Have you ever gone into the crawlspace under your home and come face to face with a scary black spider? Have you ever opened a box in your attic and had a hairless, brown spider disappear into the dark recesses between your belongings? If you live in South Carolina, it isn't uncommon to find spiders in many secluded places, or underneath rocks in the backyard. These spiders prefer seclusion. But, this is not always a good thing. This attraction to still, quiet locations makes poisonous spiders pop up in the most unexpected places. Here are three spiders you may run into on your South Carolina property.
Brown Recluse
This spider is about the size of a quarter, brown, mostly hairless, with a dark brown violin mark on its back. It is not interested in attacking humans but will bite if it feels threatened. The venom of the brown recluse is considered medically important and may cause necrosis of the flesh. Seek medical attention if you are bitten.
Black Widow
You're not likely to mistake a black widow for another spider. Its shiny black skin and red hourglass mark are distinct. While more likely to run away from you, a black widow can and will bite if startled or threatened. It has a venom that can cause significant pain in the area of the bite wound, and severe symptoms that can result in death. Most black widow bites are not life-threatening unless the victim has a pre-existing medical condition or an allergic reaction to the venom, but it is a good idea to seek medical attention.
Hobo Spider
The hobo spider is light to medium brown and has a dark stripe down its center on either side of its lighter mid-line stripes. You should be able to identify it by its furry appearance and somewhat large size. This spider can be as much as 1 and 3/4 inches in diameter. This includes its leg span. While there is some debate among scientists as to how toxic this spider is, some believe it has a venom that causes necrosis. Certainly, a bite from a hobo spider can take a while to heal.
If you need assistance identifying spiders on your property, or you'd like to schedule pest service to keep spiders and other threatening pests out of your home, reach out to us. The pest specialists here at Aiken Pest Control can help you get those pests under control with industry-leading pest management solutions that are customized, quarterly, and comprehensive. Best of all, your satisfaction is guaranteed.