is information about the common domestic house spiders:
American House Spider
The American House Spider is spindly-legged and has an iconic spider shape, and its messy cobweb is a silver-screen standard.
This spider also goes by cobweb spider, house spider, and domestic spider. Its size is .16 inches to .23 inches and comes in brown, tan, black and white colors. It has long, skinny legs. They hang out in corners on the floor and ceilings. When you see the classic Halloween webs, they were created by the American House Spider. They are tiny, not aggressive at all, and rarely bother humans. Their venom is not lethal to humans, just painful for a day or so.
Daddy Long Legs
The term “daddy long legs” is used to refer to two different species of an arachnid with small bodies and very long legs. The two species are Harvestmen (Opiliones) and cellar spiders (Pholcidae). Although these are separate species, many people struggle to tell them apart.
Harvestmen
Harvestmen are not spiders at all, although they are arachnids. They are more closely related to mites and scorpions than they are to spiders. They have tiny bodies, but vast leg spans.
Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders also have tiny bodies and large leg spans, which is why they get confused with Harvestmen. Unlike Harvestmen, however, this species is actually a spider. Their legs can be up to two inches long.
Both Harvestmen and cellar spiders are completely harmless. Despite this fact, an urban legend exists that says daddy long legs are the most venomous animals on the planet. Not only are they not venomous, but they are also unable to bite humans because their fangs are too small.
The urban legend is false for several reasons: There is no known species of daddy long legs with venom glands, and their chelicerae are not fangs but grasping claws that are usually tiny and not powerful enough to pierce human skin.
Domestic House Spider
If you see a dark or orange-brown spider with a pale mark on the breastplate, striped legs and two black longitudinal stripes along with the head and thorax, it is probably a domestic house spider. Females are generally between 0.3 to 0.45 inches. Males usually have longer, more flexible legs, but their bodies are smaller, between 0.24 to 0.35 inches.
They are very active and agile hunters that build funnel-shaped webs to catch their prey. The nest in dark, dry crevices behind furniture, in cupboards, attics, basements, closets, storage rooms, barns, and undisturbed corners. They feed on the small insects they trap in their webs and can live as long as seven years.
These spiders are not particularly aggressive. They prefer to retreat when confronted. As long as its web is undisturbed, they will usually hide in the funnel area, and not respond. They rarely bite, but if they do, it’s completely painless.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders tend to hunt for prey during the day. You may spot them on the inside of a window, screen door, along a wall, or any surface exposed to daylight. They move in quick jumps.
- Color: brown, black, tan, grey, beige
- Size: compact, almost an inch long
- Features: dense hairs, front legs that are longer than the others
This spider’s bite is very similar to a bee sting but usually harmless. Children or anyone allergic to spider bites may experience a reaction, which can differ from person to person.
Not only are jumping spiders unique because they jump, but they have four pairs of eyes with the anterior median pair being very large. Jumping spiders have excellent vision because of this.
Jumping spiders are typically smaller than 0.8 inches, with females larger than males. These are some of the most brightly colored and interestingly marked spiders that exist.
Southern House Spider
The Southern House spider is also known as Crevice Weaver, Cribellate Crevice Weaver, and Primitive Cribellate Spider. Their primary colors are black, brown, gray, tan, and yellow.
The males of this genus are frequently mistaken for brown recluses and persecuted needlessly. Males wander in search of females and may occasionally stray indoors at that time.
Mated females lay about 200 eggs, wrapping them loosely in a silken sac roughly 15 mm in diameter, and guarding them inside their funnel-like retreat.
Yellow Sac Spiders
The Yellow Sac Spiders look albino and are commonly found high up on walls or crawling on ceilings in your home. They have black feet. They are slightly more aggressive than most house spiders and have no qualms about biting people that threaten or disturb it regardless of human intention. They tend to hide in piles of clothing.
These spiders are a pale beige to yellow color which can even present a hint of green, while the tips of their legs are dark brown. Generally, the top part of the abdomen has a dark, v-shaped mark that runs down to its midpoint.
They feed on other spiders, as well as agricultural and garden pests and their eggs. Their preferred habitats are in dark spaces in the yard, but they will invade homes in search of warmth during the colder months.
Yellow Sac Spiders are venomous, and their venom can cause small lesions in humans. They may be very painful, to begin with, and then develop redness, itching, or swelling. Other symptoms may include fever, malaise, muscle cramps, and nausea.
Prevention is best accomplished by sealing any holes, cracks, and gaps in windows, doors, or the foundation of your home. Though you can certainly vacuum any sacs you find on your own, it’s best to contact a pest control professional, as Yellow Sac Spiders are venomous and caution should be used.
If you suspect a spider problem, contact a local experienced pest control company for an inspection immediately before you have an infestation?
Drive-Bye Exterminators offers home and commercial pest control services in Clearwater, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Family owned and operated for over 25 years, Drive-Bye Exterminators has state certified inspectors, and exterminators provide roach, subterranean termite, dry wood termite, roaches, spider, ant, and flea services to both commercial and residential clients. Whether a business owner needs help getting rid of a termite infestation, or a homeowner wants to rid their kitchen of ants, Drive-Bye Exterminators offers each client the same level of professionalism and excellence.
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