Spiders

Latin Name: Araneae

Months of Activity: January - December

There are more than 600 species of spiders found in Britain – all of which are fanged and venomous. Fortunately less than 0.5% are able to penetrate human skin and none of them are harmful to man.

However, they are unpleasant to look at and their webs can cause a mess.

Appearance

All spiders have eight legs and a body divided into two parts: a combined head and thorax and a large abdomen. Most spiders have eight eyes, arranged in two rows of four.

Lifecycle

Reproduction, is a process, which the male carries out with great care, as it usually ends in his death. The courtship ritual is elaborate, especially in the sighted spiders, and for good reason as it calms the predatory tendencies of the female and makes her more receptive. Once mating is over, the male often dies and, in the case of the house spider, is eaten by the female.

Spider eggs are roughly spherical, and about 1mm in diameter; they are laid in a compact mass and covered to a greater or lesser extent with silk, forming a sac. The eggs vary in colour from pale brown, pale yellow, pink, even bright green.

The number of eggs laid varies greatly and depends on the species, age, size and nourishment level of the female. Once the eggs have hatched, the larvae will then transform into nymphs and once capable of feeding, they leave the sac.

Pest Control

Generally the spider's web is more of a nuisance than the spider itself but this is not always the case and some spider infestations can prove extremely difficult to control. DIY products can deal with the immediate problem but treatment by a qualified pest control technician is often necessary to deal with spiders where there is a heavy infestation.

Latest News about Spiders

Choosing A Pest Control Company
Discovering a pest problem or infestation that is threatening your property, your health or even just your peace of mind can be a major annoyance. The last thing one needs in this situation is the added stress of finding a reputable pest control com... [more]

Pest-Proof Your Home
It may seem counter-intuitive for pest control professionals to advise consumers how to pest-proof their homes, but many companies now offer this service because our business is not just about the elimination of an infestation, but its prevention. H... [more]

Pest Plague Looms
A cocktail of lamentable circumstances is proving a potent mix, fuelling a surge in pest infestations across Britain. As austerity measures bite, living standards fall, the property rental market grows and we have mild – even warm – autum... [more]

Online Training From PestPractice
All pest professionals need to keep up-to-date, but it can often be difficult to spare the time to attend training seminars and conferences. PestPractice is a new online training tool that provides a convenient, cost effective solution to this proble... [more]

Pest Guru in Award Glory
A pest controller based in Scotland has scooped a national award. Ian Cain, of NBC Bird and Pest Control, has been crowned Scotland's BFA / HSBC Franchisee of the Year for 2011, as well as securing the bronze prize for the whole of the UK. His comp... [more]

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