Would like to know what Spiders and critters around the Nashville area. (Gallatin: how much, new house)

[LI2South]

I have posted this type of question in the past on this forum and would like to offer my input into the wave of curiosity about the critters in TN.

I am from NY and although I have never seen any like this before, we do have rats the size of small dogs and roaches the size of mice. I have posted this question because like the previous poster stated it seems that the further north you go the smaller the spider and it is just natural to assume that you have more natural open space there that there would be just more critters around - and different ones than I find here on Long Island.

I also have a real fear of spiders... I don't know where it comes from, but I do. We are coming down in 2 weeks to find our new "home" and I can't say a part of me isn't freaking out hearing how black widows get into your bed or clothing and bite.... It scares me to death!! Am I just being paranoid or does this exist?

I already told my hubby that we would be spraying our home and yard as often as suggested to deflect these scary things... LOL My family in TN told me that there are black widows... they only saw one in 25 years... I personally don't EVER want to see ONE! LOL

[fumanchu41]

LI2South
Freaks me out just thinking about how these boogers get into clothes and the bed. IS this TRUE? What in the world.

Just make sure if you buy a home that has a crawspace, it is sealed, encapsulated with a dehumidifier. IF not, you will have even more bugs, snakes, critters and spiders. This is from everything I have read regarding the advantages of sealed crawspaces. Google it and it should shed some light.

[denawilliams]

You will be just fine if you have a pest control contract. They spray several times a year, usually at just the right time (before they start to try and come in). Occasionally, I'll see a spider a week or so before they are scheduled to come. So I just call them and ask them to come now.

When I bought my first house, it was new construction. And then arachnophobia began for me. Because I didn't have a clue how to get rid of them adequately, I sprayed, but ended up seeing way too many living spiders in my house. Screaming at someone to kill them didn't work either since I lived alone at the time. As you can imagine, I can't stand spiders today. While that was long ago and my husband is now designated as the critter killer (if one should sneak in), there is immense value and peace of mind in a pest control contract. If you think you'll have more of a problem than the contract schedules, ask them to come out a week or so earlier than scheduled each time. You will definitely need a termite contract anyway, so just add it on to the service you get with the termite company.

[Oregoniansonthemove]

I am TERRIFIED of Spiders. So As we have been considering a move, I am naturally curious about the different critters we may run into. Which according to my husband, makes it worse. Before the biggest dilemma for TN for me, were the Tornadoes. NOW, I have to think about Brown Recluses and Widows too? Agh!

That's why I want to know. I like to think and plan ahead. I like to know what I am getting into before it happens. I appreciate all the tips and advice on how to deal with this bugs.

[DonCorleone]

Really, there is very little to worry about if you're in a normal suburban type setting. Especially if you are in a more established neighborhood. (New construction in former farmland can sometimes stir up pests) Pest control services will take care of most of the bugs. The rest is common sense...like don't put on old shoes that have been sitting in a dark closet for months without shaking them out...don't stick your hand into a box that's been in storage without looking in it first, etc. Taking spider's habitat away from them is key...by cleaning dark corners (closets, garages) regularly and getting rid of unnecessary boxes, shoes, etc. will help create an environment where spiders don't like to live.

I've only seen one black widow...and it was in a driveway. I've seen a decent number of brown recluses...maybe 10-15...but NEVER inside my house. But I live in a new neighborhood that was an old farm and we use a pest control service to spray the interior and exterior.

As for tornadoes...again, statistically speaking it is very unlikely you'll be directly effected by one. That said, we do have our fair share of them especially in the spring...more than many other areas of the nation I guess. It never hurts to be prepared, but don't let it freak you out. Buy a weather radio (that will wake you up at night if there's a warning), find a safe place inside your home on the first level, and make sure your family knows the drill. Again...it's not something most people think about very often...sure they happen sometimes, but I, myself, have never seen an actual funnel cloud.

[aaronmidnight]

Um, not to freak anyone out, but for those who are concerned about spiders in Middle TN, there was a news story this week about a little girl in Macon County (about an hour NE of Nashville) dying from a brown recluse bite - Macon County girl, 3, dies after spider bite | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

(I'm not sure how they know it was a brown recluse bite, because I've heard such things are often misidentified especially if the spider is not caught and killed, but regardless it seems like she died from sort of insect bite.)

Very sad story. Of course, she might have had a particular allergy...

Just saying that if anyone is terrified of spiders, Middle TN might not be the best location to relocate.

Of course, spiders are pretty widespread. Wikipedia says that brown recluse spiders are primarily found in the South, but my sister suffered a horrible spider bite a couple of years ago in CT and was told by doctors that it was from a brown recluse. (Then again, I think MDs - especially those that are not specialists - usually blame the brown recluse if they don't know what caused a bite.)

Personally, we keep our apartment in Bellevue pretty clean, but I've seen a fair number of spiders, as well as beetles, moths and the very freaky looking (but actually harmless/beneficial) house centipede - Scutigera coleoptrata - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

(We're in an established suburb, but with lots of green space and woods around. I suppose you'd have fewer spider problems in a very urban area, but if you're super-concerned about spiders and other types of woodland insects, it might make more sense to live in a more heavily urbanized area - Seattle, Chicago, even maybe Atlanta?

[aaronmidnight]

Just to put the girl's death in perspective, apparently it is *very* rare - basically unheard of - for someone to die of a brown recluse bite. An autopsy is supposedly taking place to understand why she died - Autopsy to be performed on girl who died day after spider bite | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

[DonCorleone]

I still wouldn't prevent me from moving to the area. As you said, spiders are everywhere...and if it's not spiders it might be wildfires, bears, earthquakes, blizzards etc somewhere else in the nation. I think every geographical region has its own set of fears.

It sounds to me like she had a severe reaction and who knows...maybe the emergency staff at the first hospital she went to didn't diagnose it properly or were too quick to dismiss her.

Most brown recluse spider bites heal within three weeks without serious complication or medical intervention. Severe reactions to the venom are more common in children, the elderly, and patients in poor health, according to the University of Kentucky's college of agriculture.
On average, the Metro Health Department deals with about 12 calls about spiders each summer.
"I think you hear a lot about the brown recluse and the dangers of their bites, but it is surprising and very sad to have a death," said spokesman Brian Todd said. "I can't remember, at any time in Nashville, us having a death from a brown recluse.''

[aaronmidnight]

Yep, wasn't trying to scare anyone away, just providing information.

Urban areas have different kinds of pests, so it's a matter of which bothers you more.

As much as humans can alter our environment, we still have to share it with other critters, particularly those that excel at adapting to live near us.

But we all have our fears and if you're truly terrified by certain types of spiders, then it probably makes sense to avoid moving to an area where they are prevalent. For instance, I'm terrified of hantavirus, so I don't think I'd ever want to live in northern New Mexico or southern Colorado.

FWIW, I have heard that the Pacific NW has the fewest natural hazards in terms of insects, animals and weather.

[DonCorleone]

But I have heard they have high rates of suicide due to seasonal affective disorder.

I considered putting a smiley at the end of that...but it didn't seem right.

Agreed, If someone has irrational arachnophobia and will live in constant fear of spiders, then yeah, it's something to consider.