As we learned, five Virginia spiders weave unique webs: the Arrow-Shaped Micrathena Spider, the Black and Yellow Garden Spider, the Bowl and Doily Spider, and the Grass Spider. Today we’ll talk about the last two.

Grass Spider

Web Design: Grass Spiders weave funnel shaped webs with a large “sheet web” that covers small plants, such as grass. Unlike most webs, these are not sticky. The spiders spend their time in the funnel, and this is the location where they will most likely live their entire lives. As the spiders matures, the sheet covering the plants will slowly increase in size until it covers a large area. The egg sacs are large clumps of spun silk that looks matted. The sheet part of the web is used to ensnare the spiders’ victims, such as small crawling and flying insects. When the insect walks on top of the sheet, and because the web isn’t sticky, the sheet vibrates letting the spider know that it has company. The spiders will then quickly dash out of the funnel, grab its prey, and drag it back down into the funnel for a snack!

Favorite Hiding Spots:

• In the funnel of the web, under the sheet
• Grassy areas, stone fences, and small shrubs
• Are most commonly found among “leaf litter” (areas between leaves or twigs, under stones, or in crevices)

Defense Mechanism: Grass Spiders hide under the large top sheet of the web, in the funnel. However, just in case, these spider have last minute escape routes built into their webs as well. This escape route is always at the other end of the funnel, so if these spiders feel threatened they will just run out their “back door”.

Fun Fact: Grass Spiders can be coaxed out of their funnel by lightly tapping the outer sheet of the web. But be careful, the spider may bite out of defense! The bite will only have localized pain, redness, swelling, and itching.

Brown Recluse Spider

Web Design:Brown Recluse Spiders have abnormally sticky webs. Other than that, there is no standard for what they look like as they have no specific design to the web, and instead the webs appear to have been carelessly constructed. This is because they only weave webs for nesting purposes, instead of as a trap for insects. These spiders prey on small insects that are found in or around the home.

Favorite Hiding Spots:

• Dark, hidden areas
• Tucked away into corners and holes
• In attics and crawlspaces
• Under objects (such as furniture) and in boxes

Defense Mechanism: The primary defense of Brown Recluse Spiders are their venomous bites. Although these spiders are rarely aggressive, they will bite any time that they feel threatened or are provoked. This includes any time they are pressed against the skin, such as when brushed against or caught in clothing. Their bites can be deadly for humans, as they cause tissue necrosis (which means that it causes premature death of cells in living tissue). Because of this, medical attention should be sought immediately after being bitten. In addition to their venom, these spiders use their dark brown and tan color to hide in their dark resting spots, which is especially useful during the day, as they are nocturnal. Brown Recluse Spiders also have many adaptations, including the ability to survive long periods of time without food or water, or after losing limbs.

Symptoms of a Bite: Bites may or may not be felt, but the pain will begin within the first few hours after being bitten. This may be accompanied by an itching sensation at the location of the bite, and the area will become red and swollen. The effects will worsen over the next 12 to 36 hours, and will include nausea, vomiting, fever, and muscle and joint pain. After a few days without medial attention necrosis will develop, as the skin and tissue will begin to die and atrophy, leaving an open, painful sore that won’t heal. Without medical attention, this will eventually lead to organ damage and death. Therefore, medical attention must be sought immediately after noticing the bite. Children and the elderly are the most common victims that end in a fatality.

Fun Fact: Brown Recluse Spiders are not actually common to Virginia, but are found here after being brought through odd means of transportation. For instance, the spiders can be brought through suitcases or old boxes!

Regardless of what species of spider that you’re having an issue with, PermaTreat is able to take care of your problem!

I am proud to announce that a vocational studies center in Fredericksburg was named after PermaTreat’s CEO and owner, Joe Wilson, as reported in PCT (Pest Control Technology Magazine)! Joe and his wife, Mary, were honored with the new “Wilson Center”, which is a part of the Gladys B. Oberle School. This new wing was made possible through a donation from the Wilson family, and Joe and Mary were celebrated at the ribbon cutting ceremony that unveiled the new sign for the center.

PermaTreat was also chosen by Dow AgroSciences as one of 25 companies to watch out for, as also reported in PCT! This list was created to highlight the top 25 companies that “are putting good ideas to work to achieve their business goal.” Dow AgroSciences is keen on finding new innovations and improvements, and PermaTreat is honored to have made this list.

