Would you ever voluntarily hold a spider in your hand? Most people would not, even if they were told it was completely harmless. If you are the type of person who would hold a spider in your hand, all we ask is that you always make sure the spider you are planning on picking up can’t seriously injure you. To ensure you never have to deal with a dangerous spider inside your home, here are a few things you ought to know about Black Widow control.
How To Identify Black Widow Spiders
Black widow spiders are identifiable by their dark black body and the red hourglass figure on the underside of their abdomen. As for size, black widows are capable of growing to be upwards of 1 ½ inch in length. If no visible black widow spiders are present inside your home, their webs are another great indication that they are around. Typically, black widow spiders build messy and irregular webs near the ground or floor. In addition to these webs, silken sacs, (filled with eggs) clinging to the inside of doorways can also indicate a black widow infestation.
Where Black Widows Hide
Black widows love dimly lit cluttered areas as they provide the optimal conditions to hide and hunt for prey. Basements, garages, closets, and crawl spaces are all common locations black widows can be found around homes. When moving storage around or cleaning up clutter, keep a careful eye out for black widow spiders. The last thing you want is to be bitten unexpectedly.
How Dangerous Black Widow Spider Bites Are
The good news is that black widow bites are rarely fatal, and death is almost unheard of when immediate medical attention is sought. The bad news is that a bite from a black widow is one of the most painful and uncomfortable things you could ever experience. Just a few symptoms of a black widow bite include.
- Pain and swelling around the area of the bite which can spread to your back, chest, or belly
- Sweating
- Chills
- Nausea
- Cramping of the stomach which is occasionally mistaken for a ruptured appendix
If you are ever bitten by a black widow spider, seek medical attention immediately. This will help reduce your symptoms and greatly reduce your chances of further injury.
Prevention Steps For Spiders
Most spiders enter into homes to either hunt for insects or to escape inclement weather outside. Black widows are no different. To prevent spiders in general around your Bay Area home, here are a few prevention tips our experts recommend.
- Using a caulking gun, seal up cracks, holes, and gaps in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Inspect door and window screens around your home and make sure they are all in good condition.
- Make sure all of your exterior doors have door sweeps installed beneath them.
- Fix damaged weather stripping around your home.
- Clean your home regularly and keep clutter to a minimum.
- Use a dehumidifier inside your home to keep moisture levels down.
- Keep exterior lights turned off at night or invest in insect-resistant bulbs.
The Best Way To Prevent Black Widows
If you want to make sure black widow spiders never get into your Bay Area home, there is only one thing for you to do. Get the professionals here at Bay Pest involved. Our team of highly trained pest technicians will put in place quality long-lasting solutions to keep spiders (and the other pests they invade to hunt) out of your home.