Most people have a natural fear of spiders and are not comfortable having them around. If you live in Texas, you live with sac spiders. More than 200 yellow-sac spider species have been documented within the United States and Canada, and all of the most dangerous species are abundant within Texas. Sac spiders are known for biting people and will even bite repeatedly as they crawl across the skin. The bite can be quite painful and will burn. The burn will last for an hour or more, then a rash or blister will form in the next ten hours or so. The bite can cause edema, erythema and severe itching. More severe symptoms can include fever, muscle cramps, malaise and nausea. Two sac spiders that can be found in Texas are the yellow and the broad-faced.
Broad-Faced & Yellow Sac Spider Identification
Sac spiders are about ¼ of an inch long and have eight eyes arranged in two rows. Yellow sac spiders are light yellow to cream in color with dark brown jaws, tips of the tarsi, and palps. They have a darker colored dorsal stripe running down the abdomen. Broad-faced sac spiders are reddish-brown in color and covered with what appear to be tiny punctures. Their abdomen is pale yellow to light gray with a slightly darker dorsal strip. Their front legs are thicker and darker and become thinner and lighter towards the back. Sac spiders do not create webs. They create flat silk tubes and sacs that they will spend the day in. They are active hunters that will hunt their prey rather than capturing it in a web. They are active at night which is when bites to humans become more common as they can get trapped between a person’s skin and sheets, shoes, clothing, etc.
Are Sac Spiders Harmful?
When a yellow sac spider bites you, they inject a venom that has a toxic effect on cells and can be poisonous to nerve tissue. The bite usually causes pain and discomfort lasting up to two hours. Many people experience redness, swelling, and burning, and may even experience headaches, nausea, and vomiting. The broad-faced sac spider has been reported to produce a painful bite, with records of severe secondary infection associated with the bites. It has been suggested that these infections may result from the spider’s propensity for feeding on dead and decaying arthropods.
How Do You Prevent & Get Rid of Sac Spiders
Like most other spiders, sac spider would rather live without people. They usually wander into homes through openings or will follow infestations into a home. They can be found inside and outside your home. Inside, they will be found in the corners of walls and ceilings. You can reduce the population of these spiders on your property by reducing the places they will live. They like organic debris, lawn clutter, piles of wood, overgrowth and anything they can hide under or in. Keep your yard neat and trimmed to keep them and other pests away. Keep your home neat and tidy to reduce hiding spots and to see signs of spiders more easily. Seal all points of entry and repair or replace torn screens. Turn your lights off or replace with yellow bulbs, because while spiders aren’t attracted to light, the pests they hunt are. Use glue traps and natural insecticides, just make sure to keep them away from children and pets. If you find silk sacs, remove them with a vacuum cleaner. Just be sure to take the bag outside when you’re all done.
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If your prevention methods have failed and you find yourself living with spiders, get in touch with professional pest control. Let the pros at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control help so you can enjoy a pest-free home. Give us a call today!
