Black widows are a dreaded species of spiders that crawl into our thoughts late at night and spin nightmarish webs. The paralyzing effect of these deadly spiders has been popularized by movies that shed light on the phobias that surround them.
There is something creepy about these tiny little arachnids that manage to scare the wits out of us. Perhaps it’s their tiny legs that move so fast across the floor, or their hairy little bodies that scratch against the surface of your skin, causing you to jump in panic. Most frightening, however, is the reality of how deadly the black widow spider can be. For this reason, it is important to take steps to make sure you can identify and protect against these dangerous little black insects by using proper pest control and pest prevention techniques.
Black Widow Basics
The female black widow averages about half an inch long and one and a half inches when the legs are spread. Both females and males have glossy, globular abdomens. While for the most part females and males are black, Pest Control Assessment Report they can sometimes be brown. The females usually carry the dreaded reddish hourglass symbol on the underside of their abdomens, while other species may have a series of red spots and two crossed bars on the abdomen.
Black widow spiders are inhabitants of the warmer parts of the world. They can be found in all four deserts in the American Southwest. There are various kinds of related spiders, such as widow spiders (genus Latrodectus). Widow spiders are the largest of the cobweb weavers (family Therididae). All types of widow spiders are venomous, but not all pose a threat to humans. Overall, black widows comprise six different species.
Common in the westernmost parts of the U.S. is thespecies L. Hesperus, which is found in the North American deserts. The eastern and central parts of the U.S. are home to the Homemade Spider Spray For House species L. Mactans. Another species, L. Geometricus, or the brown widow spider, can be found in the U.S. as well. Throughout the Americas is the species L. Curacaviensis.
The female black widow is the most venomous spider in North America. In spite of this, its bite hardly is a cause of death due to the fact that little venom is released. The human mortality rate from black widow spiders is less than 1 percent, so that ought to put some fears to bed. Still, it is important to seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten by a black widow spider and, if possible, to capture the spider to identify it.
Pest Prevention for Black Widows
There are several pest prevention techniques for black widow spiders. In order to keep your home spider free, seek to remove or reduce the amount of trash from areas you frequent. This includes boxes, plywood, tires, empty containers and woodpiles. The outside of your house should remain well kept, with regular trimmings to keep tall grass, weeds and shrubs away from the foundation of your home. Also, make sure to check items you keep in your garage or shed for spiders, webs or egg sacs before you bring them inside.
Pest prevention is equally important inside your home. Utilize the following pest prevention tactics to head off a black widow infestation:
— Try to keep beds away from walls, as spiders tend to form in corners and climb down.
— Do not store any open containers or boxes underneath your bed.
— Make sure your comforter or bed skirt does not touch the floor, as spiders will easily climb up it.
— Do not store shoes or clothes on the floor — if you do, make sure to thoroughly shake them out before using them.
— Store sports equipment in plastic bags that are sealed tightly so as to let nothing get in.
— Make sure to regularly vacuum beneath furniture, in closets, under heaters and around all baseboards and other areas of the house.
— Keep screens on your windows, and fix holes in screens as soon as possible.
— The doors in your house should be sealed with weather stripping and door sweeps to keep black widows from slipping underneath.
If you do suspect a black widow infestation, call a pest control company immediately. Look for a pest control service that takes a holistic, green pest control approach to spiders and other invaders, as they can help to not only eliminate the current infestation but help you formulate strategies to prevent them from coming back.
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