Here is what they had to say about us:

“Any Opportunity to Serve: PermaTreat Pest and Termite Control has a long history of serving the community, including its four-legged friends. It has sponsored adopt-a-pet ads around the state for years, donated two acres of land for a new animal welfare facility and sponsors the area’s long-running Dog Fair. It also supports United Way and organizes an MS walk. CEO Joe Wilson has “been involved in just about every cause you can imagine,” way more than we have room to mention here. Not only does Wilson enjoy being involved, he said it’s good for business and enhances the professional image of the industry.”

(PermaTreat Team at the 2013 MS Walk, April 20th)

The title “Any Opportunity to Serve” is very fitting for PermaTreat. Not only are our inspectors and technicians highly trained in working out in the field to solve our customers’ pest problems safely and effectively, but our CEO has contributed a lot to Fredericksburg and the surrounding community. Just recently, on Saturday, April 20^th, PermaTreat completed its 4th annual MS walk, with over 40 employees participating. PermaTreat was the top team to raise money for the fundraiser, raising over $9,000. In fact, PermaTreat is a household name in this town, and Joe Wilson is somewhat of a local celebrity.

So whether you want excellent pest control and quality service, or just want to support a regional business with a big heart, be sure to call PermaTreat for all your pest control needs!

Super Insects!

With the exception of termites, bees and wasps, most of the insects we are familiar with are solitary creatures. However, ants are considered “super-organisms”, or eusocial (the most social organisms), because they do not work for personal benefit but to benefit the colony as a whole. Using pheromones and body movement in order to communicate, ants live and thrive together as one! In the wild, the lone ant has a very slim chance of survival. For this reason, and its overall dependance on the hierarchical relationships, the ant is seen as an extension of the colony rather than its own organism. Read more to find out about the social hierarchy and life of the largest community below us!

The Beginning Stages

 To understand the social placement of the ant you must first delve into the life cycle. There are four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The purpose of the ant is determined during the larval state, as this is the crucial period of growth. The first determining factor for placement among the colony is the sex of the ant. If male, the ant will serve one purpose only: to mate. In fact, the lifespan of a male ant is only the duration of the mating season, as after that they are useless! If the ant is female, the amount of nourishment she is provided with will decide if she has what it takes to be a queen. The female larvae that receive the best amount of care and food will eventually grow wings and become sexually mature. These ants are considered “queens”, whereas the females who did not receive the same care will develop into workers or soldiers.

The Working Class

The workers and soldiers can come in various sizes depending on the specific duty they will undertake. If a soldier, the ant will grow substantially larger. Not only will their body become larger, the soldiers develop substantially bigger heads that support their much larger, stronger mandibles. The job of the soldier ant is fending off various predators, such as spiders or flies, that will disrupt the nest. If not a soldier, the worker ant can take on various jobs such as scavenging for supplies, building the nest, taking care of the young, or they can be assigned to feed the queen and dispose of her waste. Because workers are vital in taking care of and building the nest, they are the type of ant produced the majority of the time. No matter what job is assigned, each ant plays a vital role in maintaining or building the colony.

The Queen

Ironically, the queen has no power or control over the other ants. In fact, the true decision makers are the care takers of the queen and the soon-to-be queens, as they are the providers of nourishment. Because of this, paired with the amount of resources, the colony can have just one queen or multiple queens. The queen is a sexually matured, winged adult female that is capable of reproduction. However, as shown in the picture, queen ants will lose their wings after the mating ritual (which takes place in flight), and have found a suitable place for a nest. Her sole purpose is to mate, find a good place to nest and lay as many eggs as possible. The queen ant only needs to mate once and she can continuously give birth throughout her life. Astonishingly, the queen has the ability to determine what the sex of the ant will be. The majority of ants will be female workers and soldiers, as males are only produced when necessary for mating. Bigger than the males and soldiers, queen ants are by far the largest in the colony, reaching sizes multiple times that of the workers. Although most worker and soldier ants are lucky to survive longer than a year, queen ants have been known to live anywhere from 5 to 30 years! As if that’s not scary enough, queen ants have also been known to carry as many as 60,000 eggs in their abdomen at one time! With the care and protection of the ants in their community, queens can flourish and ant colonies will grow exponentially. Like humans, the fate of the community resides in the strength of the group as a whole, turning ordinary insects into “super-organisms”!