Identifying Dangerous vs. Harmless Spiders in Norwalk Homes

Finding a spider in the corner of the basement is enough to make anyone jump, but the truth is reassuring: nearly every spider you will run into around a Norwalk home is harmless. Knowing which is which takes most of the worry out of it.

Common Harmless Spiders

Most of the spiders that you see indoors in Norwalk, CT, are harmless. The common house spider spins tangled webs in corners and window frames. Cellar spiders, also called daddy long-legs, tend to be more common in basements and garages. There are also wolf spiders.

They’re large and fast and they tend to startle people, but beyond that, they’re not a threat. They don’t even build webs indoors.

You may also see jumping spiders on sunny sills and orb weavers stringing wheel-shaped webs across the porch. None of these will do you any harm. In fact, most are quietly eating other pests. In that way, they may even be doing you a favor.

Black Widows: The Most Common Dangerous Spider in Norwalk

Only two North American spiders have medically significant bites: the black widow and the brown recluse. The good news for Norwalk is that neither is common here. The brown recluse, in particular, is not established in Connecticut at all. The odd one may show up as a hitchhiker on boxes or luggage, but they are very uncommon.

Northern black widows are uncommon, but they do live in the region. Generally, they’re shy. They like to keep to undisturbed woodpiles, sheds, and stone walls. They would prefer to stay out of your living spaces.

Still, you should know how to recognize a black widow. They are glossy black with red hourglass marks on their undersides. If you think you’ve found one, don’t handle it. They can hurt you and if you are bitten by one, you will need to seek medical attention right away.

How to Tell Spiders Apart and What to Do 

Most identification comes down to where the spider is and what it is doing. Webs in the living areas of your home, spiders on the walls, and long-legged basement dwellers are the harmless everyday kind. Bites from common house spiders are rare and usually amount to little more than a small welt. If you are seeing spiders in numbers, it usually means there is a steady supply of other insects for them to eat. That means you’ll need to control other pests to control spiders.

If spiders are becoming a regular presence inside, a perimeter treatment can help. That will knock down much of their food source and make your home less attractive. Also part of the process will be treating cracks and entry points that allow them to come inside. So even those that still linger around your home will have a harder time getting inside. That’s a lot better than swatting them one at a time.

Get Help With Spiders in Norwalk

If spiders have worn out their welcome, Mosquito Squad Plus of Greenwich can help you get ahead of them. Call (203) 496-8636 or contact us online for a free pest control assessment and quote, backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. We also offer dedicated spider control as part of our pest packages.