A purple house in a residential area - Insect IQ pest control in Modesto CA

Spiders are found all over California, almost anywhere you look outside you can find a spider or their web. They are one of the most feared pests, causing many people to jump at the sight of one running across their floor. This knee-jerk reaction many people have when they see a spider may seem extreme, but some can be dangerous around your home. Although spiders play an important role in our ecosystem by keeping the insect population under control, they are often unwelcome guests in our homes. So, what are some common spiders in Central California?

Where Can You Find Spiders in Central California?

Central California is known for its mild winters and hot summers. This makes it an ideal place to live for a variety of wildlife, including spiders. Most spiders are known for building their sticky webs to entrap their prey. You can often find webs around the exterior of your house or quiet corners inside your home.

Some spiders, like the wolf spider, burrow into the ground; others like to hide under leaves or in your garden, scouting out the perfect spot to weave a web. These spiders often enter your home looking for food, water, or shelter. Finding spiders in your home may also be a sign of other pest infestations. Inside your home, spiders will often search out quiet areas like the inside of closets, in your clutter, garage, basement, or other dark spaces.

4 Common Spiders in Central California

Most spiders you will find in your home are harmless and not a reason for concern, others have nasty bites that can send you to the hospital. Being able to identify what type of spider you have around your home will keep both you and your family safe. Here are four of the most common spiders you might encounter in Central California:

1. Black Widow

  • black widow, a common spider in central california, tends to her eggs1.5 inches long.
  • Black body with distinctive red hourglass shape on the abdomen.
  • Commonly eats smaller insects but are known to eat small lizards or snakes.
  • Venom is 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom.
  • Likes to hide in cluttered areas.
  • Bites may cause nausea, pain in the abdomen and back, muscle aches, sweating, and paralysis of the diaphragm.
  • Bites rarely cause death.

2. Brown Recluse

  • brown recluse spiders are very common outdoors -- and insideAlso known as fiddleback or violin spiders.
  • 0.25 to 0.5 inch long body.
  • Light to medium brown in color with a violin-shaped marking on the abdomen.
  • Has 6 eyes of equal size arranged in a semicircle of 3 pairs.
  • Hairy, velvety appearance.
  • Likes to hide in dead tree bark, under rocks, in crevices, or quiet areas of homes.
  • Bites may cause itching, chills, fever nausea or necrotic lesions.

3. Sac Spider

  • 0.25 to 0.5 inch long body
  • Coloring can range from white to yellow with a dark stripe on the abdomen.
  • Often found on fruit.
  • Weave a silk cocoon-like web during the winter.
  • Usually found in gardens but will come indoors during the winter.
  • Bites may cause stinging, redness, swelling or blisters.

4. Wolf Spider

  • Also known as ground or hunting spiders.
  • a wolf spider in central california hunts for smaller bugs0.25 to 1 inch long body.
  • Tan-to-dark-brown body with dark stripes.
  • Chase prey instead of building webs
  • Has 4 small eyes with 2 larger eyes.
  • Builds tubular nests in the ground.
  • Often found in leaves, basements and garages,
  • Bites are harmless to humans.

How to Keep Common Spiders Out of Your Home

The best way to get rid of spiders in your home is to stop them from entering. Spiders often get into your home through small cracks or holes in the exterior of your home. Inspect the exterior of your home regularly and seal any cracks or holes you mind.

Spiders are also known to hitch a ride into your home on firewood, boxes, furniture or other items brought in from outside. To ensure you are not giving spiders a lift into your home, inspect objects that have been sitting outside before bringing them into your home.

Sometimes in spite of your best efforts, spiders seem to keep entering your home. If you have spiders in your home that just do not seem to go away or you find a venomous spider, like a black widow, it might be time to call in a professional. An exterminator will not only be able to rid your home of spiders, they will also devise a plan to keep them out.

The Best Way to Get Rid of Spiders? An Experienced Home Exterminator

Although many spiders you may find around your home are harmless, some can be dangerous to have around your family and may even send you to the emergency room. If you have spiders in or around your home, call the experts at Insect IQ today. Our experienced spider exterminators will be able to eliminate spiders from your home and create a plan to keep them away for good. Call us today for a free quote!

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Common Spiders in Central California Serving Modesto and Tracy, CA

Atwater | Ceres | Crows Landing | Delhi | Denair | Empire | Escalon | Farmington | Galt | Gustine | Hickman | Hilmar | Hughson | Keyes | La Grange | Lathrop | Lodi | Los Banos | Manteca | Merced | Modesto | Newman | Oakdale | Patterson | Ripon | Riverbank | Salida | Stockton | Tracy | Turlock | Waterford | Westley | Woodbridge