URBAN SPIDERS

JEREMY MILLER, A.C.E.

ANOTOMICAL CHART

BASIC SPIDER ANATOMY

• TWO BODY REGIONS

• CEPHALOTHORAX

• ABDOMEN

EYES

• EYES FOUND ON TOP FRONT (OR CARAPACE) OF CEPHALOTHORAX

• MOST SPIDERS HAVE EIGHT EYES (SOME PRIMITIVE SPECIES HAVE ONLY SIX)

• ARRANGEMENT OF THESE EYES IS IMPORTANT FOR IDENTIFICATION

MOUTHPARTS

• CHELICERAE TIPPED WITH FANGS

• PEDIPALPS OR PALPS

• FEMALES PALPS ARE SAME THICKNESS FROM BASE TO TIP

• MALES END SEGMENT GREATLY ENLARGED

LEGS

ABDOMEN

• ABDOMEN IS NON-SEGMENTED REGION

• HOUSES DIGESTIVE (EXCEPT FOR SUCKING STOMACH), REPRODUCTIVE, RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS AND SILK GLANDS

REPRODUCTION

• FEMALES ADVERTISE HERSELF WITH PHEROMONES

• GROUND DWELLING SPIDERS SECRETE THESE ALONG THEIR DRAGLINE

• IN WEB BUILDING SPIDERS FEMALES RELEASE PHEROMONES INTO AIR OR THEY COAT THEIR WEBS WITH THEM

COMPETITION FOR REPRODUCTION

• AFTER MALE LOCATES FEMALE HE MUST TAKE CARE OF OTHER CONTENDERS

• IN WEB SPINNING SPECIES THIS USUALLY INVOLVES DESTROYING THE WEB TO CUT OFF PHEROMONE SIGNAL

• IF OTHER MALES ARE PRESENT IN MOST SPECIES THE MALES FIGHT IT OUT UNTIL ONE LEFT

COURTSHIP

• MALES IN MOST SPECIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN FEMALES SO MUST PROVE THEY ARE NOT FOOD OR A POTENTIAL PREDATOR

• COURTSHIP VARIES WIDELY AMONG SPECIES

• MANY WEB SPINNING SPECIES STRUM A UNIQUE SIGNAL ON THE STRINGS OF WEBS

• MANY SPIDERS WITH GOOD EYESIGHT, SUCH AS WOLF AND JUMPING SPIDERS DANCE TO COURT THE FEMALE

MATING

• ONCE FEMALE RECOGNIZES THE MALES COURTSHIP BEHAVIORS SHE WILL EITHER POSITION HERSELF FOR SEX OR MAKE IT CLEAR SHE IS NOT RECEPTIVE

• BOTH MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS ARE AT THE REAR OF ABDOMEN

• SPIDERS, HOWEVER, DON’T MATE BY COUPLING THESE ORGANS

• MALE DEPOSITS SPERM ONTO A SMALL WEB WHICH HE PICKS UP WITH PEDIPALPS

• WHEN FEMALE IS IN POSITION HE DEPOSITS SPERM IN THE FEMALES GENITAL OPENING

• FEMALES STORE THE SPERM IN RECEPTACLES NEAR HER OVARIES WHICH SHE USES FOR EGG LAYING

EGG LAYING

• ONCE FERTILIZED THE EGGS HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM PREDATORS

• SPIDERS ACCOMPLISH THIS BY ENCASING THEM IN A SILKEN EGG SAC

• SOME SPECIES LAY THE EGGS AND ABANDON THE SAC

• OTHERS STAY WITH THEM UNTIL HATCHING

• SOME SPECIES, SUCH AS WOLF SPIDERS, CARRY THEIR HATCHED SPIDERLINGS ON THEIR BACKS UNTIL ABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES

GROWTH

• SPIDERLINGS CONTINUE MOLTING AND GROWING LARGER UNTIL THEY REACH SEXUAL MATURITY

• CYCLE BEGINS AGAIN

WHAT MAKES SPIDERS DISTINCT FROM INSECTS

• SPIDERS 2 BODY REGION; INSECTS 3

• SPIDERS 4 PAIRS OF LEGS; INSECTS 3

• SPIDERS HAVE NO WINGS; INSECTS NONE, 1 PAIR, OR 2 PAIR

• SPIDERS HAVE 6 TO 8 SIMPLE EYES; INSECTS CAN HAVE COMPOUND EYES WITH 2 OR 3 SIMPLE EYES

• SPIDERS HAVE PEDIPALPS; INSECTS NONE

• SPIDERS LACK ANTENNAE; INSECTS HAVE 1 PAIR

DISTINCTIONS

• SPIDERS DEVELOP WITHOUT METAMORPHOSIS; INSECTS HAVE VARIABLE DEVELOPMENT FROM WITHOUT METAMORPHOSIS TO COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS

