Utah is home to a wide variety of spiders, from hobo spiders to wolf spiders to the dangerous black widow. No matter what variety of arachnid you’re dealing with, you should be able to identify this pest in all three stages of the spider life cycle.

Eggs, spiderlings, and adults can all be a problem for your home. Understanding the life cycle of a spider can help you formulate an effective pest treatment plan.

Eggs

Spiders begin their lives as eggs. Female spiders can lay up to a thousand eggs at once, and many species lay eggs year-round. After laying eggs, the female creates a sac out of silk to protect them.

Egg sacs vary in size and appearance, but many look like circular or ovular “pillows” of silk. They are usually white or off-white in color, but they can also be brown or yellow.

Look for sacs in dark, undisturbed areas of your home – think closets, basement corners, attics, and other quiet spots. You should also keep an eye on humid areas like the bathroom, as spiders like humidity.

Spiderlings

Spiders usually hatch from their eggs after a few weeks. In some cases, however, eggs are able to overwinter and could last through colder months and hatch in the spring.

Spiders emerge from their egg sac in the form of spiderlings. These young arachnids resemble adult spiders in many ways, but they lack the fully-formed exoskeleton of adult spiders. Spiderlings molt several times before fully developing.

Immediately after leaving the egg sac, spiderlings go off on their own in search of prey. They travel on foot or by “ballooning,” a process during which they use strands of silk to catch a ride on air currents.

Spiderlings are capable of traveling to every corner of your house after hatching, so you should try to eliminate egg sacs before they hatch whenever possible.

Adults

Adulthood is the final stage in the life cycle of a spider. Spiders reach adulthood after they have molted five to ten times and have a fully developed exoskeleton. While most spiders don’t live beyond one year, some can live for up to two years – including the wolf spider, which is found in Utah.

Adult spiders are able to mate and reproduce, which makes it important to eliminate them in order to stop the spider life cycle. If you only target egg sacs (or adults, or spiderlings), your pest control efforts might not be effective. Spiders at every stage of life pose a threat to your home and your peace of mind.

Stop the Spider Life Cycle Today

To treat spiders in your home, you need to eliminate the pest at every stage of its life cycle. H2 Pest Control can help you fully address your spider problem with targeted solutions for eggs, spiderlings, and adult spiders. Our experts have a thorough understanding of the spider life cycle, and we use that knowledge to formulate effective pest control plans.

The life cycle of a spider is relatively fast. If you have a spider problem, you should act immediately to address it. Call us today to set up a service appointment!

Did you know that there are more than 3,000 species of spider in North America? Luckily, very few of these spiders are harmful to humans. That means that most of your spider run-ins won’t be dangerous, even if they’re a little scary.

Unfortunately, there are some venomous spiders that live in the United States. Three of the most deadly spiders in the country can be found in Utah.

Black Widow

Many people have heard of the Black Widow – it’s one of the most infamous spiders in North America. It is also the most deadly spider in the U.S.

The red hourglass shape on its black abdomen makes the Black Widow easy to recognize. Its bites are extremely toxic and contain a neurotoxin that can be fatal, especially for small children or elderly people.

Symptoms of a Black Widow bite include nausea, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, and excessive sweating.

Black Widows prefer dry areas to humid ones and can often be found near windows, vents, garages, and other places with many available insects.

Hobo Spider

Hobo spiders are particularly common in arid climates, which makes them a threat to Utah residents. They are most commonly found low to the ground, where they hunt for prey by creating a “trip web.” This web trips insects, giving the Hobo spider a chance to attack them.

Hobo spiders sometimes bite without any warning or provocation, which may be related to their hunting technique. Their venomous bite is painful and can sometimes cause tissue death in the bitten area.

Because of their aggression, it’s best to consult pest control specialists if you think you have a hobo spider in your house.

Brown Recluse

Brown recluse spiders have a reputation as one of the most venomous spiders in the United States. It’s true that this spider has a painful and dangerous bite, and the side effects of a run-in with a brown recluse can be nasty. Brown recluse bites can lead to fever, abdominal cramping, muscle pain, nausea, and chills, among other issues.

As with the Hobo spider, brown recluse bites can also cause tissue death. This tissue death is often more severe than that caused by Hobo spiders. In rare cases, a brown recluse bite can be fatal.

Luckily for Utah residents, these spiders are most common in the South and Central United States.

Protect Yourself from the Most Deadly Spiders in Utah

There are plenty of measures you can take to protect yourself from spiders. Basic spider control includes removing spiderwebs, cleaning out cluttered areas of your house, and checking doors and windows for cracks or unsealed openings. These measures can keep spiders out of your home and reduce your chance of encountering a harmful creepy crawly.

If you’ve already observed venomous spiders like the black widow or brown recluse in your home, it’s a good idea to call in professionals. Don’t put your health and safety at risk!

Call H2 Pest Control today to schedule a service appointment, and you’ll be on your way to a safer home.