Summer Spider Threats In Katy, Texas

Spiders are everywhere it seems: they live in our gardens, spend time in our sheds, meet us by our front doors, and, unfortunately, even make their way into our homes! However many times you have already run into these eight-legged pests, they always seem to be able to make you jump! Although there are a couple of venomous spider species in Katy, most of the spiders found living in Texas are not harmful to people and are considered to be nuisance pests. However, it is important to note that whether the spiders are venomous or just harmless common house spiders, they should not be allowed to live inside our homes, create unsightly webs, or scare us half to death while we’re in the shower!

Spider populations tend to swell during the summer months in Texas because their main food source, nuisance insects, are also very abundant during this time. In addition, the very warm, humid weather found in Katy allows them to become more active. The most common species of spiders found living in Katy that present a threat to homeowners during the summer months include:

• Black widow spiders  - These spiders are a venomous species of spider with, shiny black bodies and are most commonly identified by the unique red “hourglass-like” marks located on the underside of their abdomen; they can also have lighter colored red or white spots on their abdomens and backs. While black widow spiders are not aggressive towards people, accidental bites do occur. If you are ever bitten by a black widow spider, it is important to seek medical attention as their venom can affects a person’s nervous system.

• Brown recluse spiders - These spiders are also venomous spiders. Brown recluse spiders can be identified by the violin-shaped marking found on the top of their bodies. Their oblong abdomens are covered in gray hairs and their long legs that are darker in color than the rest of their bodies. Brown recluse spiders are not aggressive towards people, and bites from these spiders typically only occur when a person makes accidental contact with one of them. A brown recluse spider bite can cause the area around the bite to become necrotic and can take a long time to heal; medical attention should always be sought after being bitten by a brown recluse spider.

• Ground spiders - These spiders make up a very large group of spiders; their appearance depends on their exact species. These spiders are known for aggressively “hunting” their prey by chasing them along the ground.

• Jumping spiders - These spiders have a compact body and they use their eight short but powerful legs to jump up to lengths over 25 times their own size!

• Wolf spiders - These spiders have stout bodies that are covered in hair; and they have eight long, spiny, powerful legs that they use to chase after prey. These spiders can be identified by their furry appearance and by their eyes which are uniquely placed in three rows - four small eyes on the bottom row, two large eyes in the middle row, and two medium-sized eyes on the top row.

The problem with having spiders living in your home, venomous or nuisance, is that they are not the only problem you are going to have to deal with. Spiders typically enter into homes while foraging for food. Once inside our homes, these spiders typically decide to stay if our homes offer them safe, quiet shelter and abundant food sources. So, long story short, having spiders living in your home, also means you likely have populations of other nuisance insects living inside your home as well!

If you discover spiders in your home, give the Katy pest control experts at Modern Pest Control a call immediately. One of our professionals will visit your home to perform an inspection and identify the species of spider living in your home as well as the insects they are feeding on. Based on our findings, we will then develop a customized program to eliminate the spiders and the insects attracting them to your home. To learn how we can help protect your Katy, TX home from a summer spider invasion, give us a call today!