Spider Facts & Information
Protect your home or business from spiders by learning techniques for identification and control.
IDENTIFY
Types of Spiders
What do spiders look like?
Tens of thousands of spider species have been identified throughout the world. These arachnids have eight legs, two body segments, and no wings or antennae. Spiders have three or four pair of eyes. Many spiders have poor vision, but some species of spiders, such as the jumping spider, have exceptional vision.
Treatment
How do I get rid of spiders?
What Orkin Does
Orkin Pros are trained to help manage spiders and other pests. Since every yard or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique spider treatment program for your situation.
Keeping spiders and pests out of your home is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment. Orkin’s exclusive A.I.M. solution is a continuing cycle of three critical steps — Assess, Implement and Monitor. Orkin can provide the right solution to keep spiders in their place...out of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Behavior, Diet & Habits
Understanding Spiders
Behavior & Habitat
Some spiders like moisture and are found in basements, crawl spaces and other damp parts of buildings. Others like dry, warm areas such as subfloor air vents, upper corners of rooms and attics. They hide in dark areas.
Tens of thousands of spider species have been identified throughout the world. These arachnids have eight legs and two body segments. Spiders have three or four pair of eyes. Many spiders have poor vision, but some species of spiders, such as the jumping spider, have exceptional vision.
Diet
They feed on insects, other spiders and any other prey they are able to subdue.
Spiders do not have chewing mouthparts and commonly utilize digestive enzymes in their saliva to break prey down before consuming it. Additionally, the gut of a spider is too narrow to allow for consumption of large food particles. Almost all spider species are predators, although one plant-feeding species has been documented.
Reproduction
Females produce an egg sac from which emerge spiderlings. Spiderlings undergo a series of molts and eventually become adults. Males of many spider species court the female. For example, male jumping spiders perform elaborate dances to attract the attention of a female. Mating can be a dangerous event for males, since they may become a meal for the female afterwards.
Silk
Spiders are capable of producing silk that is elastic, adhesive and strong. This silk is used to spin webs as well as to construct egg sacs and line spider dwellings. The size and shape of spider webs vary by species: some are orb-shaped, while others are funnel-shaped; some webs are orderly, while others appear haphazard. Some spider species live in burrows rather than webs, while others are free ranging and take refuge in crevices.
More Information
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