June 26th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized | Comment and Win a Free Can of EcoSMART
The name alone is intimidating, and most people who see these creepy arachnids are given quite a fright. They’re big, hairy, and often seen toting hundreds of little baby wolf spiders on their backs–not exactly something you want hanging around your house. But let’s get more specific; what exactly is a wolf spider (besides scary looking)?
Wolf Spider Breakdown
Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, which is the Greek word for wolf. There are over 2000 different kinds of wolf spiders in the world and at least 200 kinds in the United States alone, making it likely that you’ll run into one in your lifetime. Wolf spiders are generally pretty large. On average they are at least 1/2 in. long, but plenty of wolf spiders grow over the 1 in. mark. They range in color from gray to brown with black striped patterning on their back.
The majority of wolf spiders are hunters rather than web builders. Rather than trapping bugs in webs like most of their spider brethren, wolf spiders stalk their prey and attack them with their agile speed….like a wolf! Certain types of wolf spiders create their own burrows to hide in and ambush unsuspecting bug victims, while others seek shelter under rocks and logs. Wolf spiders enjoy nighttime hunting because their eyes have adapted to allow them to see easily in the dark. If you shine a flashlight across the grass one night you may be able to spot one, as their eyes will reflect the shine with a blue-green tint.
Female wolf spiders use their webs to lay their eggs in. They then roll the webbing into a ball. After that, they attach the egg-filled web to their spinnerets and carry it around with them like some sort of bizarre baby spider backpack. When the babies have hatched, they then climb up onto their mother’s abdominal area and hitch a ride for awhile until they are ready to go out on their own. The sight of tons of little spider babies crawling all over their mother’s back is one you won’t soon forget.
Spider Myths: Don’t cry wolf.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the wolf spider. Are they poisonous? Overly aggressive? Evil blood-sucking fiends?
In truth, wolf spiders do inject venom if they bite you. However, the reaction to a wolf spider bite is mild with redness, itching, or swelling at the bite site. Certain types of wolf spiders may have a more painful bite, but wolf spiders are considered fairly harmless in general. There are a few South American and Australian wolf spiders that have been rumored to have a nasty and serious bite, but most research looking into these rumors proves those tales to be false.
In addition, the wolf spider is very similar in appearance to the much more dangerous brown recluse spider, and they are often mixed up. Keep this in mind if you think you are dealing with a relatively benign wolf spider, as a bite from a brown recluse can be extremely painful.
Wolf spiders are also not generally aggressive. They are fairly quick and shy, so any approach by a human may lead to a mad getaway dash that could be mistaken for aggressive movement. Keep in mind they hunt bugs, not humans. Chances are they aren’t coming after you.
Be SMART when you’re around a wolf spider as a general rule. If provoked, they can bite. It won’t be fun, so just don’t try touching them or picking them up and you’ll be fine.
Getting Rid of Wolf Spiders
You want to keep out the wolfy invaders. What do you do?
Prevention
The first step for keeping wolf spiders out is to prevent them from getting in in the first place. Here are some quick steps you can take to stop invasions from happening:
- Seal all outdoor openings like cracks and holes to cover potential spider entrances.
- Put screens over any household vents.
- Keep other household pests controlled. Besides being a pest for you, they’re just food for the spiders.
- Dismantle any cardboard or wood piles where spiders could hide. Just be aware of spiders that may already be inhabiting such places during cleanup.
- Try to dry out any moist or dampened areas like basements.
- Keep outside light usage to a minimum. Lights attract other bugs, which in turn attract spiders.
Wolf Spider Control
It’s too late for prevention. The wolf spiders have invaded your home and are out to make themselves cozy. What now?
You could go with a synthetic chemical bug spray to get rid of them. However, do you really want to breathe in noxious and potentially harmful fumes as you spray in your house? Make sure the pets and kids are cleared out? Let’s hope you’re going to say no…
So, what do you use to get rid of spiders safely and effectively?
EcoSMART: The SMART Product to Use
EcoSMART is an organic bug spray. It’s made with all natural ingredients like peppermint and wintergreen oils. This means it’s safe to use in your house and around your family and pets. In fact, EcoSMART is labeled as ‘GRAS,’ or generally recognized as safe, by the FDA. There are no dangerous chemicals to breathe in and it even leaves a pleasant minty smell behind.
There are two EcoSMART products recommended for taking care of your wolf spider problems.
EcoSMART Ant and Roach Killer: This is a great way to get rid of spiders that have already found their way into your home. It can also be used on any other bugs you find crawling around that may be attracting the spiders.
EcoSMART Wasp and Hornet Killer: This product should be used on spiders that you find outside or in non-occupied areas of your house like your attic, garage, or basement. It has a jet spray that reaches up to eighteen feet, so it’s great to use on those spiders that have taken refuge in places that are too high to reach.
By Caitlin Leopold
Author, Jennifer Gilchrest
By Kyra Pritchard
