Arizona is the perfect home for spiders year-round with its warm, dry climate. Unfortunately, spiders are one of the most common pests that homeowners have to face. There are four species of spiders commonly found in Arizona homes, some of which are dangerous to humans and pets.

Please keep reading to learn more about why spiders are a problem for homeowners, signs of a spider infestation, and what types of Arizona spiders are dangerous.

Spiders and Arizona Homes

In general, spiders are mostly a nuisance. However, with some spiders, there is a possibility that they can leave a nasty bite if threatened. If there is a population of spiders inside your home, since they eat other insects, that may mean you have another pest infestation going on.

Each spider species has its preference for areas where it likes to live. But most spiders love to live in hidden spaces and undisturbed areas, such as behind furniture like desks or bookshelves, behind appliances, in windows, and underneath stairs. Spiders like to live in those hard-to-reach places that rarely get a good cleaning.

There are a few signs of an infestation you should look out for: seeing webs, seeing spider eggs sacs, and of course, seeing spiders. Going from seeing many insects inside to seeing none at all may also be a sign that spiders have made it into your home or business.

A spider control plan from a professional pest control provider, such as SOS Extermination, can help you protect yourself and your property from spiders.

Common Types of Spiders Found in Arizona Homes

There are four common spiders found in Arizona homes, two of which are venomous.

Western Black Widow Spider

Black widows are known for their black color and red hourglass marking on the females, and their venomous bite. They are common in Arizona, with its ideal climate for them.

Black widows are often found in quiet, dark, undisturbed areas, such as attics or under porches. They are shy and not aggressive, but most bites occur when accidentally disturbed. Their bites can be very dangerous, and you should seek medical treatment immediately if you, a family member, or coworker has been bitten by one.

Arizona Recluse Spiders

The Arizona brown spider, Loxoceles arizonicus, and the desert recluse, Loxoceles deserta, are two types of recluse spiders related to the infamous brown recluse. Both are often mistaken for the brown recluse but are separate species.

Most recluse spiders are nocturnal and like to make small webs behind objects. They are not found out in the open.

Bites from all brown recluse spiders are venomous and can cause the surrounding tissue to die, called necrosis. If bitten by a brown recluse, seek medical attention immediately.

Wolf Spider

An enormous spider, adult male wolf spiders often wander in your home while searching for a mate. Instead of building webs, they hunt their prey and enjoy eating many different insects, including cockroaches.

Wolf spiders are harmless to people but may bite if threatened.

Southern House Spider

The southern house spider, often mistaken for the brown recluse spider because of its coloring and size, loves living in crevices. Females are light grey and males can be khaki or amber.

They do not have a dangerous bite; however, they will bite when threatened. These bites can be very painful.

Prevention Is Key

With the nuisance of spiders, there are a couple of things you can do to prevent them from entering your home. Try to make your home less inviting to spiders by keeping woodpiles and vegetation, both ideal spider environments, away from the foundation of your home.

Keeping other insects out of your home, especially those that spiders like to eat will help prevent a spider infestation as well. You can do this by sealing up gaps and cracks in your home and keeping your home free of moisture.

However, if you already have a spider infestation, the best way to deal with it is to call a professional. SOS Exterminating is skilled at getting rid of the spiders in your home with their many services.
Contact SOS Exterminating to schedule your service today!