Is Professional Spider Control A Must-Have In The Bay Area?

Spiders are mostly just annoying pests. There are few things as annoying as walking through a spider web. The sticky web material clings to your skin, and you can't help but wonder if the spider is now on you. If you have a fear of spiders, walking through a spider web isn't just annoying; it is far more. Join us today as we look at the characteristics of common spiders in our area and the ways spiders create problems. We'll share six simple and effective spider prevention tips and put forth the question of whether or not professional spider control is a must-have for you. If you already know the answer to this question, keep in mind that Bay Pest provides effective and advanced solutions for spider pest control in The Bay Area. If you're concerned about spiders and spider bites, we know what is required to get rid of spiders in your home and drive them away from your exterior.

Characteristics Of A Spider

There are a few things spiders do that are annoying. We discussed one already. But, as you know, spiders aren't just annoying. Some spiders bite. Let's look at a few common characteristics of spiders in the Bay Area so you know what you can expect from common house spiders. 

• All spiders have fangs, but not all spiders can bite you. The fangs of certain spiders are too weak to break the skin of a human. For example, long-bodied cellar spiders (often called daddy longlegs spiders) can't bite. They are harmless spiders.
• All spiders have venom, but the venom of some spiders is too weak to cause harm. For example, an American spider (referred to as the common house spider) can bite you, but there will only be minor discomfort and an itchy welt. The spider in our area to watch out for is the black widow spider. It has a potent venom that can cause serious medical symptoms.
• All black widow spider bites do not result in serious harm. A female black widow may inflict a dry bite. A dry bite is one in which no venom is injected. While there is localized pain, there are no medical symptoms.
• Most spiders create webs. These webs are an unsightly mess and more than annoying to walk through.
• Most spiders create egg sacs in their webs. An egg sac can have hundreds of spider eggs in it. If webs and eggs sacs aren't removed, the spider populations around your home can grow quickly. 
• Spiders explore gaps, cracks, and holes. They can't help it. While some spiders in The Bay Area don't get inside or only stay inside for short time, many common spiders get inside and stay. All that is required to turn an outdoor spider into an indoor pest is an entry point.

In most cases, spiders are just annoying. If you aren't afraid of spiders, and you don't mind dealing with a bite every once in a while, you may not have spider control on your must-have list. But whether or not to get professional spider control goes beyond these two factors.         

Why A Spider Infestation In Your Home Can Be Problematic

The obvious reason not to want spiders in your home is that they can bite you. It is a problem that is certainly worth considering. But a spider problem in your home can give rise to other pest problems. Did you know this? Some pests eat spiders, so allowing spiders to live in your home can invite these other pests to live inside your home as well. Some of the pests that eat spiders are wasps, centipedes, other spiders, ants, rodents, and scorpions. All of these, with the exception of scorpions, are found inside Bay Area homes.   

As you consider whether or not to get spider control for your home, keep in mind that spider control and general pest control go hand-in-hand. When you hire a professional to keep spiders out of your home, you'll have protection from many other pests as well. Your spider control will also prevent more dangerous spider problems, like a black widow infestation. There is a reason why black widows have potent venom. They prey upon larger critters, such as spiders, centipedes, lizards, and even mice. Black widows are so prone to preying on other spiders that they sometimes accidentally kill their mates. That is how they got the "black widow" name.

Six Simple And Effective Spider Prevention Tips

When you roll your sleeves up and take steps to reduce spider populations, you have less of a need for professional spider control, but it is hard work to control spiders. If you have a full-time job and don't want to have to deal with spider management tasks around your home, professional spider control can quickly climb up into the must-have slot. Let's take a look a six simple and effective spider prevention tips that take a little muscle work.

1. Reduce exterior white light. Insects are attracted to white light. When insects are drawn to your home, spiders aren't far behind. Spiders eat insects. Keep lights off in areas where it isn't a security concern. Replace lights that cast white light with lights that cast yellow light. Why? Because insects can't detect yellow light. If necessary, install motion-detecting fixtures so lights only come on when you need them to come on.
2. Keep trash receptacles covered and get your trash to the curb weekly. A stinky receptacle will attract insects to your home. If you're seeing spider webs near your receptacles, it is because they're trying to catch those flies. Spider problems start when trash is allowed to sit for an extra week. When this happens, clean your receptacles with soapy water to remove the smells that attract flies and other insects. Doing so will also work to deter spiders from setting up webs near your receptacles.  
3. Remove spider webs and crush spider egg sacs. A spider egg sac is a paper-like structure that is easily destroyed. Use a spider web removal tool to collect the webs and your foot to crush the egg sacs. You can also put the spider web removal tool into a backyard fire pit to deal with those eggs sacs.
4. Reduce exterior moisture and address damp conditions. Spiders and the bugs spiders eat are attracted to moist conditions. Clear out gutter clogs and make any repairs that are needed. A dry perimeter is resistant to pest activity. Water is a building block of life. When you remove the source of water, you reduce the organisms that come to drink the water as well as the spiders that come to feed on those organisms.
5. Remove hiding places near your exterior walls. Spiders hide in many objects. They aren't particular. They'll get into a pile of wood or stone. They'll hide under a stack of branches. They'll crawl into a child's toy. Remove these objects and spiders won't have places to hide. Also, trim vegetation to remove hiding places in your landscaping. 
6. Use expanding foam and caulking material to seal entry points. A spider can't help but check out a gap or hole. It is in their nature. Do a detailed inspection of your exterior and seal any holes you find. No hole is too small. Be sure to also repair and replace materials that seal pests out of your home, such as door sweeps, weatherstripping, seals, and weep hole protectors.

If you don't mind the work, these prevention tips will go a long way toward keeping spiders out of your home. Unfortunately, many residents turn to spider control products because they seem like an easier fix. They actually aren't. There are many products that eliminate spiders but eliminating spiders only addresses the symptom of the problem, not the source. A pest management professional considers conducive conditions, entry points, potential routes, spider reproduction, and other key factors.    

Professional Pest Control Makes The Best Spider Control

If you don't want to have to think about spider control and you don't care to do the hard work of applying spider pest management around your home, professional control is appealing. But the real benefit of professional spider pest control is that a licensed and experienced professional will get this tough job done right. When you want to know for sure that you don't have any spiders in your home, professional control is a must-have. Your technician uses monitoring devices, professional inspections, and specialized knowledge to track spider activity.

Are you in The Bay Area? Contact Bay Pest for spider control and general pest management. We use Integrated Pest Management, which is the gold standard for pest control and prevention. Our technicians have the licensing and training to provide you with the highest level of service and the best results possible. Connect with us today to learn more or to schedule a service visit. We're always standing ready to help you address your pest concerns and get the protection you want for your Bay Area home.