Control issues would be similar to that of typical spiders. The effects are usually gone within an hour. There is, however, some pain from the mechanical fang penetration. The bite of a woodlouse spider is rather benign to humans. The eyes are rudimentary and probably only allow the spider to detect shadows or determine light from dark. It has six small eyes scrunched together near the front of the cephalothorax. It has long fangs, which it uses to kill its prey by reaching underneath the rolled up creature and injecting venom. The woodlouse spider is rather distinctive in its coloration, with a dark cinnamon colored cephalothorax and an elongate abdomen, which varies from gray to tan. They’re common in many parts of the United States and have only recently been found in decent numbers in the Pacific Northwest. The spider gets its name from its prey, the woodlouse, also known as sow bugs, isopods and roly-poly. Originating in Eastern Europe, they have spread throughout the world. Woodlouse spiders, Dysdera crocata, are commonly found in homes and gardens throughout North America. Control would be best by spraying upwards under overhangs and in holes. These spiders are most often found in places that offer some harborage like under wood or potted plants, in debris, in pipes of fences and bicycle racks. Because this spider has the word widow as part of its name, it will generate concern from homeowners even though it is not as dangerous as a black widow. There has, however, been one report of a verified bite that required hospitalization. The most typical reactions caused by verified brown widow bites are pain when it happens, as well as a small red mark. In most cases, bites from a brown widow don’t produce extreme manifestation of envenomation similar to black widow bites. No other urban North American spider makes an egg sac like the brown widow’s, making it one of the few examples where identification can be confirmed without seeing the actual spider. One of the most identifiable aspects of brown widows is the egg sac, which has small silk spines poking out of its surface. A series of brown and white spots along the abdomen runs on its top with three diagonal lines on the sides. The brown widow is bedecked in tan and brown mottled coloration with an orange hourglass on the ventral portion of its abdomen. In the first part of the 21st century, however, they expanded their range to include coastal areas from South Carolina to Texas and urban southern California. A native to either Africa (most likely) or South America (less likely), the brown widow has, for many decades, been restricted to Florida. It’s not nearly as toxic, however, as its better-known relative. The brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, is related to the medically important black widow spider. Interestingly, all of these spiders, which are common enough to require occasional control measures or are at least noticed by the average homeowner, are non-native species that are now flourishing in North America. In this article, a smattering of other spiders are discussed, all which are harmless or are of minor medical concern. 2008), hobo and yellow sac spiders ( PMP, Dec. These included the brown recluse ( PMP, June 2008), black widow ( PMP, Sept. All have been either medically important or at least medically implicated at one point in the past. Many different types of spiders call the Lone Star state home, and they all have their unique characteristics.In previous articles, various spiders of concern to the pest management industry have been discussed. Spiders are found in Texas, but there is no need to fear. Like the brown widow and black widow, some species prefer warmer climates with annual maximum mean temperatures that are frequently above 75☏. Some species of spiders tolerate drought conditions better than others- those that do may emerge earlier and remain active later into fall or even winter. This is when temperatures are warmest and food sources, like insects, tend to be plentiful. In Texas, spiders are active from early April to November, but they are most numerous in the summer months of May through August. Spiders are most active during warm months when food availability is high because they can easily find prey to feed on, like insects or other arthropods that emerge from their hiding places as it warms up outside. Much of this annual cycle is driven by changes in ambient temperature and precipitation patterns in the southern United States. So yes! There’s an annual cycle of spider activity in Texas, otherwise known as “spider season”. Spiders are predators, and they feed on other arthropods, such as insects, so their activity tends to be synchronous with that of the prey animals. A spider season is a period in which one or more species of spiders become active.
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