There are many factors contributing to what attracts spiders into homes. If your home is prone to spiders, you probably already know there are many different types of spiders common in the Midwest. Most of these species are harmless, with some causing mild irritation at the bite. Highly venomous spiders are prevalent in Illinois and the Midwest, just not as common as the following species.
Common House Spider
Common House Spiders are found worldwide, predominantly in the United States and Canada; and are also called the Giant House Spiders. They’re often yellow and brown in color and are commonly found living in garages, basements, sheds, closets, and crawl spaces. They aren’t often found in common living areas, due to humidity.
Grass Spider
These spiders are most often found living in the grass, but they can also be found living indoors. They are often called funnel spiders and are easily recognized by the funnel-shaped webs they create in the grass to trap prey. Their upper shell has two lines running through it, and a yellow-brown color. They are often confused with common house spiders, due to their similar coloring and shape.
Orb Weaver
There are many different sub-species of Orb Weavers found in the Midwest. They create beautifully, intricate, spiraled webs on buildings, in gardens, fields, and forests. Many Orb Weavers build new webs each day. Some of the original Orb Weaver species date back to the Jurassic Era.
Black and Yellow Garden Spider
This species is common throughout most of the United States and is often referred to as a corn spider, garden spider, or zig-zag spider. They have distinctive yellow and black markings on the back, and measures around 5-9mm (males) and 19-28mm (females). They’re bites don’t pose any significant risk and are compared to a bumble bee sting.
Jumping Spider
There are over 6000 species of jumping spiders, making it the largest family of spiders in the world. One common Jumping Spider found in the Midwest is the crab spider, which is a very small spider whose name resembles its crab-like shape. They are known to ambush their prey, instead of using a web to trap them.
Wolf Spider
Wolf Spiders are nocturnal, agile hunters with excellent eyesight that is better than most spider species. They are fairly large in size, varying from 10-35 cm in length., and have sensory hairs on their bodies that give them an acute sense of touch. Females carry their egg sacks on their backs and then care for their offspring for several weeks after birth. Because they carry their offspring on their backs, they are usually brown or black in color to help camouflage from predators. They will bite if provoked, and their venom causes mild irritation.
Prevent Spiders in Your Home
There are ways to reduce spider activity in your home, but the most reliable way to keep spiders out is to let a professional handle the job. Most spiders don’t pose a threat to your family, but it’s good to prevent more dangerous spiders from making their way into your home. You can learn more about a service that works best for your home and get a free quote at (630) 451-8101. We take a ProActive approach to keep Spiders out of your home.