Omitting Spiders Throughout Homes and Buildings

 Many different kinds of spiders live in and around homes. Some, such as the cellar spider, construct webs to help capture their pillage. Others, like the wolf spider, are free-roaming and make no networks. Most spiders are harmless and, in fact, helpful because they prey upon flies and other pests. The majority of spiders have fangs too small or weak to penetrate human skin. Those capable of biting humans generally will not do so unless they are harmed or threatened. Various types of spiders occur in Texas. Only the black widow and brown anchorite are probably dangerous. Nonetheless, many people are unwilling to share their homes with spiders, harmful or not. Their networks, fecal spotting, and discarded prey can also become hideous trouble.

 

The following tips pertain to managing all spiders, followed by information specific to the black widow and brown recluse:    

 

Routine house cleaning is the best way to reduce spiders and discourage their entry. A vacuum cleaner or broom completely removes spiders, chains, and egg pouches. Destruction of egg sacs is essential since each can contain hundreds of young spiders.

 

Spiders prefer quiet, undisturbed areas such as closets, garages, basements, and attics. Therefore, reducing clutter in these areas makes them less attractive to spiders.

 

Large numbers of spiders often gather around building exteriors. Moving firewood, accumulated items, and debris away from the foundation helps reduce migration indoors. Shrubs, vines, and tree limbs should also be trimmed, since these provide harbourage and a convenient bridge to the structure. 

 

Install tight-fitting window screens, and door sweeps to eliminate spiders and other pests.

 

Insecticides can be applied as a ‘barrier spray’ around the perimeter of the building. Pay particular attention to door thresholds, garage and crawl space entrances, foundation vents, and the bottommost edge of the siding. Products containing ingredients such as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, or lambda-cyhalothrin are effective. Still, they may need to be applied periodically (e.g., monthly or bi-monthly) during warmer times of the year.

 

Controlling Spider Infestations

 

A thorough inspection of cracks, corners, and other dark, undisturbed areas with a bright flashlight will help manage the location and extent of infestations. All spiders construct irregular webs. When examining the spider indoors, pay particular attention to basements, attics, crawl spaces, closets, under/behind beds and furniture, inside shoes, boxes of stored items, and hanging clothing. Spider also may hide above suspended ceilings, behind baseboards, and around pipes and files. An effective way to detect hidden infestations is to install glue traps. The sticky cards can be purchased online or at hardware/farm supply stores. Placed flush along the bottom of walls and in corners of rooms, the traps will help reveal ‘hotspots’ and capture roaming spiders.

 

Brown recluse and black widow spiders also live outdoors in barns, sheds, woodpiles, behind window shutters, and lumber, rocks, and yard debris. Removal of clutter helps make areas less attractive to the spiders. To avoid being hurt, wear heavy gloves when inspecting inside boxes or moving potentially infested materials.

 

Infestations of both species often warrant the use of pesticides. Several sprays are available for controlling spiders, ants, cockroaches, and other crawling insects. Effective ingredients include cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. Insecticides formulated as specks of dust are also quite powerful. Apply the dust as an acceptable deposit, just visible to the naked eye. Spiders and other pests manage to avoid powdery masses much as we would avoid walking through a snowdrift. The easiest way to apply such a small amount is with a bellows hand duster sold in hardware stores or online.

 

Treat all areas where the pests are living, contacting as many spiders and webs as possible. Total-release pesticide floggers known as ‘bug bombs’ are seldom effective against these spiders and should only be considered when treating remote areas such as attics.

 

Infestations of spiders often require specific skills and equipment to exterminate. In these cases, it would be best to get the services of a professional pest control company. If you are in San Angelo, Texas, MDK Services pest control provides the best spider control services in San Angelo. For more details about MDK Services pest control, visit: https://mdkpest.com/ or call 325-658-3498 or alternatively just google “best pest control company in San Angelo”.