As the seasons change and temperatures drop, many homeowners contend with an unwelcome invasion: spiders. In the Pacific Northwest, there are many spider species that frequent homes. These include the hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis), giant house spider (Eratigena atrica), bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax), and American house spider (Parasteatoda tepidarorum).
Whether you’re dealing with unwanted house guests or trying to eliminate harmful intruders, understanding the spiders in your home is the first step toward effective pest management. Keep reading while we uncover everything you need to know about these four common Pacific Northwest spiders!
Giant House Spiders
As their name suggests, giant house spiders are renowned for their impressive size, measuring in as one of the largest spider species in the United States. While not as large as wolf spiders, these pests are still formidable foes you won’t want lurking indoors.
Physical Characteristics
The giant house spider usually sports a dark brown body, occasionally with lighter markings on its abdomen. Its legs are lighter, ranging from sandy brown to yellowish, often with darker streaks.
You’ll notice the whole body, including the legs, covered in fine, velvety hairs. Around its eight small eyes, there’s a subtle darkening against the surrounding color. While individual spiders may vary, they’re quite skilled at blending into their surroundings with these colorations and patterns.
Web Structure
Giant house spiders are prolific web builders, often spinning intricate webs around homes and structures. Their webs typically feature a funnel-shaped structure at one end, serving as a shelter for the spider.
Unlike some other spider species, the threads of giant house spider webs are not sticky, resulting in flat and somewhat messy-looking webs. They tend to construct their webs in corners, both on ceilings and floors, with a preference for areas near windows where insect activity is typically higher.
Hobo Spiders
Another one of the common spiders in the Pacific Northwest is the hobo spider. While hobo and giant house spiders may share some similarities in appearance, particularly in size and coloration, they each have distinct characteristics upon closer examination.
Physical Characteristics
Hobo spiders lack the dark color bands characteristic of giant house spiders’ leg joints. These pests also have a light stripe running down their abdomen and light spots scattered along their length. Around each fang, hobo spiders have tiny, round sacs where they store their venom.
Web Structure
In terms of web construction, hobo spiders are known for their tightly spun funnel-shaped webs. These spiders position themselves within the funnels and patiently wait for unsuspecting prey.
Unlike other species, hobo spiders build their webs at ground level, allowing for better prey access. You’ll typically find them in and around human structures like yards, home foundations, and inside crawl space vents.
American House Spiders
American house spiders are known for their longevity, often surviving for over a year after reaching maturity! Because they primarily live indoors, they lack many common predators that impact outdoor spider species.
Physical Characteristics
Compared to their larger counterparts, American house spiders are generally smaller, typically ranging between 4 to 6 millimeters in length.
Their bodies feature a predominantly brown hue embellished with distinct patterns of black and white spots. These markings enhance their intricate appearance and serve to camouflage them effectively within diverse environments.
Web Structure
American house spiders are skilled at weaving intricate cobweb structures, perfect for trapping prey efficiently. With their synanthropic nature, they excel at thriving near human habitats, using manufactured structures to support their survival.
As a result, you’ll often find their webs strategically placed in concealed spots around homes, such as basements, attics, and behind appliances. These flat webs are positioned to catch passing insects, providing a reliable food source for the spiders.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders belong to the most prominent family of spiders globally, boasting over 6,000 species— a staggering 13% of all spider species fall under this diverse category!
Physical Characteristics
One of the most distinctive features of jumping spiders is their unique eye structure, with eight eyes arranged in two rows.
The front row contains four eyes, often larger and more prominent, while the back row has four smaller eyes. This arrangement gives jumping spiders excellent vision and depth perception, which they use to accurately judge distances when pouncing on prey or navigating their surroundings.
In terms of size, jumping spiders typically range from 4 to 18 millimeters in length, boasting a compact and agile build.
Web Behavior
Unlike many other spider species, jumping spiders eschew traditional web-building behavior, relying instead on their remarkable agility and keen hunting instincts to capture prey. Using their jumping abilities, these pests can easily cover short distances to pursue and ambush their prey.
Although they don’t build webs to catch prey, jumping spiders still produce egg sacs, commonly found in the nooks and crannies of building exteriors or other sheltered spots.
Control Nuisance Spiders Around Your Home
Protecting your home from spiders has never been easier with Natura! Our highly trained technicians use advanced techniques and environmentally friendly products to eradicate common spiders in the Pacific Northwest and prevent future infestations.
In addition to spider control, our comprehensive pest management services target a variety of common household pests, keeping your home safe and comfortable for you and your family.
Don’t wait until a minor nuisance becomes a major problem—take proactive steps to safeguard your home by scheduling an appointment with us. Contact us today!
