We here a lot of strange myths about spiders, so here is the 411 on some of them.
Myth #1: The average person swallows about eight spiders a year when sleeping.
This urban legend has become one of the most widespread rumors on the Internet. But, fear not – it’s false. According to Snopes.com, this myth was started when a columnist for a computing magazine wrote an article in 1993 about a list of outlandish “facts” that were circulating via email. In reality, it’s highly unlikely for a person to swallow even one live spider when sleeping.
Myth #2: People are never more than three feet away from a spider.
This myth originated in 1995 when arachnologist Norman Platnick wrote, “Wherever you sit as you read these lines, a spider is probably no more than a few yards away.” With more than 35,000 described species of spiders worldwide and about 3,000 in North America alone, there may be some truth to this statement. However, many people argue that it depends on where you are, for example, standing in a grassy area or on the top floor of a skyscraper.
Myth #3: All spiders spin webs.
The truth is not all spiders spin these silk structures, which are used to catch their prey. In fact, several species of spiders use different strategies for obtaining food. Wolf spiders, for example, catch their food by hunting, while jumping spiders pounce on their prey.
Myth #4:Daddy longlegs are one of the most poisonous spiders, but their fangs are too short to penetrate human skin.
This specific tale has been lurking around for years, but it’s completely false. Think about it – how can a spider inject venom into the human body if its fangs are too short to pierce skin tissue? Arachnologists at the University of California said, "There is no reference to any pholcid spider [read "daddy-long-legs"] biting a human and causing any detrimental reaction… Furthermore, there are no toxicological studies testing the lethality of pholcid venom on any mammalian system.”
Myth #5: All spiders are dangerous.
Spiders have lived amongst humans for centuries and most species don’t harm humans; in fact, many species are beneficial to the environment. Spiders are predators, feeding mainly on insects, so they help to reduce the amount of pests in homes and gardens. While it’s true that all spiders have a venomous bite, only a few species are medically dangerous.
There are many misconceptions about spiders that give them a bad rap. However, it’s important for homeowners to take preventative steps to keep the more dangerous species from gaining access to homes during the winter months. We recommend storing clothes and shoes in plastic containers, sweeping away webs around the home, and removing clutter from basements, attics and garages.
If you're concerned about a spider infestation in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.
Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A
Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control
Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net
Reference: www.pestworld.org
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Black Widow Spiders.
Black widow spiders can be found throughout North America, but are most common in the southern and western areas of the United States. Male widows, like most spider species, are much smaller and generally less dangerous than the females. Widows tend to be non-aggressive, but will bite if the web is disturbed and the spider feels threatened. The more dangerous female is a dark colored spider and with a red hourglass marking on its belly. The bite feels like a pinprick, and at first may go unnoticed or seem rather minor. Early on there may be slight swelling and faint red marks. Within a few hours, though, intense pain and stiffness begin. Other signs and symptoms include: chills, fever, muscle cramps, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Typically, black widow bites are less common, but more severe than brown recluse bites. That said, no one in the United States has died from a black widow spider bite in more than 10 years.
Brown Recluse Spiders.
The brown recluse spider, also known as the violin spider, is most commonly found in the south-central, mid-western and southern states of the United States. Most encounters with this spider occur from moving boxes or rooting about in closets, attics, garages or under beds where they may have nested. These spiders are brown in color with a characteristic dark violin-shaped (or fiddle-shaped) marking on its head. Whereas most spiders have eight eyes, brown recluses have six equal-sized eyes. The bite produces a mild stinging, followed by local redness and intense pain within eight hours. A fluid-filled blister forms at the site and then sloughs off to leave a deep, enlarging ulcer. Systemic (or generalized) reactions from a brown recluse spider bite vary from a mild fever and rash to nausea and listlessness. Generally, brown recluse spider bites are reported much more frequently than black widow bites, but while the brown recluse bite may cause very significant local skin reactions, it is much more unusual for these bites to cause generalized symptoms. Unfortunately, brown recluses are almost communal and can be sometimes be found in great numbers.
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