There are a lot of myths surrounding spiders – that spiders are dangerous especially to children; that you are at risk of spiders laying eggs in your hair when you sleep; that spiders do not really bite people because they have small fangs; or that they are literally everywhere. In fact, you can expect that there is a spider just a few feet from you.
Debunking the Myths
While there is some truth to some of these myths, they are just that, myths. Yes, there are a lot of spiders, but how close they are to you depends on where you actually are. Say for example you are in the woods or even your garden, then there is a very high likelihood that there are little spiders near you. In fact, you might even be stepping on some of them. On the other hand, if you are in an empty parking lot, for example, the spider nearest you might be 20 or even 100 meters away from where you are.
The myth about spiders laying eggs in your hair is not true. They try to avoid humans as much as possible, and as for laying eggs in your hair, their eggs need a safe, secure, and stable place. Some spiders even carry them in their mouth or on their backs.
As for the myth that spiders do not bite humans or that they are not really dangerous, you have to understand that all spiders have the potential to bite. However, only some types of spiders have poison or venom that is dangerous to humans. These venomous/poisonous spiders are those that you have to watch out for and get rid of immediately.
Dangerous Spiders
Below are some of the most dangerous spiders. If you see them in your home, then call your local pest control company so they can get rid of it the safe and most effective way.
Black widow spiders have a very toxic venom. One bite from this spider and you will immediately suffer from very severe muscle spasms as well as muscle contractions. High fever also accompanies black widow spider bites.
Brown recluse spiders are another type of dangerous spider. Even though they have a weaker venom compared to that of a black widow spider’s, their bite could still put you in the hospital. The bitten area will grow into a big wound that does not heal. The tissues surrounding the bitten site become necrotic, necessitating strong antibiotics to fight off the infection and save the healthier cells.
The hobo spider bite also causes tissue death, and the wound they cause also heals slowly. There is pain at the bitten site, together with painful muscle cramping. Severe headache and difficulty breathing also develops.
What to Do
These spiders have distinguishing features that differentiate them from other spiders. Female black widows, which are more aggressive than males, have a red, hour-glass marking located on her abdomen. Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, have a violin-shaped marking on top of its head. Hobo spiders have yellow distinctive pattern on its abdomen.
If you see these types of spiders in your home, it is advisable that you call your local pest control company immediately. They can safely get rid of them for you, and their products can also help keep them away.
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Jennifer Dallman is a freelance article writer for health blogs. She mostly writes about the effects of pests on our health. If you have pests at home, she recommends getting in touch with your pest control company such as Preventive Pest Control.