Spiders

What types of spiders are common in our area?

We've all probably seen a spider or two hanging around inside our homes or found spider webs on our properties. This is because spiders are very common pests. In our area of South Carolina, there are many different species of spiders found living in and around homes and other buildings. Some helpful information about each of these spider species as well as some useful prevention tips and professional advice on dealing with the spiders commonly found in South Carolina can be found below!

Black Widow Spiders

Black widow spiders are easily identifiable by an orangish-red “hourglass” marking on the underside of their abdomen. These spiders also have light red or white markings on their abdomen and backs, and their round body is shiny-black in color.

 Black widow spiders create their irregular-shaped webs at ground level. The black widow spider’s venom is strong enough to cause serious health problems in humans.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Adult brown recluse spiders range in color from a yellowish-gray to a dark black color, and their abdomens are covered in gray hairs. Their long legs are darker in color than their bodies. Brown recluse spiders have a distinct, “violin-like” pattern found on the top of their bodies and have three pairs of eyes arranged in a semi-circle. Their venom is strong enough to cause serious health concerns in humans.

Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders have the ability to jump 25 times their own height. Jumping spiders are easily identified by their stout bodies and thick, powerful legs. These spiders are black, brown, gray, or tan in color with pale markings.

 Jumping spiders are considered nuisance spiders. Other than startling people with their quick jumps, they pose no real health concerns for humans.

Common House Spiders

Common house spiders are the most common species found living inside homes and other buildings. Adults range in size from 3/16th to 5/16th of an inch in length. Their exact color can vary greatly but they are typically yellowish-brown. They have distinct, dark chevron markings on their bodies and legs.

 House spiders typically reside in dark, quiet corners of homes, building and abandoned webs as they try to capture prey. The house spider's venom is not strong enough to cause any serious health consequences in humans.

Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders are fast-moving spiders and tend to startle people with their quick movements. Instead of using a web to catch their prey, they chase and “hunt” down their prey just like their namesake, the wolf.

 Wolf spiders are dark brown in color, typically boasting two dark stripes on their backs. Wolf spiders have great eyesight. Their bodies are stout, they have long legs, and they are covered in hair.

Long-Bodied Cellar Spiders

Long-bodied cellar spiders have long, skinny legs and small bodies. They are pale yellow to light brown or gray in color. They are found living in dark, damp places like cellars and basements.

Long-bodied cellar spiders build loose, irregular webs in corners, and hang upside down on the underside of them. They continually build new, in order to catch prey. They are considered a nuisance spider and pose no serious health risks to humans.

The black widow spider and brown recluse spider are considered dangerous spider species while jumping spiders, common house spiders, wolf spiders, and long-bodied cellar spiders are all considered nuisance spiders and pose no health risks to humans.

 The venom from a black widow spider is strong enough to affect a person’s nervous system. Symptoms may include stomach pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms usually go away within a few days and don’t result in long-term complications. The severity of the symptoms depends on the individual, the location of the bite, and the amount of venom injected.

 Brown recluse spider bites may also cause health problems in people. Their venom can result in necrosis, causing the tissue around the bite to ulcerate and the skin cells around the wound to die. It can take months for the skin around a bite to completely heal and the bite wound is prone to infection.

 In the case of a bite from either a brown recluse or black widow spider, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Helpful Spider Articles

• South Carolina Homeowner's Guide To Prevention Venomous Spiders