Spiders (Macon, Sandy Springs, Warwick: homeowners insurance, houses, living in)

[Tinabell]

I would really like to know if the spiders Iv'e read about are a problem in houses. I hate spiders and I'm seriously considering not moving to GA for this reason. I read about Brown recluse spiders. wolf spiders, and black widows. I don't want to have to search my bed everynight for these ugly huge hairy things! Does anyone have a problem with them? How do you get them out without them biting?? I don't want my dog to get bit either! We're both scardy cats!!!

[Tdiddy0027]

no, they're not a problem

[gsmccreary]

Tinabell,
I noticed you were from Lititz. I was born there and graduated from Warwick HS in 1981. My parents and siblings still live there. I've been living in Lizella, GA (just west of Macon) for the past 10 years. While GA has a lot of spiders I have never had any problems with them. I have only seen a couple of black widows and no brown recluse spiders. One thing I must mention that struck me as funny is that most natives I've talked to believe the Daddy Longlegs is the most venomous spider but it can't bite you because it's fangs are too small. This is hogwash since Daddy Longlegs are not spiders and belong to a completely different order.

Greg

[Tinabell]

Greg, My husband graduated from WHS in 1985. He has lived in Lititz all his life. Lititz is a nice town, but we're thinking of the south because we love the weather and Disney World!! We are not sure where we want to go, we are weighing all the possibilities. Do you like where you live? Are the people nice? Are there jobs in GA?
Thanks for your info!

[emm0630]

Tinabell- I was reading your post and you voiced my exact fear. I read about the spiders and brown recluses and black widows on this message board and it totally freaked me out, to the point where I began to rethink my decisions. I hate bugs, but spiders in particular. Is this something that is common in suburbia or just in rural areas? I don't mean to sound ignorant, but I didn't foresee spiders even being a factor in my relocating, but I've just been freaked out

[Tinabell]

emm0630,
I never thought about bugs/spiders until I started to research and talk to people who live in the south. Yeah we have spiders and bugs here in the Northeast but they are not as big as a hand!! and yeah we have ants but they don't bite !!! My husband and I have a Beagle, and I don't want to put him in any uncomfortable situation. We were thinking about moving to FL,GA and NC. I think FL is out, because not only the fire ants,spiders, and poisonous toads, but I have read that homeowners insurance is crazy!! I don't have to worry about poisonous creatures where we live now, and I don't want to start worrying when we move!! Have you looked up Huntsman Spiders or banana spiders?? I did, --OOOH Yuk!!!

Tinabell

[bbuch]

I don't think you should worry about it. I've never seen any spiders here as big as my hand and I've lived in some dumpy places. Been here for 5 years and yes, you may get the occasional spider in your house (Probably mostly in the garage), but none will be bigger than a quarter. If you exterminate on a regular basis (and we all should) I don't think you will have to worry. Please don't let this stop you from moving to Georgia, it is nice here

B

[atlantagreg30127]

I've been bitten by a Recluse before. Bite varies with each person depending on how allergic you are. It can result in just a small sore and/or scar (I would up with a small scar) all the way to body parts having to be amputated which is very very rare.

They are the nastiest ones we have here, as they can get into homes and wonder around at night, having no apparent fear of humans. The most common time to get bit is while in bed when you roll over on one. You can minimize the risk by spraying your house regularly, as well as not using a "bed skirt" around the edges of the box spring, that touches the floor. I've also heard that for whatever reason, spiders hate those anti-static drier sheets, so stuffing a couple of those in your sheets acts like a repellent.

Black widows keep to themselves in obscure places. You might see one in a basement in a pile of things you rarely touch, or on a porch, but overall they're not nearly as big a threat as a Recluse. Wolf spiders are very common in homes, but they are nonpoisonous, and they hunt at night, and will kill/eat a Recluse if they find one.

Oh, and then there is the 9 inch wide ceiling spider. They tend to crawl across the ceiling and have been known to lower themselves down onto your bed or your body when sleeping. They have an knumbing agent in their saliva and will inject eggs into your skin and you won't be able to feel it, but, once they start to mature (and itch) you can just pop it like a zit and the buggers will squish out dead.

Ok ok, the ceiling spider thing is made up, but I just wanted to burn that into your mind as I'm evil as hell. LOL

[RedNC]

I grew up in Sandy Springs, GA. It was rural in the 60’s We played in the woods all the time and I never saw a brown recluse or a black widow. We never had either one in our house either. I saw a lot of other spiders, but I never had any problems.

Come out to CA if you want to see black widows. I can find you one in two seconds.

[hwd]

Haha, Ok, I had to post this for whoever cares to read it. Some of you have the south envisioned as this bug invested place, where spiders run around everybody's house and there pets and ants are all over bitting people. This is nonsense.
I hardly ever see a spider and when I do it is one that is not pousinous. They are not crawling all in the house or in the beds. They are not seeking you out to bit you.

As far as aunts, big deal. I haven't been bit by an aunt sense I was a kid, and the only reason I got bit then was because I was playing in an ant bed.

So I assure you, your safe.

Thanks!