Spiders in Texas

Spiders are arachnids and are closely related to mites, ticks, and scorpions. They are usually found living outdoors but often find their way inside while searching for food. No matter what species you're looking at, all spiders have certain things in common. All spiders have two body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen), eight legs, no wings or antennae, and they have fangs (chelicerae). And though spiders typically have eight eyes, some species only have six. Their colors and sizes vary widely, depending on the exact species. The spiders commonly found in our North Dallas service area include house spiders, hobo spiders, brown recluse spiders, wolf spiders, and black widow spiders.

Are Spiders Dangerous?

All spiders are venomous, but most house-invading spiders like the common house spider and the hobo spider have venom that isn't strong enough to cause significant health problems in people. A bite from either species may leave a red mark and perhaps a bit of discomfort, but that is all. In general, both the hobo spider and the house spider are considered nuisance spider species.

Other spiders found living in the North Dallas area, such as the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider, are considered dangerous and should be avoided. Their venom is strong enough to cause serious health problems in certain individuals. The black widow spider's venom attacks the nervous system of its victim. In contrast, the brown recluse's venom causes necrosis of the tissue found around the bite wound site, leading to serious infection and taking a long time to heal.