The female black widow is easily identifiable with her black body and reddish hourglass shape on her abdomen. Male black widows are lighter in color with a median row of red spots with white lines radiating out to the sides. Young black widows are orange and white, turning black as they mature, with 1 or 2 reddish markings on the abdomen. Outside, black widows in mid-Missouri are commonly found in protected areas under firewood, decks, in hollow stumps, rodent burrows, etc. Indoors, black widows are found in seldom-used areas of basements, crawlspaces, and garages. It is a very poisonous spider to mid-Missouri residents, and if bitten, medical attention should be sought immediately. The venom is a neurotoxin and should be treated with an antitoxin.
Spiders in Mid-Missouri
Steve’s Pest Control Is the Solution to the Spider Problem in Your Mid-Missouri House. Know Your Invasive Arachnid With This Official Guide to Missouri Spiders!
Nobody jumps for joy at the sight of a spider in their mid-Missouri home. These eight-legged guys are common all around the world, with up to 50,000 different species. Depending on the type of spider, they can either be a mere nuisance or an incredible danger to your home in central Missouri. With so many shapes and sizes, it can be hard to tell. Steve’s Pest Control has your ultimate guide to spiders in the mid-Missouri area. Follow along and get your spider problem fixed today!
Spider Identification in the Mid-Missouri Area
Central Missouri is home to many different types of spiders of all different sizes, shapes and colors. Some of them are very poisonous and could require medical attention after a bite! Unlike insects, spiders have eight legs and are in the arachnid family along with mites and ticks. Spiders can live in almost any habitat. Below are some of the most common spiders in the central Missouri area.
Types of spiders found in mid-Missouri
Watch out for black widow spiders in mid-Missouri
Trust us: the last thing you want is a brown recluse infestation in your central Missouri home
The brown recluse in mid-Missouri is light-tan to dark-brown in color with a violin shaped mark starting at the front of the spider, with the neck of the violin pointing towards the rear. They prefer to live in undisturbed, seldom-used areas such as boxes, underneath tables and chairs, closets, attics, crawlspaces, and basements. Outside, they live around rocks, logs, woodpiles, utility boxes, exterior rodent bait stations and debris. When disturbed, the spider will usually try to run for cover instead of biting mid-Missourians. Bites most commonly occur when putting on rarely used clothing and shoes, cleaning out closets or storage areas, and rolling over on one while in bed. Their bite is not usually felt immediately but pain is usually felt within 6–8 hours of being bitten. An ulcer will usually form where the bite was and can result in severe scarring. There is no available antitoxin for brown recluse bite victims.
Cellar spiders hide in the damp, dark spots of your humble abode
Cellar spiders in mid-Missouri are typically found in basements, cellars, crawl spaces, and other dark, damp places. They are usually pale yellow, light brown, or gray in color and have very long, thin legs. They hang upside down from their webs which are built in the corners of garages, sheds, barns, on eaves, window frames, ceilings, closets, etc. The cellar spider is harmless to mid-Missouri homes.
Funnel web spiders have a unique web-spinning technique to set them apart from other spiders
The funnel web spider is brown with dark longitudinal stripes running down its back. Their legs may also have banded markings. The spider’s web is often seen on mornings after a heavy dew. Funnel web spiders build their webs in mid-Missouri bushes, on grass, and occasionally in siding or under eaves. Their web is a horizontal sheet-like structure with a small, funnel-like tube in the center or off to the side. They primarily feed on insects and are harmless to humans.
Garden spiders are a common and tame species found in, you guessed it, gardens!
Black and yellow garden spiders are found in Missouri and throughout the rest of the United States. Females are much brighter in color and are up to four times larger than males. They can produce a complex web around mid-Missouri homes with a distinctive zig-zag pattern in the center. Their diet consists of flies, bees and other flying prey. Garden spiders produce venom but are not harmful to humans in central Missouri. You do not have to worry about garden spiders disturbing you in the cooler months, as most females die off after the first frost.
Jumping spiders startle the average homeowner with their small yet quick-moving bodies
Jumping spiders in mid-Missouri can be black, brown, or gray in color with white, gray, yellow, red, blue, or green markings. They have a furry, compact body with relatively short legs. Despite their short legs, they have the ability to jump up to 20 times their body length! Unlike most spiders in the Columbia MO area, the jumping spider is active during the day and actually prefers sunlight. They may be found in mid-Missouri homes underneath furniture, in drapery, on bookshelves, around door or window molding, etc. Outdoors, they are found under loose bark, between leaves, under stones, on decks, etc. Bites from a jumping spider are not venomous, and they are typically harmless, though you still probably don’t want them in your mid-Missouri home.