• SPIDERS DIGEST THEIR FOOD BEFORE SWALLOWING; INSECTS USUALLY AFTER SWALLOWING

• SPIDERS HAVE BOOK LUNGS; INSECTS RESPIRE THROUGH SPIRACLES

ARANEOMORPH SPIDERS

• TRUE SPIDERS AS THEIR CHELICERAE OPEN FROM SIDE TO SIDE

• HEDGES AND LACEY (1995) PROPOSE DIVIDING URBAN ARANEOMORPHS INTO THREE GROUPS: ACTIVE HUNTERS, PASSIVE HUNTERS, AND WEB BUILDERS

ACTIVE HUNTERS

• JUMPING SPIDERS

• WOLF SPIDERS

• SAC SPIDERS

• GROUND SPIDERS

JUMPING SPIDERS

• 300 SPECIES IN U.S.

• CAN ENTER HOMES

• PREFER TO HUNT DURING THE DAY

• FOUND GENERALLY ON SUNLIT SURFACES

• COMPACT IN SHAPE WITH RELATIVELY SHORT LEGS

• CAN JUMP UP TO 15 CM

JUMPING SPIDER EXAMPLES

WOLF SPIDERS

• LARGE RUNNING SPIDERS

• CONFUSED WITH TARANTUALAS

• CONSTRUCT NO WEBS

• CAN HAVE LEG SPANS UP TO 7.5 CM

• CHARACTERISTIC IDENTIFICATION IN EYE PLACEMENT BOTTOM ROW 4 SMALL EYES OF EQUAL SIZE IN A ROW; THE TOP ROW IS CURVED TOWARDS THE MIDDLE CONSISTING OF SMALL EYE, 2 LARGE EYES, AND ANOTHER SMALL EYE

WOLF SPIDER EXAMPLES

SAC SPIDERS

• TYPICALLY SMALL FROM 10 MM OR LESS

• QUICKEST IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTIC IS CONICAL SPINNERETS

• BITES CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT SKIN REACTIONS

• 2 SPECIES (NORTHERN YELLOW SAC SPIDER AND AMERICAN YELLOW SAC SPIDER) PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE BITES TO PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER GROUP

SAC SPIDERS

GROUND SPIDERS

• OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR WOLF SPIDERS OR SAC SPIDERS

• DIFFER FROM SAC SPIDERS IN THAT FRONT PAIR OF SPINNERETS ARE CYLINDRICAL NOT CONICAL

• DIFFER FROM WOLF SPIDERS IN THAT THEY HAVE NO LARGE EYES

• ACTIVE NOCTURNAL HUNTERS NOT LIKELY TO ENTER HOMES

EXAMPLES OF GROUND SPIDERS

PASSIVE HUNTERS

• CRAB SPIDERS

• RECLUSE AND SPITTING SPIDERS

CRAB SPIDERS

• OFTEN CAMOUFLAGED TO MATCH BARK OR FLOWERS WHERE THEY WAIT TO AMBUSH PREY

• WHEN FOUND INDOORS USUALLY ACCIDENTALLY CARRIED IN ON WILD FLOWERS, HOUSE PLANTS, OR FIREWOOD

• LARGE HUNTSMAN SPIDER (BODY LENGTH UP TO 25 MM) WILL ENTER HOMES DURING COOL WEATHER

• MOST SPECIES ARE LESS THAN 13 MM IN LENGTH

• CALLED CRAB SPIDERS BECAUSE OF THE CRABLIKE WAY THEY HOLD THEIR LEGS WHILE AT REST

EXAMPLES OF CRAB SPIDERS

RECLUSE AND SPITTING SPIDERS

• HAVE ONLY 6 EYES ARRANGED IN THREE PAIRS ON FRONT OF CARAPACE

• BOTH MALES AND FEMALES ARE LONG BODIED (SHAPE)

