LIFE CYCLE Most form sacs made of silk and go through direct development. When they emerge, usually by chewing their way ADULT through the egg sac wall, they are 2nd instar spiderlings and appear SPIDERS as miniature adults. The spiderlings go through several molts until they become adults. Many female spiders care for their young by carrying them on their bodies or feeding them, though some CLASS: ARACHNIDA disperse immediately. Most spiders live one or two years, but female ORDER: ARANEAE have lived 20+ years in captivity. There are more than 40,000 species of spiders in the world, with approximately 3,700 found in North America. Spiders play an important SPIDERLINGS LIFE CYCLE role in nature, ensuring that populations stay in check. In fact, OF A SPIDER 1ST INSTAR spiders in or around a home are an indication that a large insect CONTROL STRATEGIES population inhabits the area. Successful spider control requires a multi-pronged approach including: • INSPECTION • SANITATION • ADDRESSING 2ND INSTAR EXTERIOR • IDENTIFICATION • EXCLUSION LIGHTING • NON-CHEMICAL • INSECTICIDE ISSUES THAT CARAPACE CONTROLS APPLICATIONS ATTRACT SPIDER FOOD TIBIA PATELLA SPINNERETS

WHERE CEILINGS AROUND CORNERS MEET THE WALL LIGHT OF CLOSETS FIXTURES

DAMP, POORLY BEHIND VENTILATED ATTICS GUTTERS FANGS FEEDING WINDOWS & DOORWAYS WHERE FENCES ADJOIN THE BEHAVIOR HOME Almost all spiders are predators, mostly on other METATARSUS , using their to paralyze and WINDOWS ABDOMEN AND DOORWAYS eventually kill their prey. Active hunters may have FEMUR a retreat they return to on a regular basis, but BEHIND AND UNDER PILES OF AROUND UNDER RAILINGS FURNITURE UNDISTURBED UNDER STONES DEBRIS OR BUILDING OF DECKS BOXES OR LANDSCAPE TARSUS these spiders are extremely mobile as they search FIREWOOD FOUNDATION TIMBERS out prey. Passive hunters, on the other hand, sit CORNERS & FLOOR/WALL JUNCTURES GARAGES, CRAWLSPACES and wait in areas where their prey are active, AND BASEMENTS TARSAL CLAWS waiting for the right moment to capture prey. Web-builders use a variety of silk web designs to capture their prey. COMMON HARBORAGE SITES INSIDE STRUCTURES: OUTSIDE STRUCTURES: DESCRIPTION 1 Spiders have two major body regions – a fused head and thorax called the cephalothorax ACTIVE HUNTERS: • CORNERS OF FLOOR/WALL JUNCTURES • WINDOWS AND DOORWAYS Wolf spiders, ground spiders, jumping spiders • BEHIND AND UNDER FURNITURE • BEHIND GUTTERS and an abdomen – as opposed to with three body regions. There is constriction • WHERE CEILINGS MEET THE WALL • UNDER RAILINGS OF DECKS • CORNERS OF CLOSETS • WHERE FENCES ADJOIN THE HOME between the cephalothorax and the abdomen appearing as a “waist,” separating spiders 2 PASSIVE HUNTERS: • WINDOWS AND DOORWAYS • AROUND LIGHT FIXTURES from other (mites and ticks). Spiders have eight walking legs, a pair of leg-like Crab spiders, recluse spiders • BEHIND TOILETS • PILES OF DEBRIS OR FIREWOOD appendages (), along with a pair of fang-like appendages (chelicerae, “jaws”). • GARAGES, CRAWLSPACES & BASEMENTS • UNDER STONES OR LANDSCAPE TIMBERS 3 • UNDISTURBED BOXES • AROUND BUILDING FOUNDATION They range in size from the very small sheetweb weaver spider (Spirembolus erratus), WEB-BUILDERS: • DAMP, POORLY VENTILATED ATTICS • WITHIN THICK GROUND COVER measuring less than 1 mm in body length, to the large goliath birdeater Orb weavers, cobweb weavers, cellar spiders & LEAF LITTER • GARDENS ( blondi), which has a 12-inch leg span. Despite the perception of spiders by • GARDEN PLANTS some of the public, many rank among the most beautiful creatures on earth, exhibiting • SHEDS a variety of colors and distinctive markings.

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