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Spiders are common in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We find them making webs in our gardens, barns, sheds, garages, and also inside our homes. Most of the time, they're just a nuisance. Spiders don't prefer to bite us and they flee when we approach. If they do bite, most bites won't be much worse than a sting from a wasp. Spiders are mostly just creepy to have around. But every once in awhile we'll come across a spider that is dangerous. Those are the spiders we're talking about today.
What Venomous Spiders Do We Have In Dallas?
There are two spiders you should be aware of in Dallas. You're probably already familiar with them. They are the black widow and the brown recluse. These two have quite a reputation. Some of what you know is true and some of it probably isn't. It is important to know the facts if you want to protect yourself and your family.
What Dangerous Spiders Look Like
- Black Widow — If you see a black, hairless spider, you don't really need to look for the bright red hourglass shape on its abdomen to know that it is a black widow spider. In fact, you may misidentify the spider in your yard if you look for that red hourglass marking and don't find it. Some black widows have red dots. Some have no visible dots at all. Black widow spiderlings can have some yellow coloration as they grow into adults.
- Brown Recluse — If you see a brown spider that appears hairless, it might be a brown recluse. The brown recluse spider is a little larger than a quarter and has a tan body with a dark brown violin marking on its back. The fingerboard of the violin points toward the tail end of the spider and the portion of the violin that
has the chin rest is toward the head.
Venomous Bites
- Black Widow — While the black widow doesn't have "recluse" in the name, it is every bit as much reclusive as the brown recluse spider. It doesn't want to bite you. If you enter an area where a black widow spider is, it will flee if it is able to. Bites most often occur when accidental contact is made with one of these spiders and it bites out of self-defense. This can happen when you flip a board over in your yard or when you're moving some brush. It could happen when you go into a storage area of your home to grab something. If you are bitten, the symptoms can be severe, depending on how much venom the spider injects. Fortunately, they are not nearly as deadly as legends would have you believe. It is, however, extremely uncomfortable and may lead to a hospital visit.
- Brown Recluse — You are probably aware that this spider can cause a horrible wound because its venom eats away at skin tissue. This is called necrosis. What you might not know is that only a small number of bites lead to a spread of necrosis through a significant amount of tissue. Necrosis is usually isolated to an ulcerous spot in the middle of the bite wound. But it is still a very good idea to have bites checked out by a physician.
What To Do About Venomous Spiders
Now that you know that these spiders aren't nearly as dangerous as you've been led to believe, you can relax a little. If you see them around your Dallas home, it isn't something you should be fearful of. With proper precautions, you can avoid bites, and with proper maintenance to your foundation and exterior, you may be able to keep them out. If you are not comfortable having these spiders around, we can help you reduce them in your yard and keep them out of your home. Reach out to us today. The team here at All-Safe Pest & Termite helps Dallas homeowners protect their health and property from a long list of common pests with our residential pest control plans, including venomous spiders.
