Vail homeowners call us about all sorts of pests–most of all, spiders. During the warm, wet monsoon season these calls only become more frequent. Here are five common spiders in Arizona, and what you need to know about them.
Arizona Brown Spider
The Arizona brown spider is the close cousin to the brown recluse spider and has similar features and behaviors. These small, 1/3-inch spiders are brown with slightly darker brown, violin-shaped marking on their heads. They prefer dark, secluded areas like storage closets, sheds, and woodpiles. Their bite can have a potentially dangerous effect and can cause tissue damage.
Black Widow Spider
Arizona is also home to the infamous black widow spider. Known for the red or orange hourglass marking on their abdomens, these spiders spin messy webs in low traffic areas such as debris, wood piles, garages, patio furniture, or neglected children’s toys. Their bites can be dangerous to humans, and steps should be taken to eliminate them.
Orb Weaver Spider
The Western orb weaver is one of the most common spiders found outdoors in Vail. They’re generally about half an inch long with brown, yellow, white, and sometimes red, coloring. They build circular webs in open areas to catch their prey. They can bite, but tend to focus their energy on catching prey in their webs.
Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are common throughout Southern Arizona’s desert scrubland and woodland areas. Wolf spiders are about an inch long and range in color from grey to dark brown. These spiders live in burrows that tend to have a column of silk extending from the hole. They are active nocturnal hunters. The females will carry spiderlings on their backs for about a month after they hatch.
Tarantula
Although perceived to be one of the scariest spiders, tarantulas are considered a benevolent spider. These large, 3- to 4-inch-long spiders can have brown, black, or even blonde hairy bodies and prefer to live outside in burrows or other protected areas. They’re considered benevolent because they aren’t aggressive toward humans; they’ll even feast on other unwanted pests around the home.
If you’re experiencing a spider infestation or need help identifying pests at your home, call the local experts at Bill’s Home Service at (520) 625-2381. Our licensed technicians will work with you to identify the pest and establish an effective plan to bar them from your living space.