Calls about Spiders

This past week, I had a few calls about controlling spiders in the home.  I thought it was beneficial to share Joe Bogg’s most recent post about spiders.  Also, for those of you who would like to be able to identify spiders from Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has some great booklets to help online.

Post from Buckeye Yard and Garden Online, Joe Boggs

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Yellow Garden Spider

Two of our larger native spiders found in Ohio are orb weavers (family Araneidae) so-named because of their circular (orb) webs.  The webs are intricate structures involving both sticky and non-sticky silk.

The yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) is called many names including the black and yellow spider, zig-zag spider, and a few names I can’t share when the big spiders suddenly “appear” at face-level.  I’m using the common name that’s been approved by the Entomological Society of America (ESA) for this species.  Likewise, it’s a similarly showy cousin, the white-backed garden spider (A. trifasciata) is also referred to with many non-approved names such as the descriptive banded garden spider. Continue reading