Spiders are abundant (over 1,000,000 individuals per acre in a grassy field) and can be found almost anywhere from the bedroom closet to the 22,000 foot level on Mt. Everest. There are about 2,500 different species in North America. Some live in holes in the ground while others may be found under rocks or logs. Those that prefer dark, shaded areas may also occur in cellars and basements. As we mentioned above, most spiders found in homes and buildings are "accidental invaders"; however, homes in wooded areas or with naturalized or landscaped foundations may be prone to more frequent invasion because the surroundings are ideal spider habitats.
Virtually all spiders have poison glands that connect with the fangs. Venom produced by the glands apparently is used to kill or paralyze prey and in defense. Most species do not attempt to bite humans; many have fangs that are not capable of piercing human skin. However, some will, with results that are similar to a wasp or bee sting. There is always the chance that a person can have an allergic reaction to the venom.
Please select these links for specific information and pictures of spiders:
Ticks - another troublesome arachnid
Ticks are small parasitic arachnids that live by sucking the blood of
mammals, birds, and other animals. Not only a major nuisance to humans
and domestic animals, ticks are also responsible for transmitting many
diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and
ehrlichiosis. Although there are hundreds of tick species, the major
species of concern in the United States are the deer tick, the
American dog tick, the brown dog tick, the Rocky Mountain wood tick,
and the lone star tick.
The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), also known as the blacklegged tick,
lives in the eastern and middle U.S. and also has a close relative on
the West Coast. It attacks many animals including humans, deer, and
pets. Known for infecting humans with Lyme disease, the deer tick can
also transmit human granulocytic ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.
The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) is found east of the
Rockies as well as on the West Coast. It prefers dogs but will also
bite humans and other large mammals. It can transmit Rocky Mountain
spotted fever to humans. The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) lives throughout the
U.S., and though it rarely bites humans, it is a highly annoying pest
to dogs and other pets. It is not known to transmit disease to humans.
The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) occurs in the
Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. and southwestern Canada. It
transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever to humans and blood parasites
to cattle and dogs. It also can inject dangerous toxins into the host
as it feeds.
The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is found in the southeastern
and mid-Atlantic United States. It has a painful, itchy bite and can
transmit ehrlichiosis, tick-borne typhus, and tularemia to humans.
Appearance and habits
A tick has eight legs, a tiny head, and a flat, seed-shaped body that
swells up like a balloon as it feeds. Ticks that are only a few
millimeters long before they bite can grow up to half an inch when
engorged with blood. Their appearance varies depending on species,
sex, and life cycle stage, but they are generally dark-colored,
sometimes with distinctive patterns.
In each stage of a tick's life cycle (larva, nymph, and adult) it
searches for a host, using its ability to sense heat, light, and
carbon dioxide. The tick often crawls to the top of weeds, grass, and
other vegetation so that it can grab a passing host animal with its
front legs. Once it has grabbed onto a host, it may bite any part of
the body but usually prefers to crawl to the top of the host and bite
the head, neck, or ears. The tick uses fanglike mouth parts called
chelicerae to pierce the skin, and inserts a feeding tube called a
hypostome. The hypostome is barbed, making it very hard to remove the
tick by pulling. The tick drinks blood until it is full, then drops
off the host to molt or lay eggs.
People typically acquire ticks in the spring and summer, while walking
through tall grass, woods, and weedy areas. Many ticks can smell
animals and are thus attracted to paths and trails where their
potential hosts travel. They can also infest homes if carried indoors
by pets.
Prevention and treatment of tick bites
To prevent tick bites, use repellent and cover up bare skin when
walking in tick habitats such as woods and tall grass. Check your body
and clothes every day after you come back inside. Check the fur of any
pets that go outdoors, especially around the neck and ears.
If you find an embedded tick, do not simply grab its body and pull, as
the tick's barbed hypostome (feeding tube) may break off and remain in
the bite. Applying chemicals or flame to the tick is not a good idea
because, while it may make the tick let go, it can also cause the tick
to spit blood back into the wound, possibly sending disease germs into
the bloodstream in the process. The best way to get rid of an embedded
tick is by inserting a pair of sharp tweezers into the bite, and
gently pulling the whole tick out, mouth parts and all.
Once you have removed a tick, do not try to crush it‹unengorged ticks
are flat and very hard to crush, while engorged ticks will burst and
release blood. Instead, you should flush the tick down a drain or seal
it in a jar. (It can be useful to keep the tick to show to a doctor in
case you get sick from the bite.) Some people kill and preserve ticks
by dropping them into bottles of rubbing alcohol; if you do this, do
not use the alcohol in that bottle for anything else.
If you feel sick in the weeks following a tick bite, or if you can't
get the whole tick out, see a doctor. Some tick-borne illnesses can be
very serious and require prompt treatment. Lyme disease, spread by the
deer tick, is particularly common on the East Coast; its early effects
may include flu-like symptoms and often‹but not always!‹a
bullseye-shaped rash at the site of the tick bite. Because deer ticks
are extremely small, people can get Lyme disease without ever noticing
the bite. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, but if not
treated early enough it can seriously damage the heart, joints, and
nervous system.
If you suspect that ticks have invaded your home, you need to call Regional Pest Management at 1-800-36-5-STAR to bring them under control.
