Many people believe that spiders must be able to hold their breath because they often survive a spray of insecticide or being underwater for a long period of time. This has become a wide-spread myth that Rod Crawford at the Burke Museum has set out to dispel. He says, “Neither spiders nor insects … [Read more...]

According to the Smithsonian Institute, there are upward of 10 quintillion insects on the earth at any one time, but spiders are not part of that number because spiders are not insects. So, how are spiders related to insects? Which characteristics do they have in common, and which are … [Read more...]

When you hear people talking about “house spiders,” you may be unsure of exactly what that means. Is that a species of spider or does that just refer to any type of spider that likes to live in houses? Well, it turns out that both thoughts are correct!    The Common House Spider The … [Read more...]

Black widows are considered the most venomous spider in North America. In fact, their venom is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. Black widows can definitely cause some anxiety, but knowledge is power, so learning about them can help you feel more at ease and capable of controlling them … [Read more...]

Spider webs can be extremely frustrating and annoying, but if you can get past the unsightly mess they make around your home and property, spider silk is actually extremely interesting. Here are 5 fascinating facts that you may not know about spider silk.     1. Spider silk has … [Read more...]

Myth 1: Spiders are Insects When you think of creepy-crawly bugs, you may lump them all together and call them insects. This is actually far from the truth. Spiders belong to the class Arachnida and scientists say they have evolved to be as different from insects as birds are from fish. Creatures … [Read more...]

In the United States we have two types of dangerous venomous spiders, the black widow and the brown recluse. Most people can easily identify a black widow due to its notoriety and red hourglass markings. Brown recluse may be less well-known, but they can be just as dangerous. Identification and … [Read more...]

You might be aware that spiders are mainly insectivores, but that is only part of the story. Aside from bugs, some species of spiders also eat plants, and some will even eat small animals. Let’s dig a little deeper into what spiders eat and how that relates to your home pest control … [Read more...]

  1. Seal the Exterior of Your House One of the best things you can do to keep spiders and other pests from entering your home is to seal the exterior. Spiders can squeeze through tiny openings, so even small cracks and crevices need to be sealed. Start by walking around the outside of your … [Read more...]

Spiders have a reputation for being both creepy and dangerous. In fact, people often believe that spiders regularly cause human deaths. Two species of spiders in particular, the black widow and the brown recluse, are often cited as being particularly deadly. Is this fact or fiction? How deadly are … [Read more...]