Three Virginia Spiders do not weave webs, but instead use alternative methods for hunting:the Goldenrod Crab Spider, the Jumping Spider, and the Wolf Spider.

Goldenrod Crab Spider

Hunting Technique: Goldenrod Crab Spiders use their silk as safety drag-lines, as well as to make their egg sacs. Drag-lines are similar to rescue lines that humans use, where the spiders swing down the line to catch their prey, and then climb back up the line to safety. Their main food source are insects that land on flowers, such as bees, butterflies, moths, and wasps.

Favorite Hiding Spots:

• In gardens, meadows, and fields
• Near wood edges and shrubbery
• Favorite hiding spot is inside a flower, especially daisies and goldenrod flowers (hence their name)

Defense Mechanism: Golden Rod Crab Spiders are known for their camouflaging ability, so be careful the next time that you stick your nose in a flower! Their camouflage helps them to blend into flowers so that they are invisible to predators and prey. Since they prefer to hide in daisies and goldenrod flowers, the main two colors they change between are white and yellow. They also have a back up plan if they happen to be spotted by a predator, which is to retreat by dropping off the flower and using a drag-line. Then, when the predator is gone, they can climb back up the drag-line to return to the flower.

Fun Fact: It can take these spiders up to a month to change their color from white to yellow, but it only takes them a week to change from yellow to white!

Jumping Spider

Hunting Technique: Jumping Spiders are very active hunters! They closely stalk their prey through leaves and grass before leaping onto them. If they are jumping from a high place, they will use a silk drag-line in case they miss their target. This way they don’t fall on the ground and can climb back up to try again. This is used the same way the drag-line is used in the Goldenrod Crab Spider.

Favorite Hiding Spots:

• In woods, grassy areas, and in gardens
• Around fallen leaves and tree limbs
• Flowers and stones (where they can jump from)
• Occasionally inside a house

Defense Mechanism: Jumping Spiders have special colors (mainly black, white, and gray around Virginia) to help them hide inconspicuously inside holes and crevices. They also use their jumping ability to quickly hop away from their predators. Additionally, male jumping spiders perform a showy courtship dance to attract females while making sure that the female doesn’t try to eat the male.

Fun Fact: Jumping Spiders are able to jump more than 40 times their body length!

Wolf and Nursery Spiders

Hunting Technique: Wolf and Nursery spiders are very fast runners, with fantastic eye-sight, powerful jaws, and extreme sensitivity to vibrations, all of which are used to their advantage while hunting. These spiders normally stalk their prey, then pounce on them and bite them with their very strong jaws. They usually target small insects such as beetles, crickets, earwigs, flies, and ants. These spiders do spin silk, but will only do so to create an egg sac. Females will hold their egg sacs with their jaws, spinnerets, and legs, under their body to protect them. This causes them to have to walk on “tiptoes” to keep the large egg sac from dragging on the ground.

Favorite Hiding Spots:

• Moist areas in underbrush, bushes, woods, grasses, meadows, and fields
• On the ground, in open fields and forests
• Resting under leaves or stones in shaded areas
• Sometimes they dig a burrow that is lined with silk and wait for prey to get just a little too close!

Defense Mechanism: The dark coloration of Wolf and Nursery Spiders helps them to hide and blend into their environment. They tend to hide under leaves and stones to protect themselves from predators, and even camouflage their burrows with twigs, sticks, and leaves. They also use their keen eyesight and sensitivity to vibrations to stay away from large predators, as well as for hunting. The Nursery Spider is also capable of running over the surface of water and diving in for a period of time.

Fun Fact: If you shine a flashlight on Wolf or Nursery Spiders in the dark, their eyes will reflect the light with a silvery color. This reaction is caused by tissue located in the back of their eyes that make it possible for them to see at night!

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

There are four caterpillars found in Virginia that are poisonous to humans. The term “caterpillar” refers to the larval stage of a moth. While these adult moths are not poisonous, attention should still be paid since these moths will inevitably reproduce, creating a new generation of poisonous larvae.

