Signs of a Spider Infestation In Baxter Tennessee
Black Widow Spider
Black Widow
· A common venomous spider in the United States.
· Female black widows are much more dangerous than their relatively harmless male counterparts.
· A female black widow’s body is about one-half inch long with a trademark red hourglass on the underside of the belly. The rest of the body and the legs are a shiny black color.
· Drop-for-drop, a female black widow’s venom is thought to be 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom, although, in most cases, not enough of the spider’s venom is released to be fatal.
· Unlike the brown recluse’s venom, a black widow’s poison affects the nervous system, not the tissue.
· Although most spiders aren’t as dangerous as the brown recluse or black widow, it’s best not to wait too long before seeking professional help if you have a spider infestation.
Brown Recluse
· Around 3000 species of spiders live in North America – probably not that many in your area. Most of these are nontoxic to humans, like the yellow sac spider and domestic house spider. However, there are a couple spiders you need to look out for:
· Most common in the southern states, this spider has a potentially lethal bite.
· Its venom is necrotic, meaning it kills living tissue.
· To identify a brown recluse, look for a sandy brown spider with a dark, violin shaped mark on its body.
· This spider will likely be hiding in a dark, secluded area — hence its name.
The most common spiders we see in Middle Tennessee homes include:
House spiders
Wolf spiders
Cellar spiders
Orb weavers
Jumping spiders
Brown Recluse spiders
Southern Black Widow spiders
Brown Recluses and Black Widows are the two medically significant species requiring immediate attention
Yes. Tennessee is one of the primary states where Brown Recluse spiders thrive.
They prefer:
Dark, undisturbed areas
Closets
Attics
Basements
Cardboard boxes
Behind furniture
Storage rooms
They often hide rather than roam, making infestations grow unnoticed.
Brown Recluse spiders have:
A distinct violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax
Six eyes arranged in pairs (most spiders have eight)
Light brown to tan bodies
Long, thin legs
Smooth, unhairy appearance
Their bite can cause serious skin reactions that require medical attention.
