Louisiana is home to many different species of spiders: some are native to the area while others have been introduced to the ecosystem by humans over time. While most of these species are not dangerous to humans, some are capable of harming us with their venomous bites. Regardless of the danger that these spiders can or can’t bring to people, no one wants spiders living in their home. Luckily for those of us in the Greater New Orleans area, Pied Piper Pest Control is here to solve your spider problem! In this article we’ll go over the six most common spider species that are found in Louisiana!
Black Widow Spider
The black widow is probably the most infamous of any spider on Earth, and for good reason. These spiders can make you incredibly sick if they bite you and, in rare cases, they can even cause death. For this reason, it’s crucial to seek medical attention or call 911 if you believe you’ve been bit by one of these spiders. Black widows can be identified by their signature red hourglass-like marking on their black bodies.
Brown Widow Spider
Brown widows, while less famous than their black counterparts, can also be extremely dangerous to humans if they manage to bite. Brown widows are slightly larger than black widows and, as the name would suggest, primarily have a brown-colored body with an orange-ish hourglass marking on their abdomen.
Brown Recluse Spider
The brown recluse spider can also be dangerous when they bite, however, the effects are not typically quite as bad as the effects from a widow bite. Don’t worry – not all Louisiana spiders are dangerous, we’re just getting the fun ones out of the way first! Brown recluse spiders can range in color from tan to dark brown and are typically about an inch long. These spiders have violin-shaped markings on their cephalothorax, making them easily identifiable to a careful eye.
Wolf Spiders
The Greater New Orleans area, and Louisiana as a whole, is home to several different species of wolf spiders. These spiders’ bites are not dangerous, but they can cause some itching and swelling. The telltale characteristic of a wolf spider is their hairy bodies, and they’re usually anywhere from half an inch to just over 1 inch long.
Jumping Spiders
Like with wolf spiders, there are many different sub-species of jumping spiders that live in Louisiana. Jumping spiders do not cause health problems in humans when they bite, however they can be painful. These spiders can range in size from 2 millimeters to almost an inch long, and can jump a distance of up to 20 times their body length.
House Spiders
House spiders are one of the most common species of spider on the planet, and Louisiana is no different. House spiders don’t bring any damage to humans and rarely bite. These spiders are usually less than a quarter of an inch long and are typically multicolored with spots of tan, brown, and black.
Contact Pied Piper Pest Control!
If you have a spider problem in your New Orleans area home, Pied Piper Pest Control is just a call away from solving it! Give us a call at (504) 366-1333 or fill out the contact form on our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible!