It’s common to find spiders in our homes during the winter. While some spiders are in our homes year-round, others which normally live outside come in from the cold this time of year, increasing the number of spiders in our homes and our chances of seeing them.

Some people think homes should be spider-free. But it’s almost guaranteed that every home will have some spiders.

A sampling of 50 homes in North Carolina by an entomologist found spiders in all 50 of them. A lot of these household spiders are so small we never notice them.

But even if they are in our homes, we have very little to fear from them. Spiders are beneficial: They feed on insects and other arthropods — creatures we call pests. They are one of the most important biological pest controls in our gardens, flowerbeds and homes.

Spiders are a natural part of the environment. They and their ancestors have been on earth for a long time. A study by the University of Florida estimates that spiders may have first appeared 400 million years ago, long before the dinosaurs appeared.

And while spiders and insects are sometimes grouped together as “bugs” they are as different from one another as birds are from fishes.

This time of the year in Ohio, two of the most common household spiders are jumping spiders and wolf spiders.

The wolf spider is the one we get the most questions about in our clinic. It can be large (up to 1 1/2 inches) and hairy, and hunts its prey instead of building a web. They are usually found crawling across the floor searching for their next meal.

While harmless unless threatened, their size and speed can startle a lot of people.

Almost all spiders you’ll find around the home are harmless to humans or pets. Spiders will bite when they feel threatened, but for most spiders, their venom is too weak to cause harm, and / or their fangs are too short to penetrate our skin.

There are two groups of spiders in Ohio that can harm you — the recluse spiders and the widow spiders. Luckily, both are uncommon in Ohio.

They prefer secluded locations to nest, so it’s rare to see one. Both may defensively bite if disturbed. The severity of the bite varies from person to person.

If you think you have been bitten by one of these spiders, contact your medical provider for information on what to do. You can also bring the specimen into the extension office clinic for identification if you are unsure about the type of spider.

Tolerance of some spiders in and around our homes is the best approach. But if you are upset by spiders, or they’re too many of them, controlling their numbers is the method to try.

The University of Minnesota Extension recommends an integrated approach to control spiders. Seal up obvious egress places around your home. Catch and put outside any individual spiders you find. Clean up any clutter and remove the webs with a broom or vacuum and destroy any egg sacks.

Finally, if spiders are numerous or you don’t want to deal with them, you can consider pesticides or contact a professional. Look for pesticides labeled for the control of spiders. Spray the pesticide in cracks and gaps where spiders hide.

Foggers are not recommended for spiders.

While not recommended for spider control inside — if you do use pesticides, read, and follow all directions on the label.

For more information, see http://go.osu.edu/spiderID.