• BODY LENGTH VARIES FROM 6 TO 13 MM

EXAMPLES OF RECLUSE AND SPITTING SPIDERS

WEB BUILDING SPIDERS

• DIVIDED INTO FUNNEL WEAVERS, CELLAR SPIDERS, ORB WEAVERS, AND COBWEB SPIDERS

FUNNEL WEAVERS

• SPIN FLAT HORIZONTAL WEBS WITH A FUNNEL AT ONE END IN WHICH THE SPIDER HIDES

• SPIDERS IN THIS GENERA INCLUDE GRASS SPIDERS, BARN FUNNEL WEAVER, GIANT HOUSE SPIDER, AND HOBO SPIDER AMONG MANY, MANY OTHERS

• SPIDERS IN THIS FAMILY HAVE TWO ROWS OF FOUR SIMILAR SIZED EYES

• SPIDERS IN THIS FAMILY HAVE NOTICEABLY LONG SPINNERETS

• BITES OF HOBO SPIDER AKA AGGRESSIVE HOUSE SPIDER RESEMBLE RECLUSE BITES IN SEVERITY AND TISSUE DAMAGE

EXAMPLES OF FUNNEL WEAVERS

• GRASS SPIDER

FUNNEL WEAVERS

• BARN FUNNEL WEAVER

FUNNEL WEAVERS

• GIANT HOUSE SPIDER

FUNNEL WEAVERS

• HOBO SPIDER

CELLAR SPIDERS

• MOST COMMON WEB BUILDING SPIDERS IN WAREHOUSES

• TWO MOST COMMON ENCOUNTERED SPECIES ARE THE LONG BODIED AND SHORT BODIED CELLAR SPIDERS

• NEVER CLEAN OR REMOVE THEIR WEBS

• LONG BODIED HAS 8 EYES AND SHORT BODIED HAS 6 EYES

CELLAR SPIDER EXAMPLES

ORB WEARVER

• SPIN NEATLY ARRANGED FLAT ORB WEBS

• FEMALES SPIN WEB EACH EVENING AROUND DUSK

• CONSUMES WEB EACH MORNING EXCEPT FOR A FEW STRANDS

• BODIES MAY BE AS LARGE AS 25 MM IN SOME SPECIES

EXAMPLES OF ORB WEAVERS

COBWEB SPIDERS

• ALSO CALLED COMBFOOTED SPIDERS FOR COMB-LIKE ROW OF BRISTLES ON TARSI OF THE 4TH PAIR OF LEGS

• INCLUDES WIDOW SPIDERS, FALSE BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS, AND A HUGE NUMBER OF OTHER SPECIES

• WEBS ARE IRREGULAR SHAPED

COBWEB SPIDER EXAMPLES

SPIDERS OF MEDICAL IMPORTANCE

• WIDOW SPIDERS

• RECLUSE SPIDERS

• HOBO SPIDERS

• YELLOW SAC SPIDERS

WIDOW SPIDERS

• SOUTHERN BLACK WIDOW

• NORTHERN BLACK WIDOW

• BROWN WIDOW

• RED WIDOW

WIDOWS

WIDOW BITES

• INITIAL BITE OFTEN UNNOTICED OR FEEL LIKE PIN PRICK

• INITIAL PAIN (IF ANY) FOLLOWED BY DULL, NUMBING PAIN IN AFFECTED EXTREMITY AND BY PAIN AND CRAMPS IN ONE OF SEVERAL LARGE MUSCLE MASSES-PARTICULARLY THE ABDOMEN

• SWEATING, WEAKNESS, PAIN IN LYMPH NODES, LEG CRAMPS, TREMORS, LOSS OF MUSCLE TONE AND VOMITING OCCUR

• IN SEVERE CASES BREATHING DIFFICULTY, HEART IRREGULARITIES, AND DEATH

• BROWN WIDOW BITES VERY MUCH LESS SEVERE THAN OTHER WIDOWS

RECLUSE SPIDERS

• 13 KNOWN RECLUSE SPECIES IN U.S.

