Spider-long-Legs: Family Phalangiidae
Appearance: From 1/8 to 1/2 inch long; yellowish to greenish-brown or reddish-brown; four pairs of long, thin legs.
Habits: Fond in open areas on foliage and tree trunks, or on shady walls outside buildings.
Diet: Small insects and decaying organic matter; plant juices.
Reproduction: Females deposit eggs into soil individually; eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring; one generation a year.
Other Information: Legs break off easily and cannot be regenerated; if disturbed, they furiously wave second pair of legs in the air.
Brown Recluse Spider: Loxosceles reclusa
Appearance: Yellowish to brown, with a dark brown violin-shaped dorsal marking; 5/8 to 1/2 inch long.
Habits: Can be found outside under rocks, leaves, debris, bark, woodpiles, utility boxes; found inside in storage areas such as closets, attics, bedrooms; usually found close to the ground.
Diet: Cockroaches, crickets and other soft-bodied insects.
Reproduction: Mating occurs from Feb. to Oct.; 40 to 50 eggs are deposited in off-white, round silken cases; lifetime averages from one to two years.
Other Information: Bites when disturbed; bites can cause a disfiguring scar.
Black Widow Spider: Genus Latrodectus
Appearance: Female is 1/2 inch long; shiny black, with hourglass-shaped red mark on underside of abdomen.
Habits: Can be found almost anywhere, indoors or out; prefer to build their nests close to the ground.
Diet: Insects trapped in web made by female.
Reproduction: Contrary to popular belief, female is usually unsuccessful in any attempt to eat male after mating; 300 to 400 eggs are laid in silken cocoon, hatch in about ten days.
Other Information: Black widows are not aggressive, and will not bite unless provoked; bites are poisonous, but rarely fatal; if bitten, seek medical attention.