Orb-weaver spiders build webs by mid-Missouri lake houses
Orb-weaver spiders come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. They generally have a rounded abdomen and orange, brown or black coloring. Body size ranges from 6mm for males to 10-20mm for females. They’re commonly found in corners of mid-Missouri homes, eves, and under decks and protective porches near the Lake of the Ozarks. Orb-weaver spiders will often spin a new web every night, which can build up around your mid-Missouri home or lakehouse.
Are wolf spiders dangerous to your home in mid-Missouri?
Wolf spiders are very common in central Missouri, and are quite large. These spiders have long legs and can vary in color from gray, brown, black and tan with dark brown or black stripes. Wolf spiders don’t spin webs, but instead hunt down their prey. Females are larger than males and will vary in size from 1/4th” to 1” inch not counting their legs. Wolf spiders dwell in mid-Missouri woodlands and near areas of water, so watch out if you live around Lake Ozark, MO. A wolf spider’s diet consists of all ground dwelling insects, including other spiders. If provoked, wolf spiders can bite but are generally harmless to humans. Female wolf spiders will carry an egg sac at the bottom of their abdomen and later carry the babies on their back.
Facts about mid-Missouri spiders
- Despite having six to eight eyes, spiders are nearsighted, meaning they can’t see very far. This is mostly because spiders wait until prey is close by and trapped in their web.
- Female spiders can lay 3,000 eggs in one sitting! If you see a white sac sitting around your mid-Missouri home, a spider has laid offspring nearby. Depending on the species, female spiders may die immediately after laying an egg sac.
- Not all spiders are venomous. In mid-Missouri, only the brown recluse and the black widow produce venom.
- Missouri is home to 300 species of spiders out of nearly 50,000 around the world!
Are there tarantulas in Missouri?
There is only one species of tarantula native to Missouri, also known as the
Texas brown tarantula. They are Missouri’s largest spider, mainly located in the southern and central area of the state. Although tarantulas are jarring to look at, they truly are more scared of you than you are of them! These furry arachnids are typically pretty mild, and sometimes are even kept as pets.
What causes a spider infestation in mid-Missouri?
Spiders enter mid-Missouri homes in search of food and shelter. They may nest and hide in corners where they can catch oncoming flies, whether that’s by the windowsill or in the attic. The most common reasons a spider has entered your home is either open entry points, other pests for spiders to eat, cluttered space, or by hiding in your houseplants.
How to tell if I have a spider infestation in my mid-Missouri home
The occasional unwelcome spider in your house is nothing to worry about. However, if you’ve been finding spiders more and more frequently, you may want to ensure you don’t have a spider infestation in mid-Missouri. The signs of a spider infestation include, but are not limited to:
- Several webs in the corners of your home
- White, silky web balls known as egg sacs
- Small black dots could indicate spider droppings
- Seeing spiders more than usual around your mid-Missouri home
- Many webs outside your home in bushes and trees
What keeps spiders away from my home in mid-Missouri?
You may be tempted to try the latest pest control hack you saw on Pinterest or Facebook. As a professional exterminator, Steve’s Pest Control knows it takes more than citrus scents and peppermint oil to keep spiders out of your mid-Missouri home. Most DIY pest control tips have no scientific proof to back them up. If you have a spider problem in central Missouri, your best option is to call our trusted team of pest control specialists. We will eliminate the spiders swiftly and effectively, so you can save on time, money, and peace of mind!
Steve’s Pest Control Offers Spider Pest Control Across Mid-Missouri
Steve’s Pest Control is mid-Missouri’s top quality, accessible pest control service proudly serving 18 cities. Check to see if we serve your area and call for a spider problem today!