Puss

The Puss caterpillar is named after the fact that it resembles a tiny Persian cat. These caterpillars are coated in a hair-like structure, giving them a puffed-up look. Their color ranges from a grayish white, to golden brown, to dark gray, and have a bright orange streak down their center. Unfortunately, their resemblance to a colorful cotton ball can encourage people to pick them, especially children!

This is dangerous, as their “fur” contains venomous spines that cause extremely painful reactions if humans come into contact with it. The reactions are usually severe, with symptoms extending beyond the affected area. These symptoms include burning, swelling, nausea, headaches, rashes, blisters, and stomach pains. If contact occurs, the spines should be removed using tape, and an ice pack should be used to reduce swelling. Antihistamines have also been found to help. However, if symptoms include chest pain, numbness, and difficulty breathing, a medical professional should be sought out.

These caterpillar have an unusual pupal stage. Instead of making a cocoon, they separate from their “fur” and use it as a protective covering while transforming into a moth. Like their larva, these moths are also covered in long fur, including on their legs and feet. Their color ranges from a dull orange to a yellow, and their feet are black. The Puss caterpillar and moth are found on trees such as Oaks, Elms, and Citrus, as well as on garden plants such as Rose and Ivy.

Saddleback

The Saddleback caterpillar is brown with a green “blanket” on top. This “blanket” has a brown “saddle” in the center with a white ring around it, giving these caterpillars their name. They also have two pairs of big “horns”, one pair on each end of their body. These hairs are where their venom is secreted, and are known as irritating or “urticating” bristles. They also have a row of smaller bristles along each of their sides.

When stinging, the Saddleback caterpillars arch their backs in order to puncture their victim with as many spines as possible. Stings are very painful, and the venom causes symptoms including swelling, nausea, and a rash that can last for days. These stings don’t require a trip to the hospital, as an anti-itch cream is usually sufficient. As a moth, they are a dark brown color. The Saddleback caterpillar and moth feed on a large variety of plants, including grasses, shrubs, trees, and garden plants, and are native to eastern North America.

IO

The IO caterpillar molts through various larval stages. They go from a dark brown, to an orange, to a tan, and ending with a bright green color. As a green caterpillar, they have two horizontal stripes on each side, one red and one white. They are also covered in may spines, which is where their venom is located. This venom is released at the slightest touch, and causes a painful reaction. Some people may experience a severe reaction requiring medical attention (especially if it is an allergic reaction), while others may only experience an itching or burning sensation. Tape may be used to remove the spines, as well as an icepack to reduce swelling.

While transforming into an adult, these caterpillars make their cocoons from course silk, with the females’ pupa being much larger than the males’. Adult moths are nocturnal and have a big black spot on each hind-wing that looks like a pair of eyes. This is used as a defense mechanism, by making these moths appear that they are looking at their predators, saving them from becoming prey. While both males and females have these “eye spots”, their colors vary slightly. Male moths are a bright yellow while female moths are a reddish brown. The IO caterpillar and moth have a huge geographic range, covering most of Canada and the U.S. Because of this, they eat a variety of tress, such as Willow, Elm, and Cherry, as well as clover and different grasses.

Buck

The Buck caterpillar is a very colorful insect. They can range from a yellow/brown to purplish/black, and have white spots on their body and a reddish head. They are covered in hollow spines that are attached to a poison sac. If contact occurs, symptoms from the poison include itching, nausea, and burning sensations. Medical attention is only required in severe cases, such as when the person stung has an allergic reaction to the poison.

Buck caterpillars will enter the soil to pupate, before emerging as adult moths. These moths are active during the day, and are black with a narrow white band in the center of each wing. The tip of their abdomen is red in males. IO caterpillars and moths are usually found in Oak forests in the Eastern and Midwestern part of the U.S., but will also eat Willow and other types of wood.