SpidersNative to Utah
Widow spiders, wolf spiders, and other common house spiders found around Sanpete and Juab County homes.
How to Identify Spiders
Central Utah homes see a mix of harmless house and wolf spiders alongside black widows, which are common in woodpiles, window wells, and cluttered garages throughout Sanpete and Juab Counties. Black widows are glossy black with a red or orange hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen; a bite can cause serious muscle pain and cramping and warrants medical attention. Woodlouse spiders are another one worth knowing on sight — reddish-orange legs and a dark, glossy abdomen with oversized fangs, often mistaken for something more dangerous. They're harmless to people and mainly hunt pillbugs and sowbugs in damp areas like foundation crevices and mulch beds.
Signs You May Have a Problem
- Webbing in eaves, window wells, sheds, and woodpiles
- Egg sacs (small tan or off-white silk balls) tucked into corners
- Increased sightings in garages and basements as weather cools
Why It Matters
Most spiders seen indoors are harmless and are actually feeding on other insects, but black widow populations in this area are dense enough that they show up in garages, sheds, and window wells regularly. A quarterly exterior barrier treatment keeps both nuisance spiders and widows from establishing near entry points.
