During late summer and early fall you’ll probably notice an increased number of spiders in and around your home. This can be concerning especially for those who don’t know what spiders to watch out for and which ones are harmless. Of course, in an ideal world we wouldn’t have any spiders in our home, but inevitably we will have to deal with it at some point. So, it is helpful to know what types of spiders you may encounter and if they are harmful or not.
Yellow Sac Spiders
Yellow Sac Spiders typically live outside during the summer and may move inside as the weather begins to cool. This doesn’t mean that they are trying to live in close contact with us. They simply want shelter from the cold or are following their prey. There are many ways for these and other spiders to enter our home and they can quickly develop into infestations that require professional services to remove.
So, how do you identify Yellow Sac Spiders? These spiders are relatively small, about 1/4 inch in length. The majority of their body is a beige or light-yellow color, and they can even look slightly green. Their legs and fangs are dark brown, and they have a lance shaped mark running down the top of their abdomen.
Yellow Sac Spider Bites
You may be wondering how bad a Yellow Sac Spider bite is. Although these spiders are not as poisonous as some of the more infamous ones, such as Black Widows or Brown Recluses, they can still cause pain and swelling around the wound. Their poison is necrotic to human tissue, meaning that a Yellow Sac Spider bite will kill the tissues in the area surrounding the bite. The necrotic aspect of Yellow Sac Spider bites often leads people to misdiagnose them as a bite from a Brown Recluse. However, the impact of a bite from a Yellow Sac Spider is significantly less than that of a Brown Recluse. Although not as extreme these wounds can take a long time to heal and you are likely to develop sores around the area, itching, and swelling.
The unique and slightly terrifying thing about Yellow Sac Spiders is that they hunt at night. And by hunt we actually mean hunt. Unlike most spiders who wait for prey to become trapped in their web, Yellow Sac Spiders actively hunt their prey. At night they will search the surrounding area for prey. This is when they’re most likely to come into contact with us. As they hunt, they may get trapped underneath the sheets with you resulting in a painful bite. During the summer months these spiders remain outside most of the time. In this case, you are most likely to come into contact with these spiders while out gardening or working in the yard.
What to do if you have an Infestation
As with an infestation of any pest, Yellow Sac Spiders are best left to the professionals. If you’ve been noticing an increased number of any pest in your home, it’s time to make a call. Pest control professionals are able to create a tailored plan for your house and specific problem. At home treatments are simply not as effective as a plan put together by a professional with years of experience and knowledge.
During your first visit you can expect to have a pest control professional take a look around your entire house. During this time, they will identify what types of pests you’re encountering and what possible entry methods they have. Once they have determined the best course of action, they will likely do a treatment on your home specifically targeting the pests identified. They will then go over additional options for eliminating pest access points and continued treatment plans if needed.
Treating Yellow Sac Spider Bites
If you think you’ve been bitten by Yellow Sac Spider there are some at home treatments to help reduce the pain and swelling.
- Clean the Area
The first step, as with any wound, is to thoroughly clean the area with soap and water.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Some people also find it helpful to apply hydrogen peroxide to the area to reduce itchiness.
- Apply Ice
Applying ice or a cold compress will help reduce any pain and inflammation in the surrounding area.
- Take pain medicine/antihistamine
If the area is still painful or you are having any allergic symptoms, taking over-the-counter pain or allergy medicine can further reduce your reaction.
- Major Reaction
As always, if you are having an allergic reaction or show signs of infection, it is best to seek the advice of your doctor.
Of course, no one wants to get bitten by a spider or any other pest for that matter. This is why contacting a professional early on is the best preventative measure. With a regular treatment schedule, you can keep your home free of pests and prevent any bites or stings from Yellow Sac Spiders or any other pest that may find their way into your home.