• ONLY LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER TWO SPECIES IN OUR AREA THE BROWN RECLUSE AND MEDITERRANEAN RECLUSE

• PROPENSITY TO HIDE IN HOUSEHOLD GOODS, FURNISHINGS, ETC. CAUSE INTERACTION WITH HUMANS

RECLUSE SPIDERS

RECLUSE BITES

• SYMPTOMS ARE GENERALLY LOCALIZED TO BITE SITE

• INCLUDE PAINLESS TO SLIGHT STINGING BITE FOLLOWED BY BURNING SENSATION LASTING FROM 30 TO 60 MINS

• DURING NEXT 1 TO 8 HOURS REDDENED AREA ENLARGES AND PUS FILLED BLISTER FORMS AT CENTER

• WITHIN 12 TO 24 HOURS SYSTEMIC REACTION INCLUDING FEVER, MALAISE, STOMACH CRAMPS, NAUSEA, & VOMITING

• VENOM USUALLY KILLS THE AFFECTED TISSUE AND CAUSES SKIN LOSS AND DEATH OF UNDERLYING TISSUE FOLLOWED BY ULCERATION AND OPEN SORE. IF IT GETS THIS BAD SURGERY MAY BE NEEDED.

HOBO SPIDER

• ALSO CALLED AGGRESSIVE HOUSE SPIDER

• FUNNEL WEB SPIDER

• NOT NATIVE TO GEORGIA BUT SOMETIMES SHIPPED IN FROM NORTHWEST ACCIDENTALLY

• HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED BY AVERAGE PEST CONTROL TECHNICIAN

HOBO SPIDER

HOBO BITE

• VERY SIMILAR TO BROWN RECLUSE

• SOMETIMES, RED MARK AND MILD PAIN

• OFTEN, HOWEVER, WITHIN 15 TO 36 HOURS THE BITE BLISTERS AND FILLS WITH PUS. BLISTER BREAKS WITHIN NEXT 24 HOURS LEAVING AN OPEN SORE OR ULCERATION THAT TAKES 7 TO 10 DAYS TO SEVERAL MONTHS TO HEAL. VENOM MAY KILL SURROUNDING AND UNDERLYING TISSUE

• SYSTEMIC ILLNESS OCCURS IN ABOUT HALF OF ALL BITES INCLUDING MUSCULAR WEAKNESS, DIZZINESS, CONFUSION, VISUAL DISTURBANCES, SWEATING, NAUSEA, SEVERE HEADACHE AND JOINT PAIN

SAC SPIDERS

• YELLOW SPIDERS THAT NORMALLY SPIN SILKEN RETREATS ON LEAVES OF VEGETATION

• INDOORS THEY MAY SPIN THEIR RETREATS BEHIND PICTURES, BASEBOARDS, CEILING TILES, AND SIMILAR LOCATIONS

• PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST SPIDER BITES IN THE U.S. AND CANADA

YELLOW SAC SPIDER

SAC SPIDER BITE

• RARELY RESULT IN MORE THAN LOCALIZED REDNEDD AND A BURNING SENSATION

• RASH AND BLISTERING MAY FOLLOW

• SHALLOW NECROTIC ULCER MAY FORM ON FIRST DAY OF BITE

• REDNESS AND ITCHING USUALLY DISAPPEAR AFTER 3 TO 4 DAYS

• BITE USUALLY HEALS IN 10 TO 14 DAYS

SPIDER MANAGEMENT

• STEP 1: INSPECT AND IDENTIFY

• STEP 2: SANITATION

• STEP 3: EXCLUSION

• STEP 4: TREATMENT

• STEP 5: MONITORING

IDENTIFICATION

• IN ORDER TO CONTROL ANY PEST, INCLUDING SPIDERS, IDENTIFICATION IS THE FIRST STEP

• WHEN DEALING WITH SPIDERS THE MOST DIFFICULT STEP WILL MOST LIKELY TO BE IDENTIFICATION

• UNTIL IDENTIFICATION IS MADE, IT WILL LIKELY BE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE HARBORAGE AND CONDUCIVE CONDITIONS

• INSTRUCTING CUSTOMER TO COLLECT A SPECIMEN CAN BE INVALUABLE

• GLUE TRAPS CAN ALSO BE OF GREAT HELP

INSPECTION FOR WEB BUILDING SPIDERS

• FLASHLIGHT INSPECTIONS ARE THE BEST WAY TO FIND WHERE SPIDERS ARE LIVING

• WEB BUILDING SPIDERS ARE EASIEST TO FIND AS THEY ARE USUALLY CONFINED TO THOSE WEBS

• WHERE TO LOOK: UNDER/BEHIND FURNITURE, CORNERS OF WALLS, CORNERS AT FLOOR TO WALL JUNCTURE, CORNERS AT WALL TO CEILING JUNCTURE, CLOSET CORNERS, BEHIND TOILETS, CORNERS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) OF WINDOWS, IN AND AROUND CABINETS, IN CRAWL SPACES, IN ATTICS, IN BASEMENTS…MAKE SURE TO WEAR GLOVES WHEN INSPECTING FOR WIDOWS…BEHIND GUTTERS, AROUND DECK, PORCH, AND STAIR RAILINGS, AROUND LIGHT FIXTURES, AND DEBRIS PILES

