Common Spiders Found in Vancouver, British Columbia
Spiders are sometimes seen as unfavorable visitors to most areas including Vancouver, British Columbia. Although most spiders are harmless, some spiders will bite and a few are extremely poisonous. According to British Columbia Magazine, over 700 species of spiders populate British Columbia alone. No area of this providence is immune to spiders including Vancouver. A few spiders are commonly found in the Victoria area. Does this Spark an idea?
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Northern Black Widow Spider
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The Lactrodectus Variolus, also known as the Northern black widow spider is found in regions as far south as Florida and Texas up to southern Canada. A black widow spider has a prominent identifying mark, the split-in-half red hourglass on the underside. Favorite areas of the spider are under logs, brush and dark hidden spaces. The spiders are known for their shyness and avoid contact with humans. It is wise to avoid the spider due to its deadly venom. The spider venom is actually 15 times more potent than a rattle snake bite.
Large And Small European House Spider
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Tegenaria domestica, also known as the European house spider, is found throughout the United States and Canada. The European house spider has been called the "drain spider" due to the common discovery of the species in sinks and bathtubs. It was thought that the spider came from the sink drain, but instead the spider often falls into a sink or bathtub and is trapped due to the slippery sides of the basins. There are two different sizes of the spider. The large European house spider's body measures between 1/2 and 3/4 inches with legs 1 1/4 to 3 3/4 inches in length. The small European house spider's body measures 1/4 to 1/2 inches with legs 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches. The spiders are found outside under rocks but prefer indoor areas such as basements or outdoor buildings.
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Hobo Spider
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Tegenaria Agrestis, also known as the hobo spider, originally immigrated from Europe. The hobo spider is found in North America in the Pacific Northwest, including Victoria, British Columbia. The spider is identified by its association with a funnel web. The eyes also have a distinct pattern of two straight rows of four. A bite from the hobo spider has known to cause headaches and wounds that take on a flesh-eating course. These spiders are found in homes and are attracted to garbage. Keep garbage tightly sealed in a container to deter the hobo spider.
Common But Less Seen Spiders
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A variety of other spiders live in the Victoria area that are not seen as often. The daddy longleg spider is found all over the world. This spider which originated in caves quickly adapted to other indoor areas. A familiar spider to the British Columbia area in general is the jumping spider. The jumping spider is easily identified by the large eyes it uses to see prey and the jumping technique for capturing its victim. Around 4,000 different species exist of the jumping spider.
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References
- Badspiderbites.com; Jumping Spider
- British Columbia Magazine; Surprising Spiders; Briony Penn; 2010
- Professional Ecological Services; Spiders; 2002
- Diagnostic Services at Michigan State University; Insects and Anthropods; Northern Black Widow Spider
- Royal Alberta Museum; Bug Facts; European House Spider
- University of California; Hobo Spider
Resources
- Photo Credit skytrain in vancouver 8 image by Patrick Scheffer from Fotolia.com
