(908) 850-8206At All Seasons Pest Control we get many calls about the dangers of wolf spiders, and its no wonder with articles, like this one from outdoor life, which places the wolf spider among the 10 most dangerous spiders in the world . Truth be told their placement on lists like this is something of a mystery. All spiders a venomous , but very few have a venom that poses a true danger to most humans. There is a possibility of an allergic reaction but these are rare. In fact the Entomology department at Penn State Wolf Spider Fact Sheet says “their venoms are not very harmful to humans” and even goes so far as to say “No serious medical consequences of these bites have been noted.”
Wolf Spider Identification
There are about thirteen genera and 125 different species of wolf spiders in the United States. In Pennsylvania two of the largest and most common species of wolf spider are the , H. carolinensis and H. asperse . That is these are the wolf spiders most often found in Hackettstown NJ and Poccono area homes.
In our area wolf spiders range from 18mm to 35 mm (.7″ to 1.4″) depending on gender and species, though we acknowledge they do seem bigger. They are grey to brown in color and they have a coat of fine grey hair on their bodies….. yeah we know you’re not getting close enough to see the hair 🙂
Control of Wolf Spiders
Complete elimination of wolf spiders or any spiders can be challenging as they can wonder in through doors and travel in on clothing, and packages. And since wolf spiders and other spider eat insects having them around is not all bad. Keeping spiders out is best accomplished by keeping insects out and mechanical exclusion (sealing up cracks and crevices ) can be a real help in that area. Still even in the most sealed buildings spiders and insects will find their way in. when you work with All Seasons Pest Control we can help you develop a integrated pest management program that will help keep wolf spiders and their prey living happily outside your home.