INSPECTING FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE HUNTING SPIDERS

• WHEN DEALING WITH JUMPING SPIDERS, THE USUAL PLACE TO FIND THEM INSIDE IS ON WINDOW SILLS; OUTSIDE THEY WILL BE FOUND HUNTING ON WALLS, DOORS, WINDOW SILLS, DECKING, FENCING, RAILINGS, ON TREES, SHRUBS, AND OTHER PLANTS

• WOLF SPIDERS CAN BE FOUND INSIDE RESTING IN CRACKS UNDER/ BEHIND BASEBOARDS AND BOTTOMS OF CLOSETS. IN GARAGES AND BASEMENTS THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE FOUND HIDING AMONG BOXES AND OTHER PILED UP ITEMS OR IN THE CRACKS AROUND GARAGE DOOR FRAME. OUTSIDE, WOLF SPIDERS PREFER TO HIDE UNDER ROCKS AND PAVERS, LANDSCAPE TIMBERS, IN LEAF LITTER, UNDER DECKS. IN CRAWLS THEY CAN BE FOUND RESTING OR CRAWLING ON THE WALLS

INSPECTING FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE HUNTING SPIDERS

• GRASS OR GROUND SPIDERS CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE YARD, BUT ARE OFTEN FOUND ALONG THE FOUNDATION WALL. INSIDE THEY ARE TYPICALLY FOUND ON WALLS, BASEBOARDS, CURTAINS, OR UNDER FURNITURE.

• RECLUSE SPIDERS CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE IN A BUILDING

SANITATION

• REMOVE ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SPIDER HARBORAGE AREAS

• REMOVE HARBORAGE SITES FOR OTHER INSECTS

• IN COMMERCIAL SETTINGS ADVISE LEAVING A STRIP OF BARE EARTH 24 INCHES WIDE AROUND BUILDING, REMOVING ANY DEBRIS OR LEAF LITTER, TRIM BRANCHES AWAY FROM BUILDING. ON THE INTERIOR STORE BOXES OFF THE FLOOR AND AWAY FROM WALLS TO LIMIT SPIDERS USING THEM FOR HARBORAGE

• IN RESIDENTIAL SETTING REMOVE WEBS. ALLOWS FOR MONITORING AND GIVES IMPRESSION OF CONTROL

SANITATION

• REMOVE LEAVES AND DEBRIS FROM AROUND FOUNDATION AND IN LAWN

• TRIM BRANCHES AWAY FROM HOME

• CLEAR CLUTTER FROM STORAGE AREAS SUCH AS GARAGES, BASEMENTS, SHEDS, CLOSETS

• IF CUSTOMER UNWILLING TO DO, CHARGE THEM AND DO IT

EXCLUSION

• SEAL UP CRACKS AND CREVICES

• SEAL UP HOLES

• MAKE SURE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND WINDOWS AND DOORS IS INTACT

• REPLACE SCREENS WITH 30 MESH SCREEN TO EXCLUDE WIDOW SPIDERLINGS

• REPLACE WHITE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WITH YELLOW LIGHTS TO REDUCE INSECTS ATTRACTED TO HOUSE

• MAKE SURE CRAWLSPACE AND ATTIC VENTILATION IS ADEQUATE (AGAIN TO REDUCE INSECTS

TREATMENT

• MULTIFACETED

• TREAT AREAS WHERE THEY LIVE AND REST

• FLUSHING WITH NON RESIDUALS AIDS IN INSPECTIONS

• DIRECT CONTACT BEST FOR WEB BUILDING SPIDERS

• SPOT TREATMENTS TO AREAS SPIDERS TYPICALLY LIVE, HIDE IN, OR HUNT IN

• PAINTING ON PESTICIDE IN AREAS SUCH AS AWNING, OR DOCK CEILING/EXTERIOR

TREATMENT OPTIONS

• CRACK AND CREVICE TREATMENTS

• DUSTING CRAWL SPACES AND POSSIBLY ATTICS

• VOID TREATMENTS

• PERIMETER TREATMENTS

• SPACE SPRAYS

• FUMIGATION

QUESTIONS?

• THANK YOU