Spiders

 

Pick any spider, and it is venomous to some degree; big or small, fuzzy or not, it has some level of toxin within its bite. Typically, the difference between venom and poison is that venom is injected, and poison is ingested. So the argument isn't that some spiders are venomous or poisonous, where others are not. Rather, the level of toxicity the venom contains is what puts humans in danger. 

 

Most spider's bites are not extraordinarily harmful to humans. They typically leave red welts that look like a slightly worse, more substantial version of a mosquito bite. The site of the bite may have harder edges and a more square-like shape than the reaction caused by other insects. They don't form pustules the way ant bites often do, and some bites may itch and may hurt, but no worse than a bee sting. 

 

There are a few other things to worry about though while dealing with spiders. First, no one wants to find out the hard way whether they're allergic to a spider bite. What may simply cause an itchy dot on some people could put others into anaphylactic shock. Secondly, there are two spiders that pack an excruciating bite: the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow. 

 

What can be worse than a 3-inch spider that can travel at 2 feet per second? That same spider with 3 rows of eyes and a painful bite. The Wolf Spider is common to South Dakota. They are unique in that they don’t spin webs and carry their egg sacs with them.

The Brown Recluse is relatively rare in South Dakota, but it does pop up from time to time and send people speeding to the hospital. The Black Widow, however, is extremely common in South Dakota. With a venom 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's, this is not an insect you want to run into.

 

South Dakota is also home to many garden spiders, which sneak into people's homes. The most common kind here is black and yellow. They're Orb Weavers, and their webs are enormous. The spiders are big, too, and their bite can be somewhat painful, though nothing compared to the Black Widow.

 

Their ability to quickly multiply and take over a household makes spiders even more fearsome. Some species can lay up to a thousand eggs. So, that single spider you noticed sneaking around, can be days away from making your kitchen look like Shelob's Lair.

 

The pest control experts at Karma Pest Solutions live here in the Black Hills with you. We hear every horror story about Black Widow and Brown Recluse sightings. Over the past decade of handling these creatures, we know the term "pest" isn't strong enough for the fear and difficulty these arachnids put families through. Our mission is to ensure no one in Western South Dakota has to go through that stress. Call us today to make sure the best people in the business handle your pest problem.