If you’ve noticed small spiders with crab-like legs around your pool cage or home, you’re not alone. These creatures, known as crab spiders, are a common sight in many households. While they may seem harmless, their presence can be unsettling. Understanding what crab spiders are and why they choose certain areas of your home can help you manage and prevent infestations. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to keep your space spider-free or simply curious about these unique creatures, this guide will provide the information you need.
What Are Crab Spiders?
Crab spiders are known for their distinctive, crab-like appearance and sideways walking ability. These spiders have two larger front legs that extend sideways, giving them the ability to walk sideways or even backward, much like a crab. They come in various colors, often matching their surroundings, which helps them blend into their environment and ambush prey. Common colors include white, yellow, green, and brown, and some species can even change colors over time to better match their surroundings.
Crab spiders are not web builders like other spiders. Instead, they are sit-and-wait predators, relying on camouflage to capture their prey. They typically feed on insects such as ants, flies, and bees, which they grab with their powerful front legs before delivering a venomous bite.
Why Are Crab Spiders Around Pool Cages and Homes?
Crab spiders are attracted to areas where their prey is abundant. Pool cages, eaves of homes, and garden areas provide ideal environments for these spiders due to the high concentration of insects. The presence of ants and other small insects around your home can attract crab spiders, which then set up residence in areas where they can easily hunt.
Another reason you might find crab spiders around your home is the protection these areas offer. Pool cages, for example, provide a sheltered environment free from larger predators, allowing crab spiders to thrive. The warmth and humidity of pool areas can also mimic their natural habitats, making them more likely to settle there.
What Do Crab Spiders Look Like?
Identifying crab spiders is relatively easy due to their distinctive appearance. Here are some key features to look for:
- Body Shape: Crab spiders have a flattened, wide body with a rounded abdomen. Their body shape allows them to blend in with flowers, leaves, and other surfaces where they might be hunting.
- Legs: Their first two pairs of legs are noticeably longer and more robust than the others, extending outward like a crab’s claws. These legs are used for grasping prey and can appear intimidating, but they are not harmful to humans.
- Coloration: Crab spiders often match their surroundings. Some species are white or yellow, blending in with flowers, while others are brown or green to match foliage or bark.
How Greenhouse Treats Crab Spiders
At Greenhouse Termite and Pest Control, we offer effective and natural methods to deal with crab spiders around your home. Our approach focuses on eliminating the spiders’ food sources, naturally reducing their presence.
- Wiping Pool Cages: We carefully wipe down pool cages to remove any insects that might attract crab spiders, as well as spider webs. By clearing out their food sources, we make the area less inviting for these spiders.
- Cleaning Eaves and Foundations: Similarly, we clean the eaves of homes and foundations, where insects tend to gather. This process helps keep crab spiders at bay by reducing the availability of prey.
- Lawn Spray: For more serious infestations, we recommend investing in a lawn spray that saturates the grass from the front curb to the back fence line. This treatment creates a preventative barrier that helps with spider extermination and prevents future infestations. The spray is effective against various pests, ensuring a comprehensive approach to pest control.
Keep a Crab Spider-Free Home
Crab spiders are a common sight around homes, especially in areas like pool cages where insects are abundant. While they’re not harmful, their presence can be bothersome. Greenhouse Termite and Pest Control offers natural methods to eliminate crab spiders by targeting their food sources and, for more severe cases, applying a lawn spray to create a protective barrier. To help you get started, Greenhouse offers $100 off your first service when you sign up, making it easier to keep your home spider-free and comfortable.
