Spiders are pesky insects that can cause real harm to homeowners and business owners in Wichita. All spiders have the ability to bite, and some of the most common home-invading spiders in Kansas are poisonous.
If you’ve found a spider or spider infestation in your home, there are a few common species that might be the culprit. Read on to identify what common Kansas spiders might be in your home and the best way to deal with an infestation.
House Spider
This aptly-named insect is the most common type of spider to be found in Kansas homes. They have a brownish-yellow color, with dark lines angled on their legs and bodies. At full adult size, house spiders can grow to be about 5/16th of an inch in length.
House spiders are typically found in undisturbed places, such as closets, basements, attics, and storage rooms. While house spiders can bite, they’re not poisonous and will only attack if provoked.
Brown Recluse
Brown recluse spiders can range from grayish-yellow to dark brown in color. At full-size, they can be up to ½ an inch in length. Their oblong abdomen is covered in short gray hairs, and the top of their body is known for its violin-shaped pattern.
Brown recluse spiders are often found outdoors, near woodpiles, and indoors in undisturbed places, much like house spiders. Brown recluse spiders are poisonous. Their bites usually don’t produce symptoms for a few hours, at which point the bite becomes itchy and irritated and swollen.
Black Widow
Black widow spiders are shiny black in color and have a red hourglass-shaped pattern on their backs. Adult black widow spiders can grow up to 1 ⅜ inch in length, and they sometimes have red or white spots on their abdomen.
Black widow spiders are the most venomous spiders in North America. In homes, they’re typically found in dark places like attics, basements, and garages. Death from a black widow bite is rare, but most likely to affect the very young, very old, and people who have weakened immune systems.
How can I prevent spiders from getting into my home?
There are a few useful ways you can guard your home against insects like house spiders, brown recluse, and black widows. To prevent spiders from entering your home in the first place, try the following strategies:
- Seal cracks and crevices: Locate any openings around doors, windows, and other entrances to your home. Use a sealant to close the openings and help keep spiders from entering the house.
- Repair broken screens and vents: Evaluate the soundness of the screens and vents around your home and repair or replace them as necessary.
- Keep windows and doors shut: Be mindful of when the entrances to your home are open. If you don’t have screens on your doors or windows, try to keep them closed as often as possible.
While it’s helpful to use these techniques to discourage spiders from entering your home, they won’t solve the problem with 100% accuracy.
How can Schendel Pest Services get rid of spiders in my home?
Schendel understands just how stressful spider infestations can be for home and business owners. We are committed to helping our customers control and eliminate spider problems as quickly as possible, and in most instances Schendel’s experts are able to respond to service requests the same day or very next day. Call us or fill out the contact form on this page to get started!
