Saratoga Springs creeped out by spiders
About a month and a half ago, neighbors started to notice an influx of spiders on their porches, in their gardens and along the structures of their homes.
"When they first came out, I was really blown away," said Collin Curtis, who has lived in the area for 2 1/2 years. "They sprang out of nowhere. I probably could have counted 40 or 50 spiders hanging throughout my yard."
Curtis describes them as large, orb-weaving spiders, which usually come out in the evening after the sun has gone down. Curtis says that he has also seen several other types of spiders around his house, which has kept him on the offensive to try and combat the problem.
"This is the first year we have had a problem with the spiders," Curtis said. "Everyone has them, though. If you drive through the neighborhood you will see those big spider webs all over houses. They are good-sized spiders, too."
Rebekah Rasmussen's husband, Brandon, was bitten by a spider while spraying around the house after he realized the size of the problem. The bite swelled up to the size of a golf ball and became extremely hard and calloused under the skin. The Rasmussens gathered some of the spiders around the home to research and identify them. They said some of the spiders they found looked like black widows or hobo spiders while one looked eerily similar to the brown recluse. Other neighbors have come to some of the same conclusions.
While the hobo and black widow spiders can be found throughout Utah, Julia Tuck, a horticulture assistant for the Utah State University extension center in Utah County, said the brown recluse is not native to Utah. There are many spiders that look like the brown recluse, Tuck said, adding that even the hobo and black widow spiders are often misidentified because there are many local spiders that look similar to them.
"There is a spider called the saltair spider, and it can come in great numbers," Tuck said. "They will have light stripes or dots and the basic shape looks like a black widow. The only real way to know what type of spider it is, though, is if someone can catch one of the spiders and then we will identify them."
The USU extension has a lab where those interested can pay a dollar to have a spider identified to tell if it is poisonous. Tuck also said that keeping the spiders outside is important. Keeping the home free from clutter, cleaning out window wells and caulking holes in walls is important. Spider traps can also be purchased to help with some of the pests, but for some spiders the common remedy of bug spray may actually increase the problem.
Recent comments
Uuuggghhh.... I hate spiders..!
FreAk | Nov. 15, 2008 at 5:05 p.m.
I was out fishing on the west shore during the full moon in august. I...
Tim Isaksen | Oct. 23, 2008 at 8:51 p.m.
I have had a quite a few Hobo spiders on the main floor of my home...
Jane | Aug. 20, 2008 at 1:16 p.m.
- Oil wavers near $60 1:26 p.m.
- Okla. St. faces infractions committe 1:22 p.m.
- Wimbledon ratings best in 10 years 1:21 p.m.
- Fissure study under way in Iron Co. 1:17 p.m.
- Raptors confirm Turkoglu 1:10 p.m.
- Trial begins in Hilton contract 12:57 p.m.
- Clippers sign No. 1 pick Griffin 12:50 p.m.
- MLB fans feel priced out at ballpark 12:48 p.m.
- GM sale cleared 12:47 p.m.
- House passes food stamps bill 12:33 p.m.
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- Utah's top 10: Wealth of recreation
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- O'Connor unhappy Fes not with team
- Teen injured in fall from waterfall
- River flow marks birth of sanctuary
- Keeping golf light on the wallet
- Fatigued Jazz no match for Pacers
- Murder charge filed in shooting
- Jazz payroll is $3.1 million over tax
- Letters: Palin mistreated
134 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
133 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
133 - 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
107 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
80 - Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
78 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Millsap not franchise player
70 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The night was balmy though buggy at SPOC, the Stansbury Park Observatory...
As a HUGE BYU fan and alum I want to know everything that happens with the...
Having been to meetings involving Envision Utah, they get as much public...
Ralph, what you're suggesting is a form of socialism. We can't have any of...
What guarantee is there that the note would be good on the redemption date?...
Good job Keith. You are right. Pretty soon we will have no freedom. People...
Gee what a surprise. Utah leaders are just as corrupt as any other state.
which means if they get him they don't need and probably never wanted (no...
Someone should just put together a national college footbal tournament....
Say what you like about their tactics, the Greenpeace is right - a new...
The difference is the cause. Would you want to live under the Taliban? They...


