Common Spider Myths

Many people fear spiders; this is because they are often portrayed as poisonous and dangerous. In reality, most spiders are not harmful to humans or pets. Some species can cause painful bites if threatened, but other than those cases, there should be no reason to worry about encountering one in your home or yard. 

This blog post will explore the common myths surrounding spider behavior and biology and provide some helpful information on properly dealing with them.

Does Every Spider Make A Web?

This is a myth that everyone thinks is the truth. One of the most well-known things about spiders is the impressive webs that they spin! Spiders are well known for their weaving abilities, and in popular culture, most people think that all spiders weave webs. However, there are over 46 000 described spider species, and only a few make the famous silk we call ‘web.’

This has to do with the environment where spiders live and what is required to survive. Weaving a web takes a lot of time and energy, but it may not be worth doing if there isn’t a good use for it. Indeed, those that weave will have an advantage over those that don’t because they have the ability to catch prey, while those that don’t weave must make a living in other ways. 

This means there is a lot of pressure on spiders to adapt and evolve if they live in an area with few insects available for food. The animals that survive best are the ones that can get their food without spending too much energy or time.

Do All Spiders Have 8 Legs?

Many people have learned that if a pest has six legs, then it is considered an insect. If you see eight legs, then a spider it is. The problem is that a spider is only a type of pest within an entire category. If a pest has eight legs, it is not always a spider. A spider is considered an arachnid along with several other eight-legged pests. 

Some of the other arachnids that also have eight legs are scorpions, harvestman, and ticks! They are not a spider, so be sure you know what you are seeing. Also, while it is true that all spiders START with eight legs, it’s not uncommon for spiders to lose a limb or two throughout their lives.

Are all Spiders Venomous?​

No, not all spiders are venomous. The term “venomous” refers to an animal that bites or stings to cause injury or death. Of the over 40,000 species of spiders known to exist, only about 25% are believed to have venom potent enough to harm humans.

Many species of spiders have been known to cause various effects from slight pain and discomfort to more severe reactions such as increased heart rate and high blood pressure. In some cases, the bite may even produce numbness or nausea. Additionally, some of these reactions can be very serious depending on what kind of spider is doing the biting.

How to Get Rid of Spiders

The unexpected appearance of spiders in your house is one of the most common problems that you face. Knowing how to get rid of spiders can be very helpful if you want to stop them from invading your home again.

Once you have found where spiders are coming into your house, seal the entry with caulk. To prevent future spider infestations, you must keep your home clean and free from clutter. Vacuuming regularly can help in spider control as well.

One of the most popular and easiest ways to get rid of spiders is to spray them with a strong pesticide. You should make it a point to carefully read all the product’s instructions and safety precautions before using any pesticide. Pesticides that are sprayed on spider webs kill these insects quickly and effectively. These sprays are available in both natural and chemical forms. If you want to use a less harmful pesticide, you should check out the all-natural products containing peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, castor oil, etc. However, if you want to kill spiders instantly without causing any harm to your family members or pets, you should use a pesticide that contains chemicals. Even though pesticides are very effective in killing spiders, you should never spray these chemicals on or around your body.

Pesticides that are sprayed directly onto spider webs will only kill the insects that come into contact with these sprays. If other insects are hanging off of a web, they will not die until they contact the spray.

Spiders do not pose a substantial danger to you or your family, but many people still do not want to take the risk, especially as some venomous and non-venomous spiders can look similar. 

However, Pestcom Pest Management offers pest control services to treat your home for unwanted spiders and other pests. Contact Pestcom Pest Management for all your pest control needs.

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