Spider Basics

Spiders. They’re in and around practically every home and business, yet 50% of women and 10% of men are afraid of them.

Everyone knows a spider on sight. They’re sometimes mislabeled “bugs” — spiders are arachnids, not insects — but the average person is familiar with the typical spider’s appearance and behavior. They build webs, feed on insects, and are known for establishing themselves in gardens, garages, basements, crawlspaces and the like

Although most local spiders are harmless, the brown recluse spider and black widow spider are both found on Delmarva. Sightings are fairly rare, and bites are even rarer, but homeowners and visitors should nonetheless learn to identify these venomous pests. A less dangerous relative of the black widow, the brown widow, is becoming more common across the United States.

Spiders eat numerous insect pests, including ants and other home invaders, so they’re considered beneficial. However, their webs and/or presence in the home is often a nuisance to homeowners, who may consider them to be pests.

Spiders rarely bite (in fact, many are incapable of piercing human skin), but a bite should be washed with soap and water to prevent infection. An ice pack will reduce pain and swelling. If bitten by a brown recluse or black widow, seek medical attention immediately.

Our year-round Premium Protection Plan covers spiders; for more information, visit this page.

Published: July 12, 2013