Spider Bites - Part One

Dr. Jorge Parada, a medical spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), wrote an excellent article on spider bites that was featured in PestWorld news. Since spiders tend to be even more prevalent in winter months, I thought I'd share this article with you over the next few posts.

Spiders are not intentionally harmful to humans. Most spider bites occur when humans accidentally trap or brush up against a spider and receive a defensive bite. On rare occasions, spiders may have a serious lapse in judgment and bite a human finger (or other body part) mistaking it for a caterpillar or other such prey. Even then, most spiders are too small and not capable of breaking the skin with their fangs, or their venom too weak to be dangerous to humans. Simply put — most spider bites are accidental, harmless and require no specific treatment.

Still, that is not enough to stop spiders from having a bad reputation. It is common for any unexplained skin irritation to be called a "spider bite." In fact, most skin lesions and symptoms that are attributed to spiders are rarely actually due to a spider bite. Research has shown that 80 percent of presumed spider bites are actually bites from other insects, or due to skin infections such as MRSA (a resistant staph infection).

Yet, occasionally, a spider’s bites will cause real harm. Spider bites may cause injury by three mechanisms. First, especially with larger spiders, the bite itself may be painful and cause injury. However, far more concerning is the spider's venom, which can include necrotic agents or neurotoxins. Spider bites rarely transmit infectious diseases.

Most spider bites are less painful than a bee sting. Pain from non-venomous spider bites typically lasts for five to 60 minutes while pain from venomous spider bites frequently lasts for longer than 24 hours. The rate of a bacterial infection due to a spider bite is low (less than one percent).

Call Dave at 1-800-400-6009. If you're concerned about spiders 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

Some Are Harmless, Some Can Kill You

Some biters are harmless, but the most venomous spider in North America is the black widow.

(Courtesy of NatGeo)


If you're concerned about spiders 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

Infested! Spiders!

Another episode of Animal Planet's  Infested! This one is on spiders, and dare I say, not for the faint of heart . . .



If you're concerned spiders in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

The Fishing Spider

Can a spider eat a frog? Watch this video from NatGeo and find out!



Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

The Black Widow

Female Black Widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female Black Widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn’t always the case. Geographically, Black Widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States.

Black Widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders.

Black Widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

The bite of a female Black Widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male Black Widow spider does not bite. A Black Widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

PREVENTING SPIDER BITES

* Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time.
* Shake out your shoes before putting them on.
* Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.

If you're concerned about spiders in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Your Worst Nightmare: Spiders

Don't let this happen to you. Call Dave today! 1-800-400-6009

 

If you're concerned that you have spiders in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control Serving Central Massachusetts
http://www.davespestcontrol.net

Spider Bites

Did you know that spiders have modified fangs that inject venom? Most spiders will only bite humans in self-defense, and few produce worse effects than a mosquito bite or bee-sting. Most of those with medically serious bites, such as recluse spiders and widow spiders, are shy and bite only when they feel threatened, although this can easily arise by accident. Funnel web spiders' defensive tactics are aggressive, although they rarely inject much venom. On the other hand the Brazilian wandering spider requires very little provocation.

Many alleged cases of spider bites may represent incorrect diagnoses, which would make it more difficult to check the effectiveness of treatments for genuine bites. While the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans, scientists are now researching the use of spider venoms in medicine and as non-polluting pesticides.

If you are concerned about the spiders in your home, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009. We'll be glad to talk with you and offer a safe and affordable solution. Dave's Pest Control: http://www.davespestcontrol.net