Creepy. Crawly. Sometimes deadly. Great models for scientists who are interested in nano-robotics, spiders are weird little guys.

Out of the thousands of different kinds of spiders that make America their home – something well over 3-thousand species – there are actually only a couple that pose a threat to humans. That means there are not a boatload of these things that produce a venom that could ruin your day.

Warning: Science Ahead

In our country there are a couple of these creatures to watch-out for. Maybe they’re upset because they are widows. But they all belong to the genus Latrodectus (red widows, brown widows and black widows). Then there are the couch potato varieties – the recluses. They come from the genus Loxosceles, which we call fiddleback, violin or brown recluse spiders.

Occasionally, we’ll get tapped by a Hobo Spider. Usually someone who knows Shinola about arachnids with think the victim was snapped by a brown recluse. The reason is that it causes the bite area to go numb. Don’t get us wrong, if you get stung by a bunch of Hobos, you could die. But one bite ain’t gonna kill you.

We freak-out over tarantulas. And if they bite you, it will hurt. But you’ll live.

Let’s Get Phobic

Most people go cross-eyed over spiders are like those who hate snakes – or clowns for that matter. They’ve got a phobia. But let’s get real, folks. Over the span of a decade only 6 people in America have gone room temperature because of a spider’s venom.

You’re entitled to your fears. If you don’t like something or are scared of an activity, as long as it’s not eating or sleeping, we want to be the ones to deliver a smidge of hope for you.

Real Reality

You’ll never be able to totally get rid of spiders in your home. Fact of life. You’re always going to have that crazy aunt that shows-up on Thanksgiving. Best advice – for the crazy aunt anyway – when she starts rambling about black helicopters, change the subject.

With spiders, they’re really not too terribly receptive to insecticides. Those big legs of theirs are what make chemical killers mostly useless. Since they don’t rub their belly along the surface, the insecticide is only going to touch the tips of their 8 legs (also, believe it-or-not they’re called “feet”). Likewise they don’t have arteries, veins or a circulatory system. Basically, there’s no way to take the poison into their bodies.

You can try spraying them with some extra strength hair lacquer. Might slow them down – freeze them in place – just long enough so you can grab a shoe and smack them to spider-heaven.

Those in the biz of eliminating spiders call the sport of killing arachnids a “contact kill.” Means what it implies. Unless you smack the critter, that’s the number one option. You have to make contact with a rolled-up newspaper or flyswatter to destroy ‘em.

Couple Other Things, Though

Let’s say the spiders are coming inside through a tight crack or crevasse. If you smear some insecticide around the opening, and the spider touches the edge with their body, that will create a point where they get a little of the poison on them.

Spiders like to eat other bugs. Why do you think they make those elaborate webs? Think about this: If you dry-up their source of food, the spider isn’t going to stick around. So, talk to your Alabama pest control service about a total bug management program for your house.

Once the grocery store goes bankrupt, the arachnid will go looking for another Safeway or Kroger or Piggly Wiggly. You’re just keeping your fingers crossed that their source of food is in a neighborhood outside your own.

Finally, keep your place clean. Put food away. Don’t leave anything around that other varmints will feed from.

Remember, spiders are like writers. They work alone. Your best bet when you see one is cuff it with an old Reader’s Digest. That’ll generally do the trick. Or if you just can’t handle it call the pros, Like Us!