Pests Archive | Page 5 of 26 | Suburban Exterminating

Hobo Spider

Hobo Spiders in Suffolk County & Nassau County

A hobo spider is a common type of spider found in Suffolk County & Nassau County The hobo spider received its name from the fact that it’s often found along railroad tracks. The hobo spider belongs to the funnel-web spider family, and constructs funnel or tube-shaped areas out of their silk to hide in. They can move rapidly, up to three feet per second, when moving from place to place, but are not very good at climbing.

Hobo Spider Habitat

Common outdoor habitats for the hobo spider include rock retaining walls, landscape rocks, cracks in soil or concrete, vegetation, near and around foundations, window wells, irrigation boxes, stacks of lumber, firewood, and bricks. Indoors, the hobo spider is typically found running across the floor or near the floor level. These spiders are not good climbers, however, they will sometimes be found in tubs and sinks. Although some have been observed a few feet above floor level, most hobo spiders are seen running about on the floor or in webs close to the ground or vegetation.

Hobo Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Hobo spiders rarely bite people, and when they do bite, their bite is almost painless. It is no longer believed that hobo spider bites cause tissue damage or skin death (necrosis). Unlike other spiders that have been shown to cause this condition, hobo spider venom is not considered toxic to humans according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you suspect you have been bitten and are concerned about any skin reaction, see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

If you are dealing with hobo spiders, contact your local spider exterminators.

Funnel Weaver Spider

Funnel Weaver Spiders in Suffolk County & Nassau County

Funnel spiders, also referred to as grass spiders, are well-known for their funnel-shaped webs. These spiders are often called grass spiders because they construct their webs in tall grass, heavy ground cover, and the branches of thick shrubs. Found throughout Suffolk County & Nassau County, funnel weaver spider webs are not necessarily sticky, but they are inherently difficult for the prey to escape. Once the prey is trapped, the funnel weaver spider can quickly crawl over and inject it with venom. Occasionally, these spiders may venture into homes in search of prey or mates.

Funnel Weaver Habitat

Funnel weaver spider webs are distinctive and constructed in tall grass, underneath boards and rocks, and around debris. Their webs are seen throughout grassy areas in summer to early fall and are noticeable in the early morning dew. Funnel weaver spider webs are shaped more like a megaphone, or the bell of a trumpet. These spiders prefer to build webs in darker areas, such as flower beds, woodpiles, and secluded corners inside structures. If found in the home, their webs are often in corners of dark rooms, such as the basement.

Funnel Weaver Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Although they are most often mistaken for wolf spiders due to their appearance, when a funnel weaver spider is present in a home, many homeowners misidentify them as brown recluse spiders. However, funnel weaver spiders, or grass spiders are not poisonous, but are venomous. They contain venom, as all spiders do, but because of the small size of their fangs, they have difficulty penetrating human skin. These spiders are more of a nuisance pest as they molt several times before becoming adults, leaving cast-off skins around the house. Contact your local spider exterminators for help with funnel weaver spiders.

Giant House Spider

Giant House Spiders in Suffolk County & Nassau County

The giant house spider is very common in Suffolk County & Nassau County. It was at one time thought to be venomous, but was proven to have little or no venom toxicity. The giant house spider can be found in dark corners of rooms, storage sheds, barns, bridges, fences, and other structures. This large spider generally constructs funnel webs on window angles and in corners. Although giant house spiders prefer to live outdoors, they are hitchhikers and can be brought indoors when they hide in boxes, firewood, or other belongings.

Giant House Spider Habitat

They are often found in garages or basements, as well as outdoors, in firewood, or in gaps between bricks or stones. They build webs with a funnel-like hole in the center, where they sit and wait for prey. The giant house spider is not an active climber and indoors can be found on the floor or trapped in sinks and bathtubs where it has ventured in search of water. They prefer to avoid contact with humans and hide during the day, meaning they are most often seen at night.

Giant House Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Giant house spiders are most often spotted indoors during the autumn when they have reached their maximum size. These spiders are not aggressive and usually run away, very rapidly, when startled. Although it is rare, a bite from a giant house spider may occur when it feels threatened. However, bites are not serious and the giant house spiders’ venom is only harmful to individuals with specific allergies. Aside from its large size and threatening appearance, this spider does not pose much of a threat to people. Always contact a professional spider exterminator for help with giant house spiders.

