Spiders
HarmlessWhat it is
Predatory arachnids with eight legs that usually enter buildings in search of prey or shelter. Most species are harmless to people, but webs, sightings, and occasional medically important species can create concerns.
How to recognize it
Eight legs, two body sections, and often webs in corners, windows, or outdoors.
Where you will find it
Nearly everywhere, indoors and out, depending on the type.
Why it matters
Most spiders are harmless and eat other pests, but a few species are medically important and are worth identifying.
What to do
- Do not handle spiders or reach into stored items with bare hands. Wear gloves when moving boxes, wood, or equipment in garages and sheds.
- Reduce clutter and vacuum webs and egg sacs from corners and storage areas.
- Note where you see them and take a photo if you can do so safely.
- Contact a licensed pest professional if you are unsure what kind it is or you see many.
When to call a professional
- You see many spiders or repeated sightings of the same kind.
- You think it could be a black widow or another medically important spider.
- Someone was bitten (seek medical care for a bite with spreading redness, pain, or illness).
Related reading
Related pests
Black Widow Spiders
A medically significant cobweb spider, typically glossy dark in color; adult females often have a red hourglass marking beneath the abdomen. They favor protected, undisturbed areas and bites can require medical...
Read more →Cellar Spiders
Long-legged, delicate spiders that build loose webs in basements, crawlspaces, garages, and other quiet areas. They are generally harmless and feed on small insects and other spiders.
Read more →Daddy Longlegs
A common name often used for harvestmen, which are arachnids with a single rounded body and very long legs. They do not have venom glands like spiders and are generally harmless scavengers or predators.
Read more →Hobo Spiders
Funnel-web spiders that build sheet-like webs with a retreat, often near ground level. They are generally shy and bites are uncommon; modern evidence does not support many older claims of severe necrotic injury.
Read more →This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Pests vary by region and situation, and an on-site inspection is the reliable way to know what you have.