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The most common east coast spiders

There are a lot of spiders in the world. New species are discovered all of the time, so just how many spiders exist can probably never be determined for sure. For the east coast of the United States, you’d think spiders would stay away from the people. There are large cities like Boston or New York, but even in high-rise buildings in those cities, you still find spiders. They have a way of adapting to any situation and are always present looking for a meal.

What types of spiders are the most common on the east coast? Ehrlich Pest Control specialists are experts in spider control and we know which ones you are most likely to find in this area of the U.S. We’ll take a look at the most common types of spiders.

If you have too many spiders and are concerned, then contact your local Ehrlich Pest Control office to discuss spider removal and spider prevention methods.

What are spiders?

The first thing to keep in mind is spiders are not insects. They’re arachnids, which makes them relatives of scorpionsticks and some other leggy pests. They have eight legs and multiple eyes on the front and top of their heads. A spider is usually segmented into a head and body. Some spiders build webs, some are solitary hunters, and all of them are carnivores which devour other insects and small animals.

The most common spiders on the east coast

The House Spider

common east coast spiders

If you’ve run across a roundish spider sitting in a tangled web, then you’ve probably run across the Common House Spider.  Dull brown in color with some patterns along their legs and back, these are some of the most common spiders across North America. They can grow up to an inch in diameter when you take their legs into account. Their colors and method of creating their webs in hidden, out of the way places allow them to be great hiders. Their body shape can frighten some people because they slightly resemble widow spiders.

Orb Weaver Spiders

common east coast spiders

You are more likely to run into this arachnid in your garden than in your home, although they sometimes find their way indoors. These spiders can create large, elaborately-woven webs between branches and parts of shrubbery and plants. Then, these spiders like to sit right in or near the middle of the web and wait for prey. Orb weavers are masters as weaving and their webs are engineering marvels in nature. Most orb weavers devour their webs and build a brand new one every single day. Some orb weavers also come in bright colors or with spiky ridges on their backs.

Wolf Spiders

common east coast spiders

Gray-brown in color and covered with the hair that gives them their name, these might just give you a jolt if you see them around your home. Wolf Spiders often get a bad rap, but are really quite gentle as long as you leave them alone. They are solitary hunters and have excellent eyesight. You can tell because they have two large round, black eyes in the middle of their face. Beneath those are four more and there are two more eyes on the top of their head. Some species make burrows that resemble tubes, but others lurk and hunt down their prey. These spiders do not really deserve their negative reputation and getting bitten by one is rare. However, in the event that you do, seek medical attention.

The Cellar Spider

Cellar spider

These spiders are one of a few arachnid candidates for the “daddy long leg” name. There are roughly 1,500 species of cellar spider, and they get their name from their tendency to build their webs and hunt for insects in basements and crawlspaces. These spiders have long, skinny, legs and look very fragile. They do have segmented bodies, but the abdomen is large and round, making it look like one segment instead of two. Cellar spiders make webs of irregular shapes and like to hang upside down in them waiting for their prey. They love dark, dank, areas to build these webs and find food, which is why they often end up in basements.

Spiders can indicate other pest problems

These are just some of the most common spiders on the East Coast of the United States. There are many more species out there. Each species likes different types of weather, so the southern east coast has different spiders from the northeastern portion.

In general spiders are more indicative of other pest problems than being a problem on their own. Too many spiders can leave dirty webs around a home or property, making it unattractive, but spiders are rarely dangerous to people. However, if you have a lot of spiders around your home or business, you may have other insects that these arachnids are finding easy to catch and feed upon.

Ehrlich Pest Control knows spiders

This why finding a lot of spiders around your home and business means you need experts to spot the type of spider and understand the underlying problem. Ehrlich Pest Control specialists can help you get rid of spiders in your home and around your yard. Our specialists will discuss the spider infestation and other pest problems and then offer removal and prevention solutions. Contact your local Ehrlich Pest Control office to get the ball rolling.

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