Web-spinning spiders are a form of natural pest control, catching insects such as flies and mosquitoes.
Spiders represent a a major portion of invertebrate diversity. Spiders are found on every continent except for Antarctica, and can be found in any terrestrial habitat. Knowing identify the different types of these interesting eight-legged arthropods is both a fun and important skill to have, especially when you live in an area prone to encounters with spiders that pose a threat to human life. Although spiders provoke fear in many people, most humans find they can co-exist with spiders without any problems.
Instructions
1. Use color and shape cues to determine if your spider is a black widow. The black widow spider is a round, black, glossy spider with a red, hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of its abdomen, although this marking does not always occur. Black widows are about 3/4 inches long. They construct irregularly-shaped webs by the ground around brush piles and in corners of dwellings. Black widows are also known to create webs in outhouses, particularly beneath toilet seats. This spider is feared for its painful bite which can cause cramping and sweating and take several days to heal. The black widow is part of the Latrodectus genus of spiders, which includes several other widow spiders and is only 1 of 31 recognized species.
2. Check color, markings and location to see if the spider is a brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa). Brown recluses are usually a brown or tan color and measure about 1/4 to a 1/2 inches long with a leg span of about 1/2 an inch. There are three pair of eyes arranged in a crescent shape on the front of the face and a telltale violin marking behind the eyes. Brown recluses live in undisturbed places with warm, constant temperatures, such as garages, brush piles, sheds, or outhouses. Have any bites treated by a doctor right away.
3. Note the shape, location and length of the legs to determine if your spider is a cellar spider, more commonly called a daddy long legs. Cellar spiders -- a very common spider in basements, sheds, and garages-- have bodies that grow up to 3/4 of an inch in body length with legs that grow to 1 inch. The body is usually pale-white color and extremely thin. The long legs of these spiders can give them the appearance of being much bigger and more formidable than they actually are: they can actually be quite beneficial since they are known to capture and eat other spiders, including black widow and brown recluses. Cellar spiders tend to shake violently when their web is disturbed. Their webs can become quite large and tangled -- forming cobwebs -- over time.
4. Determine if your spider is a crab spider. Crab spiders are part of the Thomisidae and Philodromidae families; identifying these kinds of spiders can be difficult since there is so much shape and color variety within these families. Most species of crab spider are brown, although some species -- such as those that frequent brightly-colored flowers -- will feature bright yellows, greens, pinks, reds, and oranges. A crab spider's body is usually less than 1/2 inch in length but up to one inch in larger species. Crab spiders prefer life outdoors and are rarely seen inside. Most are passive hunters that ambush insect prey in webs and flower pots. Crab spiders are named for the two front pairs of legs that angle outward, giving them the appearance of the crab.
5. Identify the color, texture and behavior of your spider to determine if it is a wolf spider. Wolf spiders, which are usually quite furry, come in many sizes and range from 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches in length. They sometimes resemble small tarantulas. While most wolf spiders are brown, some may appear black. Wolf spiders are agile hunters that skillfully pursue and pounce on prey. They can sometimes been seen with an egg sac attached to their spinnerets or carrying their young spiderlings on their back. Wolf spiders are from the family Lycosidae, a name denoting their wolf-like behavior and appearance.
Tags: black widow, your spider, crab spider, Crab spiders, Wolf spiders, about inches