Types Of Spiders In Oklahoma City
There are at least 400 known species of spiders residing in the state of Oklahoma. Broadly, they can be categorized into a few main types that you should know about:
- Wolf spiders: These spiders don’t weave webs but instead hunt their prey on the ground. Using their superior speed and power, they seize their victims in a flash. Wolf spiders are hairy and usually gray or brown in color. They are often large in size, between 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inches in length.
- Orb weavers: Also called “garden spiders,” this type of spider is recognized for its long limbs and red, yellow, and orange markings. They weave intricate webs in outdoor areas and can exceed 1 inch in size.
- House spiders: Common house spiders are known for building and abandoning webs around indoor areas, though they are more likely to found in a shed or barn than in the living room. House spiders are yellowish-brown in color and measure between 3/16 and 5/16 inches in size.
What To Know About Dangerous Spiders
All spiders are venomous. All spiders have fangs. But not all spiders are dangerous. In fact, in all of North America, there are only two species known to be a threat to human health. Unfortunately, both of these species reside in Oklahoma. You’ve probably heard of them: the black widow and the brown recluse.
It’s not always easy to tell what kind of spider is dwelling in your basement, but you can narrow down the possibilities if you know what to look for.
- Black widow spiders: Black widows are, of course, pitch-black in color. Females have a red hourglass marking on the underside of their abdomen. They can measure between 3/4 to 1 ½ inches in size. These spiders create messy, non-geometric webs in dank, uninhabited areas where they won’t be disturbed.
- Brown recluse spiders: There are lots of species that resemble the brown recluse, making them one of the most commonly misidentified spiders. A true brown recluse has solid-colored appendages and body segments along with a violin-shaped pattern on its back. True brown recluse spiders have six eyes arranged in pairs of two. They are smaller than you may think, usually measuring between just 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch in size. Like black widows, they weave messy webs in basements and other dark, low-traffic areas.
While a bite from these spiders is not necessarily fatal, it does typically result in medical complications including nausea, cramps, and headaches. Breathing difficulties and increased heart rate are also common. If you’ve been bitten by either of these spiders, don’t take a chance. Always seek medical attention immediately if you have reason to believe you’ve been bitten by a black widow or brown recluse spider.
If you need advice or assistance in dealing with spiders on your Oklahoma City property, you can count on Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma. Since 1991, our one goal has been the satisfaction of our customers. We offer both residential pest control plans and commercial pest control plans to eliminate spiders and other pests at home and at work. Whether your spiders are dangerous or not, our trained technicians will get rid of the problem and prevent pests from infesting your property in the future. Contact us today.
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