Spiders enter homes and other buildings to look for mates, hunt for prey, and escape colder outdoor temperatures. While most house spiders are harmless and only bite when they feel threatened, they are still pests that can make you feel less comfortable and less at ease. Below, learn about a few of the most common spiders in Kentucky, as well as some signs that they may be present in your home or business.

A Guide to Common Kentucky Spiders

1. Funnel Web Spiders

Funnel web spiders spin telltale conelike webs in which they trap other insects. These spiders are light or dark brown in color, with ovular bodies, long, thin legs, and a protrusion that looks like a tail extending from the rear of their bodies. Most funnel web spiders are less than an inch in length. When they invade buildings, funnel web spiders will usually seek out the darkest places that offer the most opportunities for trapping insects for food, such as attics, basements, and garages.

2. Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders are light or dark brown with spots or stripes. Also, like actual wolves, they can move extremely fast and are adept hunters. In fact, their stealth can make them seem more aggressive than they really are.

Since wolf spiders do not spin webs, spotting their quick-moving bodies is the most obvious sign of an infestation. While they prefer to be outdoors, they can nest in and around doors and windows, closets, basements, garages, even in houseplants—anywhere that's dark and provides plenty of cover.

3. Black Widow Spiders

Black widows are one of only two poisonous spider varieties found in Kentucky, with the other being the brown recluse. Fortunately, black widows will only bite when they are disturbed or threatened, but a bite requires emergency medical care. These spiders are small—only about a half an inch—and they are shiny and black in color with red or white markings.

They spin webs that look messy or erratic in shape and hang close to the ground. You might also spot a silken egg sac hanging from a doorway or ceiling. When black widows infest a building, they will look for dark corners, but they are often brought inside with firewood.

 

At the first sign of any of the above spiders, contact a pest control professional for prompt removal. All-Rite Pest Control Versailles has been serving the Versailles, KY, region since 1972. They eradicate insects and vermin for both residential and commercial clients. From spiders and carpenter ants to mice and rats, they work hard to eliminate your pest problem. Call (859) 873-1400 or visit them online to request a free quote.