There are several species of spider around the Lake, and while most are harmless and even provide some benefit, others are dangerous and should only be left to pest control experts at Lake of the Ozarks to handle. The fall season weather will have these creepy crawlers looking for a safe dry and warm place to hang out for the coming winter months... and your home is looking like a pretty good target! Let's take a look at some of the spiders found around the Lake area and learn more about them!
Wolf SpiderSize: up to 1 inch not including the legs |
| Photo Credit: Mo. Dept. of Conservation |
The wolf spider is a spider that doesn't spin a web to catch it's prey! Wolf Spiders run down insects and other spiders at night, often darting through the grass or dirt. The bite of a Wolf Spider hurts, but is otherwise harmless. An interesting fact about wolf spider females is that they carry their young on their back. Once hatched, they stay with mom for weeks until the spiderlings are ready to go off on their own.
Common House SpiderSize: Length (not including legs): 1/8 to 3/8 inch (females); 1/8 inch (males) |
| Photo Credit: Mo. Dept. of Conservation |
Most commonly seen in webs attached to garage doors, in basements and barns, between window panes and walls, and behind open doors. This is a synanthropic species: it primarily lives near humans, in our human-built habitats, and it benefits from the association. Unlike many other spiders, common house spiders do not typically flee when a person approaches; this may be due in part to their poor vision. Common house spiders capture many types of insects, including several common household pests: mosquitoes, flies, wasps, multicolored Asian lady beetles, cockroaches, and more.
Black and Yellow Garden SpiderSize: up to 1 inch not counting legs |
| Photo Credit: Mo. Dept. of Conservation |
Garden Spiders have some of the most aggressive markings of any spider in Missouri, and they're almost completely harmless to humans. Usually found in gardens and near houses, the Garden Spider will weave a web nearly 2 feet at its widest to catch larger insects such as the grasshopper. These spiders breed one time, creating egg cases of up to 1,000 eggs each! When hatched, the new spiders will send silk into the air known as "ballooning" and float away to a new part of the garden.
Brown RecluseSize: 1/4 inch not including legs |
| Photo Credit: Mo. Dept. of Conservation |
This is a spider worth staying away from! The Brown Recluse is commonly found in homes across Missouri, and they love to hide in storage, rarely used drawers, and basements/attics. They tend to avoid human contact, (hence the recluse title) but due to how often we are cohabitants, bites do happen. They are almost never fatal but the venom is dangerous to humans and animals. If you are bitten by a Brown Recluse, seek medical attention immediately.
Black WidowSize: 3/8 inch not including legs |
| Photo Credit: Mo. Dept. of Conservation |
The most infamous spider on the list. The female Black Widow is easily recognized by the black body and red hourglass symbol on the abdomen, and can be found under flat rocks or logs all over the Lake of the Ozarks area. The important thing to remember about this species is that while dangerous, they tend to avoid human interaction unless provoked a lot. The venom of this spider can kill insects, and some smaller reptiles like lizards and small snakes as well. If you find yourself bitten by a Black Widow, seek medical attention immediately. Pain from the bite is usually delayed, but when it finally comes, it's accompanied by cramps, muscle tightness, nausea, headaches, swelling and sweating.
Spiders and HumansThe most important thing to remember about these spiders is that they all prefer to avoid human contact. If any of them are found in your yard, or inside the home,
Best Pest Control can easily remove them. Spiders can cause a lot of damage, if not on their own, then through people who will stop at nothing to eliminate them from the house!
Lake of the Ozark's best pest company can remove the spiders, and all of their food sources and outside habitats, with professionalism. Give us a call today at 573-348-1600!
THE LAKE'S MOST TRUSTED PEST CONTROL COMPANY
Visit our website:
573-348-1600 in Osage Beach
573-873-1118 in Sunrise Beach
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