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There are two types of spiders - ones that are creepy but not dangerous, and ones that are creepy and dangerous. Telling the difference between these two types is not always easy. For this reason, we often consider all spiders as dangerous and do our best to avoid them. To help you understand your risk, we will be talking about one dangerous-looking spider today, the hobo spider. Here is everything you should know about this eight-legged pest and what to do about them around your West Palm Beach home and property.
What Do Hobo Spiders Look Like?
The hobo spider is a light to medium brown, 1 to 1¾ inch-long pest with eight legs, thin fur on its body, and a dark stripe that runs down the center of either side of its back. This pest’s body and abdomen are larger than other area species. Another thing that sets hobo spiders apart is hunting from the ground rather than making webs to catch their prey. You are most likely to encounter one of these pests in a storage area, laundry room, or other secluded section of your home.
Do Hobo Spiders Have Venom?
All spiders are venomous. The hobo spider is no exception. This large spider uses its front fangs to inject venom into its victims. To insects, this venom acts as a paralysis agent which blocks glutamate receptors. In short, it stops bugs in their tracks and makes them easier to feed on. Depending on how strong a spider’s venom is, it can also have a harmful effect on larger creatures.
The Threat Hobo Spiders Pose
There has been much debate on the threat level of hobo spiders. Some people think their venom can produce a necrotic lesion, in the same way, brown recluse spiders do. With our research and experience, however, we would argue that this is far from true. We suspect that people are misidentifying brown recluses as hobo spiders, as they do share many features in common.
In reality, a hobo spider’s bite causes a small amount of pain and redness around the affected area. In addition to this, hobo spiders rarely bite and will only do so if they feel threatened. As long as you don’t trap one of these pests, this shouldn’t be a problem for you.
Some Strategies To Prevent Hobo Spiders
Although hobo spiders are not life-threatening, they are still a pest. Here are some prevention tips to keep hobo spiders and the other bugs they invade to hunt out of your living areas:
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Address holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation by using a caulking gun to fill them in.
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Make sure all of your home’s weatherstripping, door sweeps, and screens are in good condition.
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Keep doors and windows closed when they are not in use.
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Turn off exterior lights after it gets dark each night.
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Keep your living areas clean as tidy.
A More Effective Approach To Spider Control
Do-it-yourself (DIY) spider prevention will only get you so far. If you want a guaranteed solution to your home’s pest problems, you need a pest professional. For services you can trust that will not break your bank account, let Empire Pest Defense lend you a helping hand. Our team works hard every day to ensure our West Palm Beach community is protected against annoying, dangerous, and destructive pests.
Give our team a call not to discuss your options with our friendly service technicians. They will walk you through your residential or commercial pest control options and help you schedule an inspection for your home and property.