The average home will house 61 spiders at any given time. They can be found in an average of 77% of bedrooms and 68% of bathrooms.
Spiders can be found almost anywhere and even live in our homes. That is why many people may wonder if they need to worry about a jumping spider bite.
Jumping spiders are commonly found in the US and have a tendency to freak people out. Like any other insect, people may wonder if this spider will bite them if given the opportunity.
Keep reading to find out if you need to worry about a jumping spider bite or not.
How to Identify Jumping Spiders
If you believe that you have a jumping spider in your home, you will want to identify it. It can be difficult to know what kind of spiders are in your home since they often look alike.
Spiders have distinct features that allow you to tell what kind they are. The problem is getting close enough to see these features to identify them.
If you want to know if you have jumping spiders in your home, there are certain things to look for. It is a good idea to understand what kind of pests you are up against.
You want to make sure you rule out the risks of poisonous spiders in your home.
Color and Size
One of the easiest features to look for on a spider is color and size. An adult jumping spider is usually going to be 1/8 of an inch long on average.
It will be much harder to identify baby jumping spiders since they are going to be much smaller. You may not be able to see any distinct features on them.
Aside from the size, you can also look at their color for identification. Jumping spiders are usually either black, brown, tan, or gray.
They will usually have pale markings on their back and sometimes on their legs. You may have to get quite close or try to take a picture to see these types of details.
Jumping spiders also tend to be quite hairy, which is a more noticeable feature. The majority of household spiders are not going to be very hairy.
Legs and Shape
Jumping spiders have eight legs like every other kind of spider. These are usually on the thicker side and are covered in easily noticeable hair.
Their legs are usually fairly short compared to those of other types of spiders. This gives them a compact and stubby appearance, unlike more gangly house spiders.
They have a thick body that is usually round and fat looking. Jumping spiders are usually pretty easy to identify since their shape and color make them unique among spider species.
Behavior
Jumping spiders have a behavior that is relatively unusual in comparison to other spiders. They got their name because they can jump very quickly.
Unlike other spiders, jumping spiders hunt their prey and catch them by jumping. They do not weave a web to catch other bugs, so they are much more active.
Jumping spiders are very fast and often have quick and jumpy movements that make them hard to catch. They will often run away or jump from one thing to the next if you find them.
They are also considered to be a very clever type of spider, so you may have difficulty catching them.
Do Jumping Spiders Bite People?
If you believe that you have a jumping spider in your home, you may be wondering about a jumping spider bite. After all, the majority of spiders do bite people if given the chance.
This can be a very common fear since there are plenty of poisonous spiders out there. Spider bites can become very serious depending on the species of spider.
The good news is that a jumping spider bite is considered to be quite rare. Not very many people have been bitten by this type of spider, since they do not go out of their way to interact with people.
Even though these spiders are natural hunters, they do not seem to be aggressive. They will not usually lash out and bite unless provoked or they are being handled.
In general, it is a good idea to treat spiders with respect and caution. You do not want to get a spider bite since it can be quite irritating and painful.
Healing a spider bite should not take very long at all if you do not have a bad reaction. Most people no longer notice the bite after a day or two or even after just a few hours.
If you find a jumping spider in your home, it is best to find a safe way of removing it. Never try to catch it with your hands, or it will most likely bite you.
What to Do If a Jumping Spider Bites You
If a jumping spider has bitten you, you will most likely notice a red spot. This redness may be accompanied by itching, stinging, or mild swelling in the area.
You may notice the bite as a red and raised area of skin with two puncture holes. If you notice this, wash the area with soap and water to make sure it is completely clean.
A jumping spider bite is not considered to be a severe issue that needs medical attention. Jumping spiders do not have venom that they inject into the bite site like some other spiders.
If the spider bite is irritating you, you can apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling. Adults can also take over-the-counter pain medicine to lessen the symptoms of the bite.
