What has 8 legs and is quite possibly the scariest insect of all? Yep, you guessed it, spiders. Spiders come in every shape, size, color and personality. Some are actual hunters while others just sit and wait for their next meal to drop by. Either way, they are definitely creepy. The real question is, what spiders do you really have to worry about?

Most common spiders are almost harmless. If they do bite at all, it isn’t poisonous. They really are more of a menace than anything else. They make webs inside and out. These webs are their home and food source. Seems like you just clean them up, and they are back the next day. Common household spiders do serve a purpose, besides scaring and annoying you. They help rid you of other small insects.

The beautiful weather and climate that we all love about Knoxville is also the reason that lots of other spiders find it a great place to live. Some of the bites of these spiders can be a serious threat to people and other animals. Here are the top 2 spiders to be on the look-out for:

Black Widow Spider

These venomous spiders try to stay out of the elements and away from view. You can usually find their irregular shaped webs in outbuildings, under stones or amongst fallen wood. Mature females are the ones to look out for. They are black with red markings on their abdomen, often appearing like a red hourglass.

Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse also has a venomous bite. This spider has a stealthy bite though. Often people don’t realize that they have been bitten until later when the bite area starts to hurt. This anti-social spider usually only bite when they are disturbed. They can be found in dark areas, like under porches, woodpiles or buckets.

If you think that you may have been bitten by either of these two spiders seek immediate medical attention. Everyone reacts differently to a venomous bite from this terrible twosome.

Spiders can be found just about anywhere. Here in Knoxville, we are no exception. If spiders are becoming an overwhelming part of your summer, call the experts at Russell’s Pest Control and let us take care of them for you!