When you think of a spider, does the hair on the back of your neck stand up? Does your heart beat a little Common Spiders in Ontario faster? Does panic set in?

For many, the thought of a spider, or an actual live encounter with the 8-legged arachnid can cause overwhelming fear, alarm and even phobia.

For the most part, spiders are harmless to humans. They also do not cause damage to structures or property. Their webs, which depending on the species, are used for shelter, nesting, reproduction or hunting, make a home or structure look unclean and neglected. In severe infestations, with large numbers of spider webs, you may feel like you stepped into a scene from a scary movie.

Spiders are one of natures most misunderstood pest. They are also one of the most fascinating. With over 45,000 spider species in the world (and many in Ontario), they truly come in all shapes, sizes and colours. All spiders do contain the same physical make up of eight legs, two body regions, and no wings or antennae.

Spiders are a species heavily judged on their looks and their predatory hunting nature. Most concerning is a spider bite, which is often thought to cause serious permanent damage or be fatal. While there are some spiders species that do possess toxic venom that can be harmful to humans (like the brown recluse spider and black widow spider), these spiders are not common in Ontario. These spiders are also not aggressive, and do not set out to intentionally attack or strike humans. In general, If any spider bites a human, it is because the spider felt threatened or was injured when it came in direct contact with a person.

One of the most amazing things about spiders is that they have a very positive impact on our environment and livelihood. They are mother nature's very own living natural pest control. Spiders hunt or trap the common household insects that are a nuisance to people, and some pests that cause serious harm and damage to crops that we depend on for our food supply.

While spiders are beneficial, they can become a nuisance or issue in homes, garages, barns, cottages or other structures if their numbers become large and intolerable. In these cases, assistance from an expert, licensed pest control professional may be needed.

Learn more about some of the most common spiders in Ontario. You may have seen or encountered many of these around your yard, home, garage, shed, cottage or barn.

Keep checking our Pest Library for more information about spiders, especially for expert tips on how to get rid of spiders!

THE MISUNDERSTOOD SPIDER