Poisonous Spiders in Oklahoma

Here in Oklahoma, whenever hot temperatures follow a lot of rain, you might notice an abundance of spiders in your home. That’s because wet and mild climates generally increase insect populations, meaning spiders can quickly increase their numbers by gorging on them. Then when the temperatures rise and the sun starts baking the ground, spiders enter our homes seeking a cool refuge.

While the majority of spiders in Oklahoma aren’t dangerous to people, that doesn’t mean they’re welcome in people’s homes. If you’re dealing with a few too many spiders, the team at Arrow Exterminators, Inc. is ready to help.

Are Spiders Poisonous or Venomous?

Spiders are venomous, not poisonous. The difference is that venomous creatures harm you by biting, and poisonous creatures harm you when ingested. This may seem like a small distinction, but it’s important to understand. Spiders cannot harm you unless they bite you, and most of them will not cause serious harm even if they do bite you. Spiders are afraid of people and will only bite if threatened.

Are There Venomous Spiders in Broken Arrow OK?

Yes; in fact, just about every spider is venomous to some degree. They use their venom to paralyze and kill their prey. However, out of the 33 spider species found in Oklahoma, only two are considered dangerous to people. These are the brown recluse and the black widow. Both of these spiders have venom strong enough to harm or even kill a human, but most cases are not fatal. Even so, if you notice one of these spiders in your home, call Arrow Exterminators, Inc. for spider control as soon as possible.

Other, less-dangerous spiders found in Oklahoma include tarantulas, jumping spiders, wolf spiders, and garden spiders. Any of these spiders may bite, but unless you are allergic to them, they are unlikely to harm you.

The Brown Recluse Spider

You may have heard this spider be called a “fiddleback” due to the violin-shaped marking on its back. They are light tan to dark brown in color, and have long legs covered in short hairs. They are usually seen during the night when they come out for food; this makes it easier for them to hide from people. As their name implies, these spiders are not aggressive. During the day, they hide in places like closets, cabinets, basements, attics, and under furniture – anywhere they’re unlikely to be disturbed.

Brown recluse spider bite reactions vary from person to person. If you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse spider, you may not notice for hours, or you may experience immediate symptoms. Their venom is cytotoxic, meaning it kills living tissue and makes it slower to grow back. This means that regardless of severity, brown recluse bites can take a long time – up to six to eight weeks – to heal. In certain cases, skin grafts may be necessary to repair tissue damage. If you think you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse, seek medical attention immediately.

The Black Widow Spider

Female black widow spiders are completely black except for the famous red hourglass on their abdomens. The male black widow spider is similar in shape to the female but is brown-colored and usually stays hidden in its web.

Black widow spiders are infamous for their deadly bite – but did you know that death from their bites is actually fairly rare? In fact, the US hasn’t recorded a death from this spider since 1983. Antivenom is readily available, and with prompt medical attention, this bite is very survivable.

The black widow spider’s bite is neurotoxic, meaning it damages the nervous system. This means the bite area itself generally doesn’t swell or develop many visible symptoms. In the aftermath of the bite, though, you may notice pain near the bite area, abdominal pain, muscle aches and cramps, vomiting, sweating, fever, and headache. The venom is most dangerous to small children, elderly people, immunocompromised people, and animals.

Keep Spiders Out of Your Home With Arrow Exterminators, Inc.

Even if venomous spiders aren’t as dangerous as many people think, nobody wants to find one in their home. Even non-venomous spiders can be unpleasant roommates and can become a real nuisance. Regardless of the type of spider you’re dealing with, Arrow Exterminators, Inc. is ready to put our 70 years of experience in spider control to work.

Give us a call to get started with a free quote!