New Mexico plays host to several well-known spider species that become more active in August and September when the males begin to wander in search of mates. Not content to remain outside, they often enter homes to hunt, find water and mate. Living with spiders has the benefit of reducing the insect population but it comes with the risk of spider bites. Though most of the species active in New Mexico pose no serious threat to human life, the bite of many spiders can be painful and their presence in a home a nuisance, despite their effect on the insect population. A readily available food source and a few undisturbed areas serve as powerful attractors for spiders to enter the home. Therefore a reducing the insect population in the home will cut off the food source for spiders and convince them to look elsewhere for hunting ground.

Black Widow

Topping the list of feared spiders for most people, the black widow is commonly found in New Mexico and can be easily identified by its round, black body marked by a red hourglass pattern. The bite is venomous but rarely lethal. It is one of the two medically significant spiders found in New Mexico. Thankfully, the spider is rarely aggressive to humans and feeds on insects.

False Black Widow

Similar in appearance to the black widow, the false black widow lacks the distinctive red hourglass pattern and powerful venomous bite. They are commonly found indoors and in undisturbed piles of wood.

Carolina Wolf Spider

The wolf spider has a hairy appearance and grow to between 1/2 inch up to an inch in length. They have a painful, though not dangerous bite, and are often found indoors. They do not spin webs but instead hunt their insect prey by stalking.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

Female black and yellow garden spiders grow to very large sizes with bulbous bodies and males have a slender, long-legged appearance. The female has a distinctive black and yellow pattern and can be seen sitting in large garden webs. Their large, classic webs can be found stretched across grassy fields and porches.

Brown Recluse or Violin Spider

The recluse or violin spider is the other medically significant spider to prowl the area. It can deliver a bite that causes injury and loss of skin tissue and medical attention should be sought. The recluse or violin spider is between 1/4 and 3/4 of an inch long with a distinctive violin body shape and six eyes instead of eight.

Banded Garden Spider

Similar in size and shape to the black and yellow garden spider, the banded garden spider has a series of stripes on its body that sets it apart. It prefers to spin webs closer to the ground in tall grass.

Tarantula

The tarantula can be found wandering at this time of the year across the terrain of New Mexico in search of a mate. Its bite has been compared to that of a bee sting, but the spider is rarely aggressive unless provoked. Growing as large as a dinner plate, these hairy giants can instill fear in arachnophobes despite their solitary nature.

Southern House Spider

The southern house spider is sometimes confused with the recluse due to similar coloring, size and body shape, but they are less dangerous than the recluse. Southern house spider is often found weaving webs in or around structures, often in an unattended corner.

Barn Funnel Weaver

The barn funnel weaver likes to inhabit barns, garages, sheds and bathtubs and can be recognizes for its flat, sheet-like webs. Not originally native to the area, these spiders have spread far and wide with human populations and can now be found commonly in New Mexico too.

Do you need help with Albuquerque spider control? Call (505) 792-8380 now to schedule your free inspection!