For most folks, the situation happens like this: They are walking through their basement or attic and then a spiderweb hits their hair and face. They immediately become unhinged and start slapping at the air to get the thing out of their face. Then they rub their face vigorously to ensure that there are no spiders on it. While this happens all the time, it’s not necessarily ideal for identifying what type of spider problem you have. Indeed, you have only eliminated one type of common house spider, the wolf spider, because it does not spin a web.
First things first. Even among spiders that do spin webs, not all of these webs are used for catching prey. Some spiders, such as the brown recluse, use their webs as a nursery to house the eggs of its young. Brown recluses are also known for producing the second-most dangerous venomous bite. Below, we’ll discuss the different kinds of spider webs you’re likely to find around the house and how to identify spiders from them.
Orb Weavers (Araneidae)
These types of webs are very common. They have spokes and lines formed in concentric circles. Webs like this are typically associated with different types of garden spiders. You’ll primarily find them outside. Orb weavers tend to be non-aggressive and utterly indifferent to humans. If you see an orb weaver’s web, breathe a sigh of relief. You’re in no danger.
Triangle Spiders (Uloboridae)
These webs look like (you guessed it) a triangle. They’re basically shaped like a slice of pizza. You’ll also note that these webs tend not to be sticky. Instead, they look fuzzy. The uloboridae family of spiders is considered non-venomous. The fibers in the spider web are used to smother prey as opposed to kill them via bodily poison, which is fairly unique among spiders.
Funnel Web Spiders (Agelenidae)
Funnel web spiders spin webs with a hole in them so they can make an easy escape. The hobo spider is among the species of funnel web spiders and these little buggers will bite. If you see a hobo web spider in your home, you’ll probably want to leave it alone. Their bite can cause tissue damage, infection, necrosis. If you see a funnel web, be careful!
Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae)
Cobwebs can be a sign of two things. The first is overzealous Halloween decorating, the second is a spider problem. You’ll find these bad boys in basements, garages, or other dank and dark places. They’re super sticky and cause problems for your hair. The black widow is among the family of spiders that produce cobwebs, so be careful!
Mesh Web Spiders (Dictynidae)
You won’t see a lot of mesh webs in your home. In fact, if you see anything like a mesh web spider web, you should be thinking cobweb spider as opposed to mesh web spider. They generally make their nests in fields, under leaves, and in gardens. Their webs are a little less messy looking, but function the same way cobwebs do.
Sheet Web Spiders (Linyphiidae)
This family is characterized by very small spiders. They trap their prey in dense layers of web. The shape of the web can actually vary considerably. Superstitions of the past held that if you found one of these spiders running on you, that you would have good fortune. For that reason, they were also called money spiders. While few today would believe that a spider on them heralded good fortune, these guys are generally not dangerous to humans. You probably don’t want to be bitten by one though.
Dealing with Spider Issues in Your Home
Spiders in the home aren’t generally all that uncommon. A few spiders will get in during the summer months and there isn’t a lot you can do about that. This is vastly different than a spider infestation where hundreds of spiders are thriving in a food-rich environment. Attacking a spider problem generally includes attacking the cause of the spider problem. The cause of the spider problem is always good hunting grounds for spiders.
If you have spider problems in your home, the spider extermination experts at Pointe Pest Control will perform a free inspection and recommend a treatment course.
Talk to Our Local Spider Control Experts Today
Pointe Pest Control can manage spider infestations among other serious pest problems. We will come to your home free of charge and take a look to see how bad the infestation is. If it’s bad, we can recommend treatment options. Call us today to set up your free inspection!
