Oklahoma is home to hundreds of spider species. We have common species such as garden spiders, but Oklahoma is also home to two venomous spiders that are harmful to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse.
Besides those two spices, most spiders are harmless and beneficial for your home and the environment. They help eliminate insects that could carry diseases and destroy your lawns, gardens, and crops. They are also important food for birds, rodents, and more. Therefore, allowing them to live in or around your home would be beneficial for your environment. However, it is understandable that most people want to get rid of them.
It is essential to distinguish if you are dealing with common home spiders or an invasion. House spiders are more likely to be born there, meaning they have never been outdoors. They have survived your home by hiding most of the time in secluded spaces such as storage areas, wall and floor voids, and behind furniture or appliances. It is common to encounter them during fall since it coincides with their mating season.
These house spiders are separated into two categories:
Hunting spiders
The most common spiders in Oklahoma are wolf spiders. They are nocturnal and easy to find during chilly weather. They are brown or gray, and hairy with a pattern of lines in their fur. Wolf spiders are typically found outside of a home, but they can venture indoors in search of bugs or other food sources that might be available.
Web-Building Spiders
Garden spiders are the most common web-builders in Oklahoma. The Argiope is the most frequently encountered, recognized by its yellow, orange, black, or silver marks. Their bodies can reach up to an inch in diameter. These spiders create extensive labyrinth webs found in trees, shrubs, lights, and porch posts.
Other species of spiders found in Oklahoma homes are:
The Black Widow
This Black Widow is a venomous spider. This species is black and easily recognizable by the red hourglass shape mark on their ventral abdomen. These spiders are technically house spiders and reclusive. They are often calm but will bite if they feel threatened. Their venom can cause severe nausea or vomiting, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, excessive sweating, weakness, and more.
The Triangulate Cobweb Spider
Also known as Steatoda Triangulosa, the Triangulate Cobweb Spider is a small spider of a one-quarter inch length. The Triangulate Cobweb Spider is thought to be native to Eurasia but was introduced into the United States hundreds of years ago. They have long legs and often have a purplish mark on the abdomen. While they are likely to be seen around a home, this spider is non-threatening and insignificant for homeowners.
The Brown Recluse
The Brown Recluse can live indoors or outdoors. As its name suggests, this species of spider is reclusive and prefers to be left alone. Its small and flat body allows it to fit in many places. They often run away from humans, it is not recommended to try and touch them since their venom can cause necrosis, fever, chills, nausea, pain, and more.
At Emtec Pest Control, we are committed to safe and responsible pest control. We understand that your family’s safety is your number one priority, so we make it our priority, too.
If you have any other questions about any of these pests or pest control for your home or business, contact your Oklahoma pest control experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling us or by filling out our online contact form.