Utah Crab Spiders
Utah Crab Spiders
The Utah crab spider is known by the scientific name “Bassaniana utahensis” and is part of the bark crab spider family. Crab spiders are found all over North America, with bark crab spiders preferring woods, parks and generally anywhere with trees.
Characteristics of a Utah Crab Spider
- The two front pairs of the Utah crab spiders’ legs are much larger and longer than the rest of their legs.
- Utah crab spiders have a flattish body which is round in shape.
- Crab spiders vary in color to blend in with their surroundings but Utah crab spiders are generally dark with a mottled pattern.
- These spiders have good eyesight and have two large eyes as well as six smaller ones.
- Utah crab spiders can move sideways, like their namesake.
- Female Utah crab spiders are much larger than the males and can reach up to 1cm (0.4 inches) in body length.
- Female Utah crab spiders are much larger than the males and can reach up to 1cm (0.4 inches) in body length.
Are Utah Crab Spiders Dangerous?
Some species of crab spider can grow quite large and are capable of inflicting painful bites on humans. The Utah crab spider is not one of these, however. While it may bite a human if provoked, it’s unlikely that it will even be able to break through the skin. If it does, the small amount of venom released will not pose any health risks.
- Female hobo spiders can have a body length of up to 16.5mm or 0.65 inches, with males being a little smaller.
- Hobo spiders have brown bodies with darker or lighter brown legs.
- While they generally have hairy-looking legs, some hobo spiders have smoother legs.
How to Prevent Utah Crab Spiders Coming Into Your Home
Here are some tips to prevent Utah crab spiders from coming into your home:
- Ensure all cracks and gaps in your exterior walls are filled in or sealed.
- Check around door frames for gaps and make sure any window screens are intact.
- Check any flowers or plants for Utah crab spiders before bringing them inside your home.
- Essential oils such as peppermint or lavender oil sprayed around doors and windows may deter Utah crab spiders from entering your home.
Utah Crab Spider Control and Treatment in Utah County and Salt Lake County
Bark crab spiders prefer to be outdoors in vegetation and on trees so it’s not that likely that you’ll find them infesting your home. If you do see them inside, however, try and trap them in a small container and release them back outside. Crab spiders reproduce quickly so by putting them back into their natural habitat, you can stop an infestation before it starts.
Pest control companies like H2 will not normally advise total eradication of Utah crab spiders from an outdoor space because a) it’s not possible to guarantee and b), spiders can be very beneficial to your yard. If you do want to reduce the number of Utah crab spiders in your yard, however, there are a few steps you can take:
- Utah crab spiders like plants that produce pollen, so reducing the number of this type of plant in your yard will also reduce the number of crab spiders.
- Maintain a neat lawn, especially near your home.
- Utah crab spiders prefer to live under loose bark and mainly on ground level. Getting rid of piles of grass clippings and other areas of plant debris will provide less of an ideal environment for these small spiders.
It’s not likely to find an infestation of Utah crab spiders in your home, but if they have invaded, contact a professional pest control company like H2 for effective pest control treatments. We operate throughout Salt Lake and Utah Counties and can provide personalized pest control plans for each client.