Black Widow Spider - Spiders in Oklahoma

Three Spiders in Oklahoma That Might Bite You

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What to Do if These Eight-Legged Creatures Bite You

Oklahoma is home to a wide range of spiders, some of which can pose a danger to humans. However, the negative reputation of some of Oklahoma’s spiders is unearned. Read on to learn more about some of Oklahoma’s most common and well-known spiders.

Brown recluse.

People fear the brown recluse for a reason – its bite injects venom that can be toxic to humans, particularly the very young and the very old. You can most easily identify brown recluses by their brown color and the distinctive fiddle-shaped markings on the back.

Brown recluses hide in quiet areas such as cabinets, shoes, and under furniture during the day, but may come out in search of food at night. If a brown recluse bites you, you may experience an immediate painful reaction, but the long-lasting effects of brown recluse venom are the real danger. Their venom can kill skin tissue to an extent that may require skin grafts and six to eight weeks to heal. Seek medical attention.

Black widow.

The country’s most well-known venomous spider is also native to Oklahoma. Their large, shiny, black abdomens easily distinguish black widows, as well as the distinctive red hourglass on the underside. You can find them most often in crevices provided by manmade structures.

Black widows inject their victims with a neurotoxin that can affect the nervous system, but usually produces flu-like symptoms. However, the very young and the very old can be at a greater risk for further injury by black widows. Seek medical attention in the case of a black widow bite.

Wolf spiders.

Wolf spiders are often confused with brown recluse spiders. Though fearsome in name and appearance, these large, furry brown striped spiders do not typically harm humans; though their bites may be painful, wolf spiders are not venomous. Wolf spiders are helpful creatures, as they eat other insects – as well as other spiders – in your home.

Do you have questions or concerns about spiders you’ve found in your home? Are you interested in pest control in OKC or spider control in OKC? Contact The Bug Guy for a quote.

Sources:

http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2294/EPP-7301webcolor.pdf

http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/Members/sean-hubbard-40okstate.edu/spider-identification-101

https://www.nomorebugs.com/poisonous-spiders-in-oklahoma/

Oklahoma

Tick Bites Can Make You Sick - Pest Control OKC

Five Ways a Tick Bite Can Make You Sick and What to Do

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Don’t Let a Tick Bite Make You Ill

Ticks are notorious for being hard to spot until they’re well established, and tick bites can make you sick. Are you aware of all the risks ticks can carry? More importantly, are you doing all you can to prevent yourself, your loved ones, and your pets from exposure to ticks?

What Are the Health Risks?

The most well-known tick borne disease is Lyme disease, with over 30,000 cases per year. The bacteria that cause this disease spread after a tick bites, and can cause a rash, headache, and fever, and eventually lead to arthritis as well as neurological and cardiac disorders. However, North American ticks spread at least eleven other diseases, including:

  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Tularemia
  • Q fever
  • Ehrlichiosis

Several of these diseases can turn deadly, and not all are detectable on the skin or by other symptoms until the infection is advanced.

How Can You Prevent Tick Bites?

The best way to prevent tick bites is by staying away from areas commonly known to host ticks, such as areas of tall grass. Alternatively:

  • Cover yourself. Wear clothing that covers the arms and legs and presents a barrier to any ticks.
  • Use a repellent. Look for a repellent marked to repel ticks. However, ticks may be able to walk over areas of skin sprayed with repellent, so consider clothing treated with permethrin, a tick repellant substance.
  • Stay away from shade. Ticks don’t adapt well to direct sunlight, meaning they tend to stay in shaded areas.
  • Wear light colored clothing. Lighter colored clothing makes it easier to spot any ticks that may have caught a ride from your hike to your home.
  • Check your pets. You should check your pets for ticks after every walk – particularly those in grass or a wooded area. In addition, regularly use tick prevention for your pets.

Once you get home, do a thorough check for ticks, including any small red bumps that could indicate a tick bite. If you find a tick, remove it immediately with tweezers, being careful to keep the tick intact.

Reach out to The Bug Guy if you have questions regarding ticks, or with any questions about pest control in OKC or spider control in OKC.

Sources:

https://medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/spring17/articles/spring17pg25-27.html

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/index.html

https://www.livescience.com/46160-how-to-avoid-tick-bites.html