Some people like or even love spiders in Oklahoma. I am not one of those people, and my company Healthy Homes Exterminating does not relocate or rehome spiders or any pests but especially spiders. Instead, we kill them and make it impossible for them to survive or reproduce in our customer’s homes. There are at least 32 unique species of spiders in Oklahoma, and every one of them is just as creepy as the next. Spiders, Ticks, Mites, Scorpions, and similar pests that have two major body regions, eight legs, and no antennae or wings are in a class known as Arachnida.
I could go on about all 32 spiders, but that is a waste of time and doesn’t help you. So instead, let’s talk about the two you should worry about and a few common spiders we all see here in Oklahoma. The two to watch out for are the Brown Recluse (Fiddleback) sometimes called the brown spider and the Black Widow spider. Some of the not-so-dangerous but often seen spiders are the Wolf spiders, Tarantula, and Jumping spiders.
Brown Recluse Spiders In Oklahoma.
Fiddle Back spiders are also known as the brown recluse or brown spiders. We have found these nasty spiders in every town in N.E. Oklahoma. They are very common to find in Oklahoma homes and can cause severe damage to someone. We always recommend going to see a doctor if you are bit by one and notice complications.
Fiddleback spiders have three pairs of eyes in a semicircle on its head. They can be anywhere from brown to a light tan color and have a violin-shaped marking on their back with the neck of the violin pointing towards their abdomen. The female Fiddle Back spider can live from one to five years and produce one to five egg sacs during her life. This spider is most active at night, and while entomologists say this spider is not aggressive, I personally have run into several of them who sure acted aggressively.
Most people get bit while putting on clothes, rolling over them in bed, or even putting on their shoes. If you are bitten by one of these spiders, you should seek medical attention if you notice any health complications. Within hours after a bite, a tiny blister may appear, and the area may become red and swollen. The venom is a cytotoxic venom that can kill and eat away the tissue affected, possibly causing sunken scarring. In my 20+ years in the business, I have seen a lot of scars and sunken scars. These are scary spiders, and if you think you have them, please call us for a free inspection. If you kill one, please place it in a bag or jar for identification. While these spiders are scary only one out of ten people will have a bad reaction to their bite.
Black Widow Spiders In Oklahoma.
I think almost everyone knows to stay away from Black Widows. They look scary and are usually larger than a Fiddleback spider. However, the female Black Widow is the one everyone knows and the one you should fear. She is glossy black and not hairy. Both her legs and abdomen are smooth and shiny. She has an hourglass shape on her abdomen, ranging in color from red to orange. Just Like the Brown, Recluse entomologist says, this spider is not aggressive, but I don’t believe that, and that’s just my opinion.
The Black Widow is considered the most venomous spider in Oklahoma. The venom from a bite is a neurotoxin venom that is painful and spreads from the site of the bite to the legs, arms, back, abdomen, and chest. Usually, symptoms like cramps, spasms, pains, partial paralysis, perspiration, delirium, and trouble breathing can occur in a few hours. If you get bit by a Black Widow, please go to the hospital immediately. This is not a spider you want to mess with or have in or around your home. According to the CDC, both the Black Widow and the Fiddle Back can be very venomous and may require medical attention after a bite.
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Wolf Spiders In Oklahoma.
These spiders are the spiders we see the most, and many times people misidentify them as Fiddleback spiders. This spider is usually larger and brown, with black stripes running down its back. Sometimes people think the stripes running down their backs are in the shape of a fiddle, but Wolf Spiders’ stripes are just stripes and not curved in the shape of a fiddle. Sometimes the Wolfspider can get very large and look even larger when the female is carrying her babies. Thank goodness these spiders are not hazardous to humans because they are everywhere.
Jumping Spiders In Oklahoma.
Jumping spiders come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. I’m sure many of you have seen some kind or color of the Jumping spider, and there is not much to say about them except they are a pest and can bite but are not hazardous to humans. They are easily controlled and are more scary than hazardous.
Tarantula Spiders In Oklahoma.
These big nasty spiders are brown to black in color and hairy. The females are larger than the males and can live 15 to 20 years or possibly more. Tarantulas can crawl up glass, brick, rock, and stucco. Tarantulas can jump and hide in small spaces. Luckily these giant spiders are not hazardous to humans. We have treated more properties than you would think for these spiders. You would think that because of their big size that they would be hard to control but that’s not the case. They die just as quickly and easily as small spiders do.