Finding spiders in your home is relatively common, but some species inspire more fear than others. Homeowners may find one of the most feared spiders on their properties—the black widow. Though professional spider control in Crawfordville, FL, can help you mitigate your risk of an infestation, you still need to know when it's time to call a pest control expert. Here's what you should know to identify black widows and what you can do to keep them from becoming a problem in your home.
Distinctive Markings: How To Identify A Black Widow Spider
Telling many spider species apart can be difficult, and spiders that look like black widows can cause concern, but black widows have some very distinctive physical characteristics that make it easier to figure out if you have them in your home. Here's what you should look for when trying to decide if you need black widow spider control:
- Their color: True to their name, black widows are jet black and often have a glossy appearance.
- Their markings: Black widows have a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomens.
- Their webs: Unlike other spiders, black widows spin irregular webs near ground level.
- Their behaviors: Black widows are most active at night and hang upside down in their webs.
Black widows aren't huge spiders. Most grow between 1 1/2 and 1 3/8 inches long. But all of them will have a distinctive hourglass shape. If you see any in your home, it's time to call a spider removal expert to help get rid of them.
Black Widow Spider Bites: Understanding The Potential Health Risks
Though black widows are known for being one of the scariest household spiders, they're not necessarily as harmful as you might think. These spiders only bite when provoked or feel threatened and need to defend their territory. Their bites will inject venom at the site of the injury, resulting in the following symptoms:
- Pain at the site of the injury
- Fever
- Increased blood pressure
- Sweating
- Nausea
Some individuals may need medical care after a bite, but most can recover on their own. However, since their bites are painful, it's best to schedule an appointment with a specialist to keep the local spiders in Crawfordville away from your home.
Professional Black Widow Spider Extermination: Ensuring Peace Of Mind
Though spider sprays can help deal with one or two spiders, it's best to schedule a professional treatment with an expert. Professional pest control providers know what to look for and can help determine if you have more than just a few spiders in your house. Once they know the extent of the problem, they'll devise a plan to safely remove and eliminate black widow spiders from your property.
Pros like those here at Florida Sun Pest will be able to treat your home and help keep these Florida spiders and other unwanted pests from coming back, letting you avoid dealing with harsh treatments on your own.
Black Widow Spider Prevention Tips: Keeping Your Home Spider-Free
Though professional treatments are the best way to deal with current infestations and prevent new ones from happening, there are still a few things you can do to reduce your risk of black widows building webs around your home. Here are a few tips to follow:
- Reduce clutter to get rid of hiding spots in your home.
- Keep firewood at least 20 feet from your house and place it on a raised platform.
- Seal any cracks, crevices, and gaps around your home's exterior to keep spiders out of your home.
- Schedule routine pest control appointments to eliminate the spiders' food supply.
These tips, combined with professional treatments, can protect your property.
If you're worried about spiders in your home, schedule an appointment with Florida Sun Termite and Pest. Our experienced local home pest control experts will help keep your home safe and spider-free. Contact us today!