Most people don’t love running into a spider in our home. Spiders can make anyone jump whether they are dangling from the ceiling or crawling across the bathroom floor. Beaverton has its fair share of these eight-legged guests. But not all spiders are dangerous. But there are a few types you should know about, especially the ones that can be harmful to people. Also, you should know when to reach out to a saelapest.com pest control technician to help handle a spider issue.
Common House Spiders
These spiders often hang out in corners, basements, or window sills. They build messy-looking webs and usually stay in one place.
House spiders are harmless. They do not want anything to do with you. In fact, they help control other insects such as flies, mosquitoes, and ants. You can leave them be if you do not mind them. But you can do a quick vacuum or gentle relocation outside if they bother you.
Hobo Spiders
Hobo spiders are fairly common in the Pacific Northwest, including Beaverton. They are brown, fast-moving, and often mistaken for brown recluse.
These spiders build funnel-shaped webs near ground level such as along baseboards, crawlspaces, or behind furniture. There was a time when people thought hobo spiders were dangerous, but recent research shows their bite is not considered medically significant. Still, their bites can be irritating and should be watched just like any bug bite.
Giant House Spiders
Giant house spiders can have a leg span of up to four inches. They are usually brown or tan and very fast. But they are not dangerous.
These spiders used to be confused with hobo spiders, but scientists now say they are a separate species. They tend to live in garages, basements, and other quiet places. Their size can be intimidating, but they do not bite people unless provoked. Their bite is not harmful.
Orb Weavers
You have probably seen orb weavers in your yard or garden. They spin classic round, wheel-shaped webs. Many orb weavers have colorful or patterned bodies and long legs. They usually hang upside down in their web, waiting for bugs to fly in.
Orb weavers are harmless to humans. They stay outside and rarely come indoors. In fact, they are great at keeping the bug population in check.
Black Widow Spiders
Black widows are found in Oregon, though they are not common in Beaverton. Still, they do show up, especially in quiet, undisturbed areas such as woodpiles, garages, and sheds.
Black widows are easy to spot. They have shiny black bodies and a red hourglass shape on their belly. Their webs look tangled and messy. Also, they like to hide in dark corners.
A black widow bite can be serious. It can cause muscle pain, cramping, and nausea. Bites are rarely deadly, but they do require medical attention, especially for kids, seniors, or anyone with health concerns. Leave it alone and call a professional if you see a black widow in or around your home.
Brown Recluse Spiders
The brown recluse has a scary reputation, but they don’t live in Oregon. That means you won’t find them in Beaverton. People sometimes confuse hobo spiders or other brown spiders for brown recluses, but sightings in this part of the country are almost always false alarms.
Brown recluses are native to the Midwest and Southern U.S. They have a violin-shaped mark on their back and like to hide in quiet, dark places.
Yellow Sac Spiders
Yellow sac spiders are small, pale yellow or cream-colored spiders. They don’t spin traditional webs, but they make little silk sacs where they hide during the day. These spiders go hunting for food at night.
They can sometimes bite humans, especially if they get trapped in clothing or bed linens. The bites are usually mild, but they can be itchy or sore.
