Anyone who has spent significant time in Arizona has probably encountered some of the local eight-legged wildlife, whether they wanted to or not. At Burns Pest Elimination, we understand people’s worry when confronted by spiders inside and outside the home. While they aren’t all dangerous, they’re always at least a little bit scary—especially when they catch you off guard!
But information is power, so we wanted to give you some helpful tips to fight against that fear. By the end of this blog, we’ll ensure you’re familiar with all the common Arizona spiders and show you what you can do about them if you find yourself with an infestation.
Common Spiders in Arizona
We couldn’t possibly hope to cover every kind of Arizona spider. There are many pests at all times of the year, but we can at least tackle some of the most common ones and answer the burning question inside most current or prospective Arizona residents.
[H2] Non-Venomous Spiders in Arizona
Let’s start with some of the common spiders you’ll expect to see, but which, in most cases, aren’t a threat to you, your family, or your pets.
The Common House Spider
As the name implies, the common house spider is present in most places at all times of the year, and Arizona is no exception. As far as Arizona spiders go, however, you don’t need to worry too much about them. They might reside in your window frames or the corners of your rooms, where they patiently wait for small prey. If you have fruit fly or mosquito problems, they can even be useful for reducing the presence of these other annoying pests.
Common house spiders are rarely harmful to humans or pets, and their bites usually only cause skin irritation that can last a few days.
The Western Spotted Orb Weaver
Typically located near still or standing water, this large gray spider is most active during summer and autumn. Like the common house spider, the western spotted orb weaver is non-lethal to most humans and more beneficial than harmful in that it feeds on other pests around your home. Besides its physical appearance, you can identify an orb weaver by the elaborate, often beautiful design of its webs.
The Wolf Spider
If any spider could win an award for how disproportionately dangerous it looked relative to the actual harm it can cause, it would be the wolf spider. These Arizona spiders are easily identified by their unusually large size, typically no larger than an inch and a half, and gray bodies. You won’t find these critters in any webs, as they prefer to burrow underground and hide in the dark spaces beneath things like decks and firewood.
Wolf spiders are marvelous hunters in their own right but not a danger to humans. If you sustain a bite from a wolf spider, the symptoms you experience will, in most cases, subside within 24 hours. This spider’s venom, however, can harm pets or livestock and even fatally harm small animals.
Venomous Spiders in Arizona
Make no mistake—there are definitely spiders in Arizona that are venomous to humans. You’ll want to be able to identify them by their physical appearance, behaviors, and habitat preferences so you can avoid them as much as possible.
The Brown Recluse Spider
Generally identified by their light-brown color, spindly legs, and the violin-shaped mark on their backs, the brown recluse spider possesses a rather dangerous venom, but it also tends to avoid humans and sticks to areas that are rarely bothered, like corners of attics and forgotten corners. As long as they remain unprovoked, there’s a low likelihood they will attack.
If you’re bitten, seek medical attention immediately. Their venom has a necrotic effect that rapidly kills skin tissue and causes significant pain. Whenever possible, and this is true of all spider bites, try to bring the spider with you to the hospital. This will allow medical professionals to narrow down the type of treatment you need more quickly.
The Black Widow Spider
Widow spiders are a class of venomous spiders, most commonly associated with the iconic red-on-black black widow spider, which has a presence in Arizona. Easily identifiable, you’re more likely to see one of these than a brown recluse, as they make their homes in all the small nooks, holes, and cracks around a home.
The black widow is not eager to bite and is uninterested in humans, so as long as you remain calm around them, it’s unlikely they will bother you. If one does bite, seek medical attention immediately. While they are rarely fatal to full-grown adults, their venom is highly damaging and can be lethal to pets and children.
Make Burns Your Solution to Arizona Spiders
Whether it’s Arizona’s venomous spiders or non-venomous types, Burns Pest Elimination is armed with several solutions that will turn your stress into peace of mind. We understand that even if you know they aren’t going to hurt you, sometimes it’s hard to sleep at night knowing they are near.
Burns can identify any spiders in or around your home, take preventive measures to discourage them from infiltrating and implement any tools needed to combat existing infestations. If you’ve lost your patience with Arizona spiders and want peace, please contact our team of professionals and request a free quote today. Turn your spider problems over to Burns, and watch your life become spider-free.
