Finding spiders in your home can be frightening, but not just that, some can be dangerous. South Carolina is home to some venomous spiders such as the brown recluse and the black widow spider. These spiders are most active through the spring and summer months but can remain active through the fall as well. We’ve talked previously about what these spiders look like and the harm they can cause, but we haven’t talked about how you can prevent them from getting into your home. Isn’t that what we all want?
Black Widow Spider Overview
As a refresher, black widow spiders get their name from their appearance and reputation. They are black, and the females will sometimes eat their mate after reproduction (they don’t always do this, so the name is a bit misleading). While a black widow bite is painful and can cause health concerns, it isn’t usually fatal. The black widow is black with a “bubble” like body, and females usually have a red hourglass marking on their underbelly. Males can have some reddish stripes on their bodies.
Brown Recluse Spider Overview
The brown recluse spider can cause a painful bite that can lead to infection and necrosis. The good thing is that these spiders aren’t naturally aggressive and only bite if you accidentally bring them into contact with your skin. They are about an inch or so in size and, as their name implies, are usually brown. But sometimes they can appear to be white. While they often have a violin-like shape on their body, this is not a reliable means of identification, since they resemble many other spiders.
Keeping Spiders Out
Even though these spiders aren’t aggressive, most of us don’t want to cohabitate with them. There are many steps you can take to try to reduce the appeal of your home to spiders:
- Vacuum and dust often, paying close attention to corners and under furniture.
- Remove webs from outside your home as well as in garages, attics, and basements.
- Reduce clutter and hiding places such as storage boxes.
- Repair damaged window screens, cracks in your foundation or siding/bricks/stone, and install door sweeps on doors.
- Keep your yard and lawn tidy and remove debris that can invite pests.
- Reduce the presence of other pests which are a food source for spiders.
Spiders can get in through breaches in your home. They can also be carried in through produce, children’s toys from the yard, plants, and boxes such as moving boxes. It’s a good idea to inspect these things before bringing them inside.
Homeowners often make the mistake of thinking they can deal with pests on their own, even dangerous spiders. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to keep your home pest-free with DIY methods. Aiken Pest Control has the experience and knowledge to keep your home free of black widows and brown recluse spiders. Don’t take the risk, call Aiken today to learn more about our residential pest control options.