Finding black spiders lurking around your home? These critters could be harmless, or you could be dealing with the venomous black widow spider. Here’s what homeowners should know about identifying black widow spiders in your home, the dangers they could pose, the safest way to get rid of them, and how you can keep spiders away from your property with Innovative Pest Solutions.
How to Identify Black Widow Spiders
While there are plenty of spider species that may be dark or black in color, not all of them are black widows. Fortunately, these dangerous spiders are fairly easy to distinguish. Not only do black widow spiders have glossy, black coloring, but their most recognizable feature is a reddish-orange hourglass mark on the underside of their abdomens. If you see that bright mark, you can be certain you’re dealing with a black widow spider. As far as size goes, black widow bodies are generally under half an inch in length with thick pointed legs. Female spiders tend to grow larger than their male counterparts.
The Dangers of Black Widow Spiders
If you do identify a spider as a black widow, you shouldn’t stick around or try to deal with it on your own. Black widows are extremely venomous, and they’re currently the most venomous spider in the country.
While their bites usually aren’t fatal, black widow spiders can still make you extremely sick, especially if you don’t seek medical attention in a timely manner. If there’s any good news, it’s that black widow spiders don’t go out of their way to bite and usually aren’t aggressive towards people.
These spiders spend a lot of time in dark, damp areas outside or in houses and tend to pick hiding spots where they won’t be disturbed. If a black widow does bite, it’s usually out of self-defense and when they’re unable to flee. For instance, it’s not uncommon for bites to happen because someone accidentally stepped on a black widow or stumbled upon their hiding place.
Since it can be difficult to determine if you’ve been bitten by this spider in the moment, some warning symptoms that can indicate a black widow spider bite include:
- Pain and swelling around the bite that doesn’t go away
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle cramps or joint pain
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately, even if you’re not sure a black widow spider has bitten you.
The Safest Way to Get Rid of Black Widow Spiders
They may not mean you harm intentionally, but that doesn’t mean that black widows are welcome around your home. If you suspect you’ve got an infestation or you’re just seeing black widows around your property, the safest way to get rid of them is with professional help from Innovative Pest Solutions.
We’ve been serving the locals for years, and we’ve dealt with black widow infestations of every size. Even if you’re not sure you’ve got black widows, let us do the investigating for you – contact us today at Innovative Pest Solutions to learn more about how our spider control services can help you.
How To Keep Black Widow Spiders Away From Your Property
Black widows may sometimes end up in your home by accident, but you can also attract these spiders and others to your home as well. Here are some quick tips on how to keep spiders away:
- Seal off entry points into your home: Use foam or caulk to seal up any gaps or holes you may have near the foundation of your home.
- Keep up with sanitary food and trash practices: Don’t leave any food out as this can attract the pest prey black widows like to eat.
- Deal with your clutter: Cluttered homes give black widows and other spiders plenty of places to hide, so decluttering your home regularly can help you avoid unpleasant surprises.
- Don’t store your firewood near the house: Black widows often nest in firewood, so you’ll want to keep any woodpiles at least several feet from your home.
- Be careful about bringing in yard debris: Black widows and other spiders can hide in potted plants or yard debris that you keep outside, so you’ll want to inspect these items for any pests before you bring them in.
Of course, the best form of spider and black widow prevention is by forming an ongoing professional relationship with a pest control company like Innovative Pest Solutions.
