UGA Cooperative Extension

Bryan County Extension
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Spiders - Friend or Foe

"Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey; along came a spider, and sat down beside her. Miss Muffet just grinned and said "Oh, what a friend."

You know, some people think that spiders are little scary things scurrying about ready to bite anyone that invades their territory. Nothing could be further from the truth. Spiders are considered mankind's friend because they help to keep the insect population in check.

(In this article I will be referring to spiders as insects, but they are really arachnids and not insects.)

Humans use spiders' silk to make thread lines for microscopes, telescopes and other scientific instruments. The spider is considered one of the top ten most beneficial insects to gardeners and major crop producers. When searching cotton for insects, the spider is one of the main beneficial insects farmers look for.

Now, this article is not to be confused with the idea that all spiders are our friends. There are two kinds of spiders that are poisonous to humans. Their bites can cause pain and major medical problems.

1. The Brown Recluse spider is a yellowish-tan to dark brown spider about the size of a quarter. The cephalothorax (head united with thorax) has a brown violin-shaped mark on the upper side. It is a very common looking spider. The bite of a brown recluse may be very painful. Within 36 hours after being bitten, you may feel restless, have fever, chills, nausea, weakness and joint pain. A bulls-eye, shaped blister or wound may appear. There are approximately 2,500 reports of Brown Recluse spider bites per year in the U.S.

2. The Black Widow females are jet black with a distinct, red, hourglass shape on the underside of the abdomen and are about one-half inch long. Black Widow males are harmless. Within one hour after a Black Widow bite, you may experience stomach pain, dizziness, stiffness and trouble breathing. Since the demise of the outdoor privy, the incidence of bites from black widows has drastically declined.

If you think that you have been bitten by either one of these spiders, wash the site with soapy water and call the Georgia Poison Center right away for more treatment advice.

Spider Control:

A consistent presence of spiders in structures may be the sign of an insect infestation because spiders cannot survive long without food. Reducing insect infestations will also reduce the number of spiders.

Habit modification is the most important tactic for good spider control. Whether indoors or outdoors, most spiders have a preference for undisturbed areas. Outdoors, remove debris near buildings to disturb their natural habitat. Also remove webs in outdoor areas, especially porches, under eaves and other likely breeding places around the home. Inside, clutter in garages, basements, closets and other storage areas should be removed. Be sure to dust and vacuum frequently around windows, corners of rooms, shelves under furniture and behind mirrors and pictures. If you think you have brown recluse or black widow infestations, wear gloves when cleaning.

Effective pest management requires careful analysis of the spider's habitat. Call our office at 653-2231 for information on chemical control of spiders. But, remember, nonchemical tactics are the most important part of spider control.