The black and yellow garden spider, the barn spider, grass spiders, wolf spiders, crab spiders, jumping spiders…if you’ve spent any time living in Wisconsin (especially small towns and rural countryside), you’re likely to be familiar with at least a few types of arachnids local to the northern United States.
But even if you’re a Wisconsin resident, there’s no guarantee you know how to identify these creepy crawlies, recognize which ones are venomous, or the precautions you should take to make your home resistant to their invasion.
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In this primer from Wil-Kil Pest Control, we’ll be your guide on identifying common spiders in the area, and discuss how Wisconsin spider control can save the day if you’re suffering from a troublesome infestation.
Common Wisconsin Spiders
We can’t possibly cover every spider native to Wisconsin (there are quite a few!) but we’ll do our best to cover the most common Wisconsin spiders likely to cross your path.
The Jumping Spider
The Wisconsin jumping spider is a species of spider that has a length ranging from 8 to 15 millimeters, and features a black body with white spots. It is typically found in woodlands, fields and gardens.
As its name implies, this species is an excellent jumper that uses its powerful back legs to pounce on unsuspecting prey. The Wisconsin jumping spider also has keen eyesight which allows it to identify potential food sources from long distances.
While these spiders may seem intimidating due to their size and appearance, they are not considered venomous or dangerous to humans. In fact, they typically spend most of their time alone in search of food rather than interacting with other organisms or defending themselves against predators.
The Wolf Spider
The Wisconsin wolf spider is a large, robust arachnid that can reach up to 2 inches in body length and 3 inches in leg span. With its pronounced orange-brown coloration and striped legs, the Wisconsin Wolf Spider can be easily identified as it scurries around on the ground or hides among vegetation.
The wolf spider eats insects like grasshoppers and other spiders, but will also feed on small vertebrates such as lizards or frogs if they come across them. Although this species was once thought to be venomous, recent studies indicate that Wisconsin wolf spiders are not dangerous to most humans (barring allergic reactions). That being said, their bites are quite painful, so you should still try to avoid them.
The Brown Recluse Spider
Wisconsin’s brown recluse spider, also known as the violin spider or the fiddleback spider, can be identified by its distinctive dark brown coloration with a violin-shaped mark on its back. While it is one of the most infamous spiders, it’s not particularly aggressive and would rather flee than bite humans.
However, when threatened, this species can deliver one of the most dangerous spider bites in Wisconsin, as their venom can cause skin necrosis or tissue death around the wound site. In severe cases, victims may experience fever, chills and other systemic symptoms such as nausea and muscle pain. Nonetheless, fatalities from brown recluse bites are rare due to treatments made available by modern medicine.
Wisconsin Spider Control
Wil-Kil Pest Control recommends preventing spider invasion by sealing up any cracks or holes in your doors, window frames, and other points of entry into your home. This is usually accomplished with caulk or a similar material. You’ll also benefit from installing screens, tidying up clutter spiders could hide in, or removing plants they might call home.
If none of that works, don’t worry. Wil-Kil understands how frustrating these pests can be, and has the resources to crack down on your spider infestation. Reach out to us at 800-236-8735 where one of our masterful experts can offer you a quote about how we can make your eight-legged issue go away.