No matter how clean and well maintained a home may be, spiders are hiding out in every room of your house. While many people cannot stand encountering spiders, it is not so bad having the eight-legged creatures inhabiting your home, as spiders prey upon and consume insect pests. In other words, spiders, no matter the species, are like tiny, but very creepy-looking pest controllers.
There are more than 4,000 known spider species in the world, but only three or four species are known to maintain a regular presence within residential homes. In most cases, homes do not contain spider species that can inflict medically hazardous bites to humans, but there exists controversy concerning the true danger that some of the most common indoor spiders pose to humans. For example, the American house spider is aptly named for being a common fixture in homes all over the United States, but some very rare medical cases describe unpleasant symptoms caused by this spider’s bite.
While the American house spider is generally considered harmless to humans, there is no denying that this species inflicts very painful bites. However, this species is shy around humans, and unlike its close relative, the black widow, the bites inflicted by this species can be dismissed as being no more dangerous than a bee sting. Much like bee stings, the American house spider’s venom can be dangerous to those with allergies to arthropod venoms.
In addition to the American house spider, several wolf spider species are also commonly found within homes, but unlike the American house spider, wolf spiders prefer to dwell outdoors. Wolf spiders are only found indoors due to their constant foraging, which brings them into homes frequently. Wolf spiders are very shy around humans, and some people even keep the arachnids as pets, but while their venom may be largely harmless, their large fangs can cause pronounced pain in bite victims. Wolf spider infestations within homes are not unheard of, but such cases are exceptionally rare.
Unlike the above mentioned spiders, yellow sac spiders can pose a threat to homeowners and tenants in the northeast due to their toxic venom. It is not uncommon to have yellow sac spiders eradicated from homes by pest control professionals even if very few specimens are found indoors. This is due to the many case reports describing medically significant reactions to their bites. It is not uncommon for yellow sac spiders to appear in homes in large numbers, making professional treatments a must in such cases. These spiders are among the very few groups of arachnids that are considered aggressive toward humans.
Have you ever sustained a spider bite within your home?