Boonville, MO
(660) 882-0075
Camdenton, MO
(573) 365-9555
Chesterfield, MO
(636) 538-6800
Columbia, MO
(573) 874-2020
Fulton, MO
(573) 642-6300
Jefferson City, M0
(573) 896-4868
Hermann, MO
(573) 486-7979
Kirksville, MO
(660) 730-3232
Lake Ozark, MO
(573) 365-9555
Moberly, MO
(660) 263-7399
O'Fallon, MO
(636) 339-6262
Osage Beach, MO
(573) 365-9555
Rolla, MO
(573) 364-0100
Lebanon, MO
(417) 322-7979
Linn, MO
(573) 897-2766
Macon, MO
(660) 591-1900
Marshall, MO
(660) 831-8900
Mexico, MO
(573) 582-7980
Sedalia, MO
(660) 829-4955
St. Robert, MO
(573) 451-7999
Troy, MO
(636) 235-7200
Warrensburg, MO
(660) 262-7272
Warrenton, MO
(636) 235-7200
Warsaw, MO
(660) 223-7272
Washington, MO
(636) 231-7900
Wentzville, MO
(636) 698-7000
Keep a Spider Infestation Away From Your Mid-Missouri Home With These Premium Pest Control Plans From Steve’s Pest Control
Steve’s Pest Control is central Missouri’s top pest control service for its excellent customer satisfaction and preventative extermination plans. We provide mid-Missouri homes with a range of 5 Star Service Programs to keep them free of many different pests all year long. We value more than just getting rid of pests. We prevent nasty spiders from coming back! Try the 5 Star Program, 5 Star Advantage, 5 Star Complete, or Steve’s Lake Services if you live by Lake Ozark, MO.
5 Star Program
The 5 Star Program covers all your basics for pest problems. Steve’s Pest Control is proud to protect your home from ants, roaches, mice, and of course, spiders! Brown recluse spiders are excluded. The 5 Star Program includes:
- 5 general pest services (1 interior, 5 exterior, exterior web and nest removal, exterior rodent baiting).
- Pests are eliminated outside before they enter the building.
- Safer and more effective than continuous interior treatment.
- Easy, hassle-free scheduling – you won’t even need to be home.
- Unlimited retreatment warranty – if a covered pest problem develops at any time, we will promptly perform a re-treat at no additional charge!
5 Star Advantage
Level up your mid-Missouri pest control with the 5 Star Advantage Plan! This plan not only provides the services from the 5 Star Program, but also includes termite control with innovative technology, as well as a $250,000 damage warranty. The 5 Star Advantage Plan includes:
- 5 general pest services (1 interior, 5 exterior, exterior web and nest removal, exterior rodent baiting).
- Pests are eliminated outside before they enter the building.
- Safer and more effective than continuous interior treatment.
- Easy, hassle-free scheduling – you won’t even need to be home.
- Unlimited retreatment warranty – if a covered pest problem develops at any time, we will promptly perform a re-treat at no additional charge!
- Pest and rodent protection.
- Termite protection with Sentricon.
- A $250,000 damage warranty.
5 Star Complete
The 5 Star Complete Program will ensure your mid-Missouri home never runs into another pest infestation. This is the perfect pest control plan for residents and business owners in central Missouri. The 5 Star Complete Program includes:
- 5 general pest services (1 interior, 5 exterior, exterior web and nest removal, exterior rodent baiting).
- Pests are eliminated outside before they enter the building.
- Safer and more effective than continuous interior treatment.
- Easy, hassle-free scheduling – you won’t even need to be home.
- Unlimited re-treatment warranty – if a covered pest problem develops at any time, we will promptly perform a re-treat at no additional charge!
- Pest and rodent protection.
- Termite protection with Sentricon.
- $250,000 damage warranty.
- Mosquito reduction with unlimited re-treatment warranty.
Steve’s Lake Services
Do you live near the Lake of the Ozarks or Sunrise Beach, MO? Are you tired of dock spiders and excessive webs ruining your summer fun? Prevent spiders in your mid-Missouri lake house with Steve’s Lake Services! We get rid of excessive spider webs, pesky mosquitoes, and termites. Steve’s Lake Services include:
- Initial treatment for the year, including interior treatments.
- Treatments performed on your home’s exterior, including around the house and at the dock if applicable.
- Removal of spider webs and insect nests within reach during each service.
- Pest elimination before they enter the interior of your home, which is safer and more effective than continuous interior treatments.
- Easy, hassle-free scheduling.
- $250,000 Termite Damage Warranty with The Sentricon System, if applicable.
- Unlimited Retreatment Warranty with seven or more consecutive monthly services.
Get A Free Pest Evaluation!
Steve’s Pest Control is a full-service pest control business run by a team of experts who are dedicated to taking care of your pest problems once and for all. We guarantee all of our pest control services with 100% customer satisfaction to ensure you are receiving the best.
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