There are over 30,000 identified species of Spiders in the world and over 3,000 species found in the United States. As a group they are one of the most beneficial creatures, as most live primarily on a diet of insects.

However they can be disconcerting when they enter a home especially in numbers. The other factor, should you have a large number of Spiders, is that they are predators and must have an insect population to support their numbers. In many cases, when called in for Spiders, we find another insect problem. As many insects are nocturnal and secretive, they can go unnoticed. Most Spiders will be found close to an area where prey are located. Outside they are often found near lights or windows where lighting draws moths and other insects. They also set up housekeeping in damp areas, near downspouts or dense growth where insects congregate.

One good way of reducing Spider populations, that the resident can do, is to thoroughly vacuum the structure using a vacuum with a wand. The areas to concentrate on are around windows, baseboards, radiators or heating ducts, basement ceilings and windows, garages and any other area where they are frequently observed. The vacuum should be taken outside immediately and the bag placed in a strong plastic garbage bag and left outside until picked up. However, if there is another insect problem, they can rebound rather quickly. A general outside professional treatment to insect harborage areas will greatly slow down their recovery.

There are two species of spiders that are of concern to residents, The Black Widow and The Brown Recluse.

1. The Black Widow Spider is usually black with two red triangles joined to look like an hourglass on the underside of the abdomen.

2. The Brown Recluse Spider coloration can vary from yellow to dark brown and most have a violin shaped marking on their backs. There bite is not as life threatening as the Black Widow, but its bite causes a considerable amount of pain and usually results in ulcerous sores that can take a long time to heal and leave scars.

Both of these species are normally found in warmer sections of the United States.