Hobo Spider Bite Facts—Are Hobo Spiders Venomous?

A hobo spider found in Northern Utah - RentokilThe little brown spiders you’ve been seeing around the outside of your house lately are most likely hobo spiders. Hobo spiders are an invasive species that are now common in the Pacific Northwest; they have been spotted in Idaho as early as the 1960s and in Utah starting in the 1990s. More recently, they’ve been spotted in the backyards of a lot of our customers.

Having a fear of spiders is natural, but it is important to learn about how to deal with spiders properly so that you don’t accidentally wipe out any beneficial species on your property. The spider experts at Rentokil are here to teach you how to identify hobo spiders and what their bites are like. Read on to learn!

Identifying Hobo Spiders in Northern Utah

Hobo spiders are often confused for similarly-colored spiders, like the brown recluse. There are some distinct features that you can use to identify them with, though. Here are a few:

  1. Size: Hobo spiders with their legs extended are about the size of a nickel. Brown recluses, for comparison, are about the size of a quarter.
  2. Markings: Hobo spiders have lots of intricate markings across their backs in different shades of brown. Brown recluses have no markings, just differently colored segments.
  3. Webs: The web of a hobo spider will be close to the ground and look like a funnel with a dense structure and a distinct opening.

Are Hobo Spiders a Health Risk?

Hobo spiders are able to bite, but their venom has been classified as non-toxic by the CDC. Their bites were formerly believed to induce tissue damage and necrosis, or skin death, which contributed to their being confused with brown recluses.

Hobo spiders rarely bite—like many kinds of spiders, they would much rather flee than resort to attacking. If you are bitten by one, here is what you can expect:

  • Redness and swelling at the bite
  • Moderate pain for about 12 hours
  • Leg twitches

If your symptoms extend beyond these, you might have been bitten by something else. Talk to your doctor about prolonged spider bite symptoms.

Hobo Spider Control in Northern Utah

If you are particularly anxious about the number of spiders on your property, whether they’re hobo spiders or not, you can always call your local pest control company about them. At Rentokil, we conduct holistic home inspections for every customer to determine spider species, threat levels, and vulnerabilities that could be attracting them. Contact us today for a free quote on spider control!

How to Keep Ticks Out of Your Home & Yard

A blacklegged tick on a leaf in Northern Utah - RentokilWe all look forward to the warm days spent out in the sun during summer. However, the more time we spend outside, the higher our risk of a tick bite becomes. Ticks love areas with consistent warmth and humidity, especially when humans and animals are around. They live in the woods, around hiking trails, in backyards, and many more areas. Ticks have also expanded to more regions than usual recently due to increasing temperatures.

If you have dealt with tick problems every summer around Northern Utah, read on to learn Rentokil’s top tick control tips. We will teach you the reasons why ticks around and what you can do to avoid them.

Keeping Ticks Away From Your Yard

Ticks like to hang around densely vegetated areas with lots of trees or small animals around. If this sounds like your yard, you are likely to find some ticks this summer. To keep ticks away from your your hard, you can do the following:

  • Trim trees: Ticks make hiding places out of overgrown plants. If trees are hanging over your deck, porch, play structure, or any other area where you hang out, they will be able to find you easily.
  • Mow your lawn: Ticks also like to hide in tall grass, especially where animals live. If you mow your lawn once a week, it will reduce your chances of attracting ticks.
  • Clean up your yard: Any piles of yard waste, firewood, old chairs and couches, or garbage can create hiding places for ticks.
  • Prevent wildlife problems: Small animals like squirrels, racoons, mice, rats, and more can attract ticks. They will look to them as hosts to feed on and eventually make their way to you.

Preventing Ticks Inside the House

Ticks can only live indoors for up to a few days at their most resilient. However, in indoor spaces that accumulate more humidity, like bathrooms, sheds, and cabins, ticks can hang around for longer. Most ticks end up indoors because they were unknowingly brought inside by a person or a pet. Here’s how to prevent that from happening:

  • Inspect your pets: People with dogs that spend their days outside or go on frequent walks see the most tick problems indoors. Make sure to check your pets for ticks after they spend time outdoors.
  • Cover your skin: The more exposed skin you leave when outdoors, the more likely you are to attract ticks. Wearing long pants or high socks can help you avoid them.
  • Use bug spray: When going on a hike or spending the day in the sun, use bug spray on your exposed skin. This will help you avoid bringing ticks back indoors at the end of the day.

Tick Removal Professionals in Northern Utah

If you need help getting rid of ticks around your property this summer, let your local pest control company know. At Rentokil, we take pride in our holistic tick control service: a complete inspection to determine the infestation’s source, implementation of pertinent tick control tactics, and advice to keep our customers tick-free going forward. Contact us today for a free quote!