Spiders are presented in a variety of ways in the media. They chased Harry Potter and his friends down in Fangorn Forest, tried to kill Frodo on his way to Mount Doom, and made Peter Parker into a superhero. With arachnophobia ranking the #1 most common phobia on Earth, it's no wonder they're depicted so often in books and tv shows. Plus, with over 45,000 different arachnid species on Earth, there are plenty of interesting ones to choose from.
Spiders are fascinating creatures. Some are gigantic and furry; some are brightly colored and deadly; most are relatively harmless. Certain species have specialized eyes that let them see UVA and UVB light, spectrums humans can't detect.
Black Widows and Brown Recluses are the ones we have to worry about most in California. Black Widows are fairly common in the area, and their intensely painful bite can lead to flu-like symptoms, involuntary muscle contractions, and even anaphylactic shock. In California, we also must contend with the less-lethal but still concerning Brown Recluse. Bites from Brown Recluse can lead to tissue necrosis, with the tissue opening to an ulcer as the skin around it dies. Pain from the bite gets progressively worse, and anyone who encounters one of these devils needs to seek medical attention and contact a pest professional immediately.
Other spider bites are not as extreme, but they still aren't a walk in the park. They can lead to swelling, itching, and some pain. People often scratch at the large welts, leading to broken skin and possible infection. People with severe allergies can have worse reactions.
Spiders do play an important role in nature by eliminating other pests. Most are carnivorous, and the way they eat is vicious and tricky, probably contributing to their negative perception. Once a spider has pinned down its prey, it injects it with a digestive fluid that liquefies the creature's insides, which the 8-legged hunter then sucks down.
Spiders spin a flexible protein fiber to make nests, webs, and egg sacs or trap prey. Incredibly, silk is stronger than steel by weight. The palm-sized Joro spider spins its silk into a parachute to catch the wind and travel as much as 100 miles, a skill the Southeast Asian invader is using to take over America's East Coast. Some spiders even use their webs to fish.
The silk humans are most accustomed to seeing is the webs they use to catch prey, which can accumulate in the home or business, eventually sinking into the paint, leaving a discoloration or textured stain.
It can be scary leaving your fate in the hands of strangers when you're already nervous about spiders. At PestMan Pest Control, our business is local and family-run. That means we're part of this community and care about our customer's well-being. Instead of having corporate policies slow us down, we analyze the situation and let our 25 years of experience help us determine the best attack method for the specific situation you're facing.
Contact us today for an estimate.