When you see a long, thin-legged spider in your Raleigh home, it is a daddy long legs, right? Not exactly. For many, the term daddy long legs is the only name they have ever heard associated with scrawny, long-legged spiders with small bodies. If this is the case for you, we are about to blow your mind. For one, daddy long legs are not even spiders. Their bodies only have one segment where other spiders have two distinct sections. This distinction is the best way you can tell a daddy long legs apart from its long lost cousin, the cellar spider. Unlike the daddy long legs, the cellar spider is, in fact, a real spider.
The Big Daddy Long Legs Myth
Has anyone ever told you that the daddy long legs is the most venomous spider in the world? Or that they can't bite people because their fangs are too small? The funny truth is that a true daddy long legs has no venom at all. We don't know where this myth started, but it is a myth. Daddy long legs do not even possess venom glands, and even if they did, they are not known to bite humans.
So, what about cellar spiders? They do look strikingly similar, is this myth about them? Cellar spiders are not known to bite, but even when they did, there have been no known reactions in their victims. It is true that their fangs are small, but so are the fangs of the brown recluse, and there is no doubt they can cause serious harm to humans. Feel free to use this knowledge to win intellectual arguments in the future and baffle your friends with the truth.
Why Am I Seeing Long Legged Spiders In My Raleigh Home
One thing most people don't think about when it comes to finding spiders in their Raleigh homes is that they need to eat. And what do spiders eat? Cellar spiders and daddy long legs eat other insects. If you are noticing more bugs around your home, we assure you, these creepy crawlies are not too far away, most likely hiding within your walls or just out of view. Both cellar spiders and daddy long legs love living in dark, undisturbed places. This lifestyle makes basements and attics perfect habitats for them.
Some Ways You Can Deter Spiders
There are a few things you can do to keep spiders out of your house. Here is a shortlist of our best suggestions to keep your home spider-free.
- Search out and seal gaps and cracks in your home's exterior foundation and around window and door frames, as well as utility piping.
- Turn off exterior lights at night or invest in insect repellant bulbs.
- Clean up clutter around your home.
- Repair or replace ripped or torn screens.
- Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
- Fix leaks around your home.
- Make sure your gutters are in good working order.
- Store leftover food in airtight containers and clean often.
How To Keep Daddy Long Legs And Cellar Spiders Out For Good
Whether you are currently dealing with long-legged spiders in your home, or just looking for a way to keep them out, Pest & Termite Consultants is here to help. With our general pest control plan, your home will have the protection it needs, not just against daddy long legs and cellar spiders, but against all of the pests they hunt.
Give us a call today to learn more about our general pest control or to schedule immediate spider control services for your Raleigh home. With Pest & Termite Consultants on your side, pests will stay outside; it's our guarantee.