The yellow sac spider is among the most common of house spiders in Northeast Ohio. About 1/4 of an inch, these pale yellowish-green spiders will create small sacks on furniture, in the corners of walls, and along baseboards for hiding during daylight hours and then emerge at night to hunt other spiders and small insects for food. In large numbers, the yellow sac spider can be an annoyance, but it rarely bites, and its venom typically causes little more than a small welt.
Also found in and around Ohio homes are the wolf spider and the brown recluse, both of which prefer outdoor environments but will move inside in search of shelter from colder weather. Wolf spiders can be as large as two inches and have long hairy legs and two horizontal fangs they use to catch and hold prey. Like the yellow sac spider, the wolf spider rarely bites, and its venom is not lethal.
The brown recluse, recognizable from the dark violin-type mark on its back and its light brown color, should be avoided if found inside your home, as its venom can cause lesions, nausea, and fever in some cases. Watch for these critters in secluded corners in basements, behind boxes in closets, and among your undisturbed stored items in sheds and garages. They generally bite only if threatened.
Reduce the risk of spider infestation by keeping storage areas clean and organized and keeping perimeter areas sprayed.