Spider bite care is typically straightforward and can be addressed at home. There aren’t very many spider bite treatments, but you should keep an eye on the area.
If the bite gradually becomes worse over a 24-hour period, you should seek medical attention. There are instances where you may have a reaction to the bite that is not normal.
If you do need medical attention, you must know what kind of spider bit you. That is why it is a good idea to identify spiders in your home, just in case.
When Will You See Jumping Spiders?
If you believe that there are jumping spiders in your home, you will want to know how they behave. Most spiders tend to stay in the shadows and are not always easily seen.
Unfortunately, jumping spiders are not as elusive as most house spiders are. You are much more likely to see jumping spiders active during the day when you are up and about.
Jumping spiders can jump up to 20 times their body length. They also jump so quickly that you may not even be able to keep track of where they are.
You will not find a typical spider web being made from jumping spiders. They do not create these web traps since they go out and hunt other insects.
If you have jumping spiders living in your home, you may find woven nests. These can be wispy webs or saclike webs made up of several layers.
These retreats will usually be found in corners of rooms, doors, windows, and other out-of-the-way areas. If they lay eggs, these eggs will be lens-shaped and suspended like a hammock.
How to Prevent Jumping Spiders
Like any other kind of spider, jumping spiders can enter your home in multiple ways. Because these insects are small, they can enter through any crevice or crack in your home.
The most common way that spiders get into your home is through doors and windows. The door may not be flush with the door frame, or windows may have cracks or leaks.
Spiders may also be able to get through cracks in the ceiling or walls or the floor. Any kind of small opening provides access to a variety of pests.
The good news is that there are certain ways that you can prevent jumping spiders from getting in. This is the best option since preventing them is easier than getting rid of them.
Seal Off Entrances
The first thing you should do is seal off any entrances in your home. You will need to walk around and closely examine doors, windows, and weak areas of your home.
You will most likely find all kinds of small holes and cracks where insects could come in. You will want to seal these entrances off so that they can no longer be used.
This is an easy remedy and can help to prevent all kinds of insects from coming into your home.
Use Window Screens
If you enjoy having your windows open on a warm day, this could be letting in spiders. As nice as it is to enjoy fresh air, you are also opening you were home to insects.
There is an easy way that you can prevent this so that you can still open your windows as much as you like. You can add window screens so that the entrance is blocked off, but the air still comes through.
This is also a great way to keep your pets indoors and pests outside. Screens are very easy to buy and easy to install, so this is no longer a concern.
Keep Out Other Bugs
It goes without saying that if you remove a spider's food source, you remove the spider. Jumping spiders rely on prey like all other kinds of house spiders.
They hunt and feed off of smaller insects that are in your home uninvited. One way to discourage jumping spiders from living inside your home is to remove other insects.
You can do this by sealing off entrances, setting sticky traps, and using bug repellents. Anything you can do to prevent insects is going to help with your spider problem.
This is something that you should ideally already be doing often. The fewer small insects that come into your home, the fewer spiders you will need to deal with overall.
How to Get Rid of Jumping Spiders
If you have jumping spiders in your home, you will want to get rid of them. Most people are not happy to have pests living in their homes with them.
The good thing is that there are all kinds of DIY pest control options available. These can be bought and used around your home to eliminate spiders.
You will want to choose a pest control kit that can target jumping spiders. There are all kinds of spiders, and they are not all going to be susceptible to just any type of pest control.
A company like Remedy offers the option of ordering your kit online. You can give the details of your home and the pests you are dealing with, and a kit will be customized for your needs.
You will need to use some form of pest control to get rid of jumping spiders. It would be far too difficult to try to catch them all yourself.
Will Jumping Spiders Bite and Other Jumping Spider Information
If you think that you have a jumping spider bite, this is not usually something too concerning. Unlike some other spiders, jumping spiders are not considered to be poisonous.Â
Do you have a spider problem in your home? Contact us today at Remedy for customized pest control kits.
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