For many of us, seeing a spider in our home is one of the scariest things in the world. But are there really any spiders we should be scared of in Joliet, Illinois? While most spiders are harmless, there are a pair of spiders living in Joliet that can be dangerous: the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider. Here's what you need to know about avoiding dangerous spiders.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown recluse spiders have a violin pattern on their backs. They do not have the normal eight eyes that spiders usually have – brown recluse spiders have six eyes arranged in pairs. Their abdomen is covered with a fur-like hair.
The brown recluse build asymmetrical webs in woodpiles, closets, garages, basements, and other areas that are dry and not often disturbed by humans. You might find them inside cardboard boxes, unused beds, in dresser drawers, or in items left on the floor for long periods of time. Brown recluse spiders won't seek you out to bite you but will defend themselves if they feel threatened.
People who are bit by the brown recluse may not feel it initially, but their venom is very powerful. Some brown recluse bites produce skin necrosis or severe dermonecrotic lesions. Children, elderly, and those who are already ill are more susceptible to problems with brown recluse bites. In severe cases, bites can cause organ damage or death.
Black Widow Spider
A black widow spider can be identified by the red hourglass-shaped mark on the underside of their abdomens. The venom of this spider is reportedly 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. If you are bitten by a black widow spider, you will likely experience muscle aches, trouble breathing, and nausea although some people who are bitten do not have any symptoms at all. The reason black widow spiders are considered dangerous is that their bites can be fatal to some people – usually children, elderly, or people who are already ill. Like the brown recluse spider, the black widow is not aggressive and tends to only bite in self-defense.
When you're dealing with potentially dangerous spiders you should not take matters into your own hands. If you see one, it is possible that you have others that you don't see hiding someplace in your home. Contact us at Quik-kill Pest Eliminators to help keep these pests from infesting your home and putting your family in possible danger.