If you live in Florida, you’re probably no stranger to sharing your home with a few uninvited, eight-legged guests. Florida’s warm, humid climate makes it a haven for a diverse range of spider species, many of which find their way into our homes.
While the thought of spiders crawling around might make your skin crawl, it’s important to remember that they’re not all bad. Spiders are natural pest controllers, happily feasting on flies, roaches, and mosquitoes. However, some Florida spiders pack a venomous bite, making it important to know which ones are harmless and which ones to avoid.
This article will help you identify common Florida spiders you might find in your house, understand the potential dangers they pose, and implement effective strategies for keeping their populations under control.
Common Florida Spiders: Identification and Characteristics
Florida’s warm, humid climate is perfect for all kinds of creepy-crawlies, including spiders. While most of the spiders you’ll find in your house are harmless, some can bite or even pose a danger to your health. Here’s a rundown of some of the Sunshine State’s most common spiders:
Venomous Spiders
It’s good to know how to identify these spiders, but remember that bites are rare. Spiders generally only bite if they feel threatened.
- Brown Recluse Spider: Look for a violin-shaped marking on its cephalothorax (the area where the legs attach). A bite from a brown recluse can cause serious tissue damage. They like dark, out-of-the-way places.
- Black Widow Spider: Easy to spot with its shiny black body and red hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen. Their venom is potent and can cause severe muscle pain, cramps, and other symptoms. They build messy webs in sheltered spots.
- Brown Widow Spider: Similar to the black widow, but brown with an orange or yellow hourglass. Their venom is less potent than a black widow’s. They also build messy webs in sheltered locations.
Non-Venomous (But Potentially Irritating) Spiders
- Huntsman Spider: These are BIG — females can be anywhere from 3 to 6 inches across — with long legs and a brown color. They aren’t venomous, but they can deliver a painful bite if they feel threatened. They’re fast-moving hunters and often found inside.
- Sac Spiders: Pale yellow or beige with an elongated body. They can bite, and they’re mostly active at night. They build silken tubes or sacs in protected areas.
Harmless Spiders
These spiders are generally considered beneficial because they eat other insects.
- Jumping Spiders: Small with compact bodies, excellent eyesight, and the ability to jump. They’re harmless and non-aggressive. You’ll often see them hunting during the day.
- Cellar Spiders: These have long, skinny legs and a small body. They’re harmless and actually helpful because they eat other insects. They build loose, messy webs in dark, damp places.
What other spiders might I find in my Florida house?
Besides the dangerous spiders, several other types of spiders are common in Florida homes. While these spiders aren’t likely to cause serious harm, it’s still good to know what they look like.
Wolf Spiders
- What they look like: Big and hairy, like small tarantulas.
- Where they live: Usually outside, but they sometimes wander inside looking for food or a safe place to hide.
- Are they dangerous? They usually leave people alone, but they can bite if you bother them. The bite can hurt.
American House Spider
- What they look like: Brown with a mottled pattern. They spin messy, irregular webs.
- Where they live: All over the house, especially in corners and out-of-the-way places.
- Are they dangerous? No. They’re helpful because they eat insects.
Southern House Spider
- What they look like: Similar to American house spiders, but some have a violin-shaped mark on their backs.
- Where they live: They like dark, quiet spots.
- Are they dangerous? People often mix them up with brown recluse spiders, so be extra careful when you’re trying to figure out what kind of spider you’re looking at.
Daddy Long Legs (Harvestmen)
- What they look like: They have super long, skinny legs and small, oval-shaped bodies.
- Where they live: Damp places like basements and crawl spaces.
- Are they dangerous? Nope. They eat dead stuff and tiny bugs.
Why you might want spiders in your house
Okay, so maybe you don’t love the idea of sharing your home with spiders. But before you reach for the spray, consider this: spiders can actually be helpful.
Think of them as tiny, eight-legged exterminators. They feast on common household pests like flies, mosquitoes, roaches, and moths, keeping those populations in check. By preying on insects and other arthropods, spiders help maintain the ecological balance inside your home. This natural pest control can reduce or eliminate the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harmful to you, your pets, and the environment. So, a few spiders might be a good thing!
Spider control and prevention in Florida homes
Nobody wants spiders crawling around inside their house. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to keep spiders out, or to get rid of them if they’ve already made their way inside.
Prevention strategies
- Seal entry points. Check your home’s foundation and seal up any cracks or holes you find in the walls, around pipes, or anywhere else a spider might be able to sneak in.
- Remove harborage. Clear away any clutter, debris, and vegetation around the foundation of your home. Spiders love to hide in piles of wood, stacks of old flowerpots, and overgrown bushes.
- Maintain cleanliness. Vacuum and dust regularly to remove spider webs, egg sacs, and the insects that spiders feed on.
- Proper landscaping. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed away from the house. Spiders can use branches as bridges to get inside.
Effective control methods
- Remove webs and egg sacs. When you see spider webs, knock them down. If you find any egg sacs (they look like little cotton balls), get rid of those, too. This will help keep the spider population down.
- Insecticides. Use insecticides carefully and only as a targeted treatment for specific spider infestations. Always follow the label instructions exactly.
- Professional pest control. If you have a severe or persistent spider infestation, it might be time to call in the pros. A professional pest control service can assess the situation and develop a plan to get rid of the spiders for good.
Spider Bites: Identification, Symptoms, and Treatment
Even if you’re sharing your home with spiders, it’s rare that they’ll bite. However, it’s still a good idea to know how to identify spider bites, what the symptoms are, and how to treat them.
Identifying Spider Bites
Most spider bites look like small red bumps, with some swelling and itching. Bites from venomous spiders, though, can cause more severe symptoms, like pain, blisters, and damage to the tissue around the bite.
It can be tricky to tell a spider bite from other insect bites or skin irritations. That’s why it’s important to watch for specific signs and symptoms associated with venomous spider bites, so you know whether to call your doctor.
Symptoms of Venomous Spider Bites
Here’s what to look for if you think you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider:
Brown Recluse Bites
You may not feel the bite at first, but within a few hours, symptoms can start to develop, including pain, redness, blistering, and necrosis (tissue death).
Black Widow Bites
The bite may hurt right away, followed by muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
Treatment Options
Here’s how to treat a spider bite:
First Aid
Wash the bite area with soap and water, put ice on it to reduce swelling, and elevate the area.
Medical Attention
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve been bitten by a venomous spider, especially if you’re having serious symptoms.
Over-the-Counter Remedies
Antihistamines and pain relievers can help with itching and discomfort from minor spider bites.
In Conclusion
Identifying the spiders you find in your Florida home and understanding which ones could be dangerous is important. Remember, though, that most spiders are beneficial because they control other pests and help keep our ecosystem in balance.
You can take simple steps to reduce the number of spiders in your house, like sealing cracks and crevices, clearing away webs and debris, and keeping your home clean. If you do get bitten by a venomous spider like a brown recluse or black widow, seek medical attention right away.
With a little knowledge and effort, you can co-exist peacefully with spiders while protecting your home and family.