Insect scientists are probably the only people immensely interested in spiders. The average person doesn’t even want to think about them. They creep people out with their long legs and sticky webs. Most of all, they carry venom and can bite. They don’t call a lot of attention to themselves, so they kind of catch you by surprise. Understandably, Oakland residents don’t want to put much thought into spiders, but they may want to reconsider.
What Spiders Are Common in Oakland? Which Are Dangerous?
Tarantulas and cellar spiders are among the sub-types in the state. Tarantulas are black or brown, with stripes and dense hair on their bodies. They can be two to 11 inches large. Their eight legs are segmented, and their fangs are located beneath their eyes. Ripped window screens, gutters, open doors, and foundational cracks are typically how these intruders enter properties. Crawlspaces and basements are where they hide. They ambush prey, rather than make webs to catch them. While tarantulas bite, their venom isn’t poisonous to humans.
Cellar spiders have tiny, gray, or tan bodies. Their eight legs are long and thin. They’ll also find their way indoors through gaps around doors and foundations. From there, they’ll seek shelter in attics, basements, and dark spaces. White outdoor lights can draw them in. They multiply fast and don’t eat their old webs, making them both troublesome and messy. Similar to tarantulas, their bites are relatively harmless. You may experience some skin irritation.
The two most dangerous spiders around are black widows and brown recluses:
- Black widows: This species is black, and max at around 1/2 of an inch in size. They have a red, hourglass-shaped mark on their stomach. High grass, wood, and low-traffic interior areas are what they gravitate. Neurotoxins that can affect the human nervous system are in their venom. Their bites should be taken very seriously.
- Brown recluses: These spiders are tan or brown, and can also grow to be ½ of an inch long. Brown recluse spiders have slim legs and a violin-like mark on their dorsum. They too prefer darkness and organic matter. Infestation can happen quickly with these bugs. Should they bite you, you may have fever, nausea, or lesions.
Black widows and brown recluses are more of a rarity in Oakland, but residents should still be on alert. If you think you’ve been bitten by either, seek medical attention immediately.
How Can You Prevent Spiders?
You can fend off spiders by taking the following actions:
- Repair leaks and moisture issues.
- Control and monitor humidity.
- Limit clutter.
- Inspect storage items and wood before bringing them indoors.
- Close openings around windows, foundations, and doors.
- Place greenery and wood away from your front door and other openings, and trim your yard.
- Routinely vacuum, dust, and sweep.
Call Smith’s Pest Management if you issues with other critters spiders can feed on, such as beetles and mice.
What Can Smith’s Pest Management Do About Spiders?
Spiders are tough to eliminate independently, especially if there’s an overabundance of them. Various retail products can worsen the problem or simply be ineffective. If you have another type of pest infestation in your Oakland home, getting rid of spiders solo will be next to impossible. They won’t give up their food source easily.
Save time and money with Smith’s Pest Management. Our products are potent, but eco-friendly and low toxicity. You won’t have to worry about exposure to harsh chemicals. We’ll get spiders, and the critters they’re dining on, out at an affordable rate. Call us today!
