Halloween is just around the corner and while giant fake spiders might be a fun seasonal decoration, REAL spiders are another story. Let’s get in the Halloween spirit and discuss some of the scariest, spookiest spiders you can encounter in the Southern Utah area. Also, uh, if you have arachnophobia…you might want to sit this one out and just give Newby’s Pest, Lawn, and Weeds a call.
1. Black Widow Spider
Probably the most famous “deadly” spider of all time, the black widow gets its name from the female’s habit of eating the male after they mate. It’s easily identified by its black shiny body, bulbous abdomen, bright red hourglass-shaped marking on its underside, and are approximately 1.5 inches long. Keep in mind that the abdomen marking is only visible on the UNDERSIDE of the spider, so it maybe be difficult to spot unless they are hanging in their web. They prefer dark secluded areas such as under logs, in sheds, and in window wells.
The bite of the black widow contains a neurotoxin (attacks the nervous system). You probably won’t feel much at first, but after about 30-40 minutes you the bite will turn red and swollen and you will feel muscle aches in your stomach, back, and chest. More serious symptoms include nausea, sweating, trouble breathing, and weak limbs. Children, the elderly, and the infirm are especially vulnerable and should be taken to the ER if bitten.
The good news is that black widows aren’t very aggressive and usually only bite in self-defense or when they think their eggs are being threatened. Also male black widows do not bite humans, however they are also extremely reclusive so most of the time if you encounter a widow it will be a female.
Also there is another species of spider called the Steatoda grossa, but are often referred to as false widows. These spiders are virtually identical in appearance to a black widow except they do not have the red hourglass marking.
2. Yellow Sac Spider
Less famous, but more aggressive is the Yellow Sac Spider. They have been known to bite humans without provocation. They are about the size of a nickel and have bright yellow or bright green bodies with dark “feet”. They are nocturnal and spend the day in white “sacs” that only take them around 10-15 minutes to build, and come out at night to hunt. When they come indoors they will mostly be found in corners or in cluttered storage areas.
While their bite is not as dangerous as a Black Widows’ it will hurt a lot and form into a mildly necrotic lesion, and may even result in a fever. Most bites however do not need to be treated at the hospital.
3. Brown Desert Recluse Spider
PLOT TWIST! You thought this section was going to be about the famous brown recluse spider, right? Nope. The brown recluse is not found in Utah, however we’re not out of the woods on this one, because the desert recluse definitely does live here and is equally dangerous. The desert recluse is a sandy/light brown and still has the distinct “fiddle-shaped” body of the brown recluse. They also share the necrotic bite with can hurt a lot and may need medical treatment.
Luckily for us these spiders prefer to stay outside and are rarely found indoors, preferring to live in wood piles, sheds, and under rocks.
4. Hobo Spider
Another spider that is often mistaken for a brown recluse is the hobo spider. In fact this spider is often mistaken for a house spider, wolf spider, and many others because it simply looks very generic. It’s brownish grey, about 1-2 inches long (legs included), and has yellow markings on its abdomen. Sometimes referred to as the “aggressive house spider” this spider is actually more like the black widow in that it will only bite when it feels threatened.
Researchers once believed that it had a necrotic bite (like other spiders on this list), but newer studies have found this to be false. however, the bite can still be quite nasty and require medical treatment all the same.
Fun fact: This spider got it’s name because it is believed it spread across the United States on trains, thus traveling the railways like a hobo.
Conclusion
So those are the top spiders you don’t want haunting your house this Halloween, but all spiders can bite and be a nuisance around our homes. If you don’t want to risk the chance of running into these uninvited guests, the best option is to get pest control from Newby’s Pest, Lawn, and Weeds! Spiders are our specialty and at the time of this writing we are in the thick of spider season. Give us a call at 435-586-7337 to set up an appointment or use our online form by clicking the button below:
