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Wolf Spiders, Cellar Spiders and House Spiders: Who Is in Your Home?
Updated: 24 hours ago
Found a spider and not sure what it is? Most are harmless. Here is a quick guide to the ones you will meet in Wichita and Kansas City homes.
Quick Answers
The vast majority of spiders are harmless to people.
Only the brown recluse and the female black widow are considered medically significant here.
Spiders eat flies, mosquitoes and other pests.
Most spiders run and hide when disturbed.
What is a wolf spider?
Wolf spiders do not build webs. They prowl the ground. Their legs can span 4 inches or more, so people often mistake them for tarantulas. They look scary, but they are not a medical concern.
What is a cellar spider?
Cellar spiders have tiny tan bodies and very long, thin legs. They hang from loose webs on ceilings and in corners and catch flies. Many people call them daddy longlegs, but that name belongs to a different group called harvestmen. Harvestmen have no venom, no fangs and cannot make silk.
What is an American house spider?
This spider is grey with white marbling and banded legs. Its body shape looks a bit like a black widow, but the coloring and leg bands are different. It feeds on flies, crickets and other household pests.
What about orb weavers?
Orb weavers build big round webs outside. The yellow garden spider is one of the largest. It is yellow, black and blue and rests in the middle of its web. It is a garden helper, not a house problem.
Which spiders should you worry about?
The brown recluse and the female black widow. Most bites happen when a spider is squished in clothing or shoes. Shake out shoes, gloves and stored clothes. If you think you were bitten by one of these, talk to your doctor.
What can you do today?
Take a clear photo before you move or squish it.
Vacuum webs and egg sacs in corners.
Seal gaps around doors, windows and pipes.
Cut down clutter in basements, garages and closets.
When should you call a pro?
Call when you keep seeing spiders after cleaning, or when you think you have a brown recluse or black widow. Text us a photo and we can usually tell you what you have. Bug Shockers is local and family-owned, with no contracts and a 5.0-star rating on Google. Wichita: (316) 775-7867. Overland Park and Kansas City: (913) 222-2847.
Learn more: spider control, our complete guide to spiders in Wichita and Kansas City and our post on brown recluse spiders in Wichita.
Quick FAQ
Are wolf spiders dangerous? They look scary, but most spiders are harmless to people.
Which spiders matter in this region? The brown recluse and the female black widow.
Is a daddy longlegs a spider? No. Harvestmen are a separate group. Cellar spiders are the long-legged true spiders people often confuse with them.
Source
Need help in Wichita? See our Wichita pest control page.
Bug Shockers: The Shockingly Smart Choice.
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