Almost everyone has heard the nursery rhyme of Little Miss Muffet being scared away by a spider.
Well, if she lived in Pennsylvania, she may not have had anything to worry about! The most common spiders in our state are usually not harmful.
What do they look like?
Spiders are not insects but arachnids, putting them in the same category as scorpions, ticks, and mites.
You can tell the difference by their appearance: arachnids have 8 legs instead of 6, don’t have antennae or wings, and their bodies are split into 2 parts instead of 3.
Where are they located?
Spiders don’t like to be bothered, and so prefer to hang out in secluded spots like the basements, sheds, and attics.
Spiders also gravitate towards other bugs, as they’re a spider’s main food source. So sometimes, finding spiders in your home means that there are other critters wandering around.
There are 45,000 species of spiders around the world (wow!) but the majority of them are not common spiders here in Pennsylvania.
Below are 5 types of spiders you’re likely to come across.
House Spider
Sometimes known as the American house spider, these are the most frequently encountered spiders in Pennsylvania. Luckily, they’re also one of the least aggressive!
House spiders are usually shades of brown, tan, and grey, and about the size of a nickel. They can be found in damp places like basements and crawl spaces, as well as isolated spots like attics and in between walls.
Jumping Spider
Spiders? Cute? Well, once you see the small and fuzzy Jumping spider, you may be convinced! You can identify this species by considering their name: they’ll jump away when threatened.
Jumping spiders don’t create webs, and are active during the day.
Lawn/Grass Spider
Lawn spiders, also called grass spiders, aren’t really a threat to your household. Instead, they’re a nuisance that creates funnel-shaped webs all over your lawn.
These spiders are focused on capturing bugs in their web, and will probably leave you alone. The only time they would lash out would be if someone disturbed their web.
The bite of a lawn spider is almost never harmful, as their fangs are not even strong enough to break human skin.
You can prevent lawn spiders by regularly mowing the grass, maintaining shrubs, and trimming back overgrown areas.
Yellow Sac Spider
Yellow sac spiders, also known as long-legged sac spiders, are among the most common spiders in Pennsylvania to invade your home. They’re nocturnal, so you’re more likely to only see these tiny, light yellow/cream creatures at night.
During the day, yellow sac spiders retreat into little shelters, which are small, tent-like structures made of silk. Seeing their little hideouts set up in the corners of your home is one of the ways to identify an infestation.
Cellar Spider
Cellar spiders, frequently called daddy longlegs, are one of the best-known types of spiders in Pennsylvania.
Cellar spiders are quite distinct: their small, round bodies are surrounded by long, skinny legs. They’re usually a shade of brown or tan, and can be found in dark, damp places like basements, crawl spaces, or garages.
Cellar spiders aren’t very dangerous and can’t bite. If you don’t mind having one or two in the isolated areas of your home, they can actually be quite helpful in catching other bugs.
As a homeowner or business in Pennsylvania, you may not want spiders of any kind hanging around. We get it!
Here are some ways to help prevent spiders:
- Seal any visible cracks in your building or home.
- Cut down on the clutter in attics, basements, and sheds.
- Dust regularly to clear out webs.
If you’re past the point of prevention and instead need extermination, we’re your guys! We’ll identify what type of spiders are present in your home or business, then move forward with eliminating them.