Japanese Beetle

Japanese Beetles in Suffolk County & Nassau County

The Japanese beetle is a widespread and destructive pest of lawns, landscape, and ornamental plants in the United States. Japanese beetles are a serious pest of turf, trees, shrubs, flowers, and crops. Although adults will feed on over 300 species of plants, grubs feed mainly on the roots of grasses. Difficult and expensive to control, these beetles feed on grassroots, damaging turf, golf courses, and pastures. Japanese beetles were first found in the U.S. in 1916 in New Jersey and have since spread throughout various states.

Japanese Beetle Habitat

Japanese beetles have a wide host of plants they can feed on and can live anywhere there is sufficient foliage. They are not limited to forests or grasslands and often live on farms, cities, and even your garden. These beetles are especially common on roses, beans, grapes, and raspberries. Japanese beetles have a voracious appetite and are most active on warm sunny days, feeding in groups under direct sun. Adult beetles can fly, allowing them to easily move throughout a homeowner’s landscape. These pests begin eating at the top of plants and work their way down.

Japanese Beetle Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

While Japanese beetles do have powerful chewing mouthparts for munching on leaves, they do not bite people. However, the estimated damage and cost of controlling Japanese beetles in the U.S. is over $460 million each year! Due to their distinctive feeding pattern, damage caused by Japanese beetles can be easy to recognize. These pests feed on the soft tissue between leaf veins, leaving behind a skeletonized, lace-like pattern. The grubs damage grass as they overwinter and feed in soil, which can result in brown patches of dead or dying grass that will pull up easily due to their weakened roots. If you suspect a Japanese beetle infestation, contact a local beetle control expert.

American Dog Tick

American Dog Ticks in Suffolk County & Nassau County

The American dog tick is distributed east of the Rocky Mountains and in a few western states such as California, Idaho, and Washington. As its name suggests, the American dog tick is most commonly found on dogs, but it will readily attack larger animals, such as mice, deer, cattle, horses, and even humans. Pets and humans may contract diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia from a single tick bite. American dog ticks can survive for up to 2 years at any given stage if no host is found.

American Dog Tick Habitat

American dog ticks are found predominantly in areas with little or no tree cover, such as grassy fields and scrubland, as well as along walkways and trails. Residential areas containing overgrown shrubs, weeds, tall grass, and clutter attract the rodents that are hosts for immature ticks. Adult ticks climb onto a grass blade or other low vegetation, cling to it with their third pair of legs, and then wave their legs when a potential host approaches. As the host brushes against the vegetation, the tick will grab onto the passing animal or human.

American Dog Tick Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

The highest risk of being bitten occurs during spring and summer, and adult females are most likely to bite humans. Nymphs and adults can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. To avoid being bitten, apply an insect repellent containing an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET. Also, consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light-colored so ticks will be easy to detect, and tuck pants into socks.

If you are dealing with a tick problem, contact your local tick control experts for assistance.

Chigger Mite

Chigger Mites in Suffolk County & Nassau County

Chigger mites or redbugs infest people and animals during the summer months, causing intense itching and irritation. In the United States, chiggers are mostly found in the southeast, south, and midwest. They are most active from early spring to early autumn, until the first frost. Chigger larvae do all the damage and do not burrow into the skin, as it is commonly believed; rather they attach on the surface of the skin or at the rim of a hair follicle.

Chigger Mite Habitat

Chigger mites prefer damp, grassy, and wooded areas, especially at the edges of forests. They can be found near lakes and streams, and even on your lawn. Adult chiggers may often be seen as large brilliantly red-colored mites crawling over lawns and pavements. Adult chiggers spend winter underground and will deposit eggs during the first warm days of spring. The adults soon die and the eggs hatch into chiggers, which crawl about and eventually make contact with people or other hosts.

Chigger Mite Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Chigger mites usually hide in thick brush, grass, parks and gardens, grassy fields, and in moist areas around rivers or lakes. All of these areas are popular with humans for recreation, hiking, and camping. After coming into contact with flesh, they will settle down and begin to feed. Most chiggers will attack around the ankles or under the knees, although some go higher up to attack the crotch and armpit areas. Once bitten, the body will react to the digestive enzymes that chiggers use to liquefy skin cells, causing a rash and intense itching that begins a few hours after they have fed.

If you are dealing with chigger mites, it’s important to always enlist the help of a professional tick & mite control expert.

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