A Helpful Spider Prevention Guide For Marietta Homeowners

Many pests can find their way into your Marietta home, but perhaps none is quite as alarming as the spider. There are many ways spiders can startle you. If you tend to a garden or landscaping, you could turn and find yourself face to face with a spider. They love to hang out in the vegetation. If you do yard work, you might move something and watch a spider crawl away. But, the most startling encounters happen inside. Your home is your sanctuary, the last place you expect to see a spider. You don't want to see a spider sitting on your tub or shower drain when you slide the shower curtain. When you watch television, you don't want to see a spider racing down the wall. And, we're willing to bet that you can live without the webs spiders in Georgia create in your home.

You might now be wondering how to get rid of spiders, but this can be tough to do on your own. Fortunately, ProCare Pest Services has you covered! We are your Marietta pest control professionals serving over 5,000 homes and businesses in the area. Our local, family-owned-and-operated pest control company specializes in customized, eco-friendly pest management, and we are always ready to serve our community. In today's article, we'll look at the characteristics of common spiders, why you don't want spiders hanging around your home, five no-sweat tips to prevent spiders in your home, and why professional pest control makes for the best spider control.

Characteristics Of Common Spiders

Spiders are reclusive pests that can find their way into any Marietta home. These pests are arachnids, meaning they possess eight legs and no antennae. The most common reason people experience spider problems is other underlying pest issues. Spiders are predators that feed on other insects. Therefore, if there are high populations of insects living near or inside your home, then there is a good chance they will attract spiders.

Some of the most common places you can find spiders are under furniture, window frames, corners of rooms, and inside closets. They will also move toward areas of low human traffic, such as the attic, basement, and garage. These places often have populations of insects and other prey pests and provide a safe, out-of-reach space for spiders to hide.

For the most part, having spiders in your home can be beneficial. For example, did you know that spiders are natural predators for many common nuisance pests? In addition, spiders in your home can serve as natural pest control for small insects. There are, however, some species of spiders in Marietta that are proven to be dangerous pests. Let's learn more about them below.

Why You Don't Want Spiders Hanging Around Your Home

Finding spiders in your home may not seem like a big deal, but it can be. Spiders use their venomous fangs to catch and subdue prey and defend themselves against threats. This venom is generally harmless to humans, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious about specific types of spiders. Profiled below are Marietta's two most dangerous spider species: the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider.

Black Widow Spiders

Black widow spiders are most recognized for the marking on the underside of their abdomen. These spiders are typically black with two reddish triangular markings usually joined to form a reddish hourglass shape on the bottom of their abdomen. Young black widow spiders look much different than adults. They are primarily orange and white but acquire more black as they mature. They have markings similar to male adults, with one or two reddish markings underneath the abdomen.

One of the most apparent signs of a spider infestation is the presence of webs in your home or other structures around your property. Black widow spiders usually construct messy and irregular webs located at ground level. Finding an egg sac in the doorway is another sign of a spider infestation.

Male black widow spiders rarely bite, but females may bite when threatened or provoked, especially after laying eggs. Black widow spider bites rarely lead to fatality, as long as proper medical treatment is sought promptly. Symptoms of a black widow spider bite include fever, increased blood pressure, nausea, and sweating. Pain is usually almost immediate and reaches its maximum in one to three hours. This pain may continue for one to three days before gradually subsiding.

Brown Recluse Spiders

The brown recluse spider, sometimes called the fiddleback spider or violin spider, is predominantly found in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States and is often identified by a dark brown violin shape on its back. This spider species is well known for its reclusive behaviors, as it prefers to take residence in warm, dry, and dark environments such as basements, closets, and woodpiles.

Brown recluse spiders usually bite when they feel trapped. This can occur when reaching a piece of clothing or a box in the attic or basement where a brown recluse has unknowingly made its home. The bite of a brown recluse spider is usually not felt, but it may produce an immediate stinging sensation followed by intense pain, or this reaction may be delayed for 6-8 hours. A small blister usually appears, and the surrounding bite area becomes swollen.

Because their bites can take three or more hours to develop and about three weeks to heal, it is crucial to keep an eye on the individual who was bitten. The brown recluse venom can cause severe allergic reactions, notably in children, the elderly, or those with preexisting medical conditions. Additional symptoms include restlessness, fever, and difficulty sleeping. The dead tissue around the bite site sloughs away during the next 10 to 14 days, leaving an open ulcer and possibly exposing the underlying muscles and bone.

If you notice spiders or signs of a spider infestation, do not attempt to address the problem on your own. Instead, contact ProCare Pest Services to safely and effectively handle all your spider control concerns.

Five No-Sweat Tips To Prevent Spiders In Your Home

There's no other way to say it: pest control is hard work. Most pests, including spiders, are reclusive creatures wishing to be left alone. Therefore, experts agree that the best way to control is to prevent an infestation from occurring in the first place. This form of proactive, long-term pest control is known throughout the industry as Integrated Pest Management or I.P.M. ProCare Pest Services uses advanced IPM methods and products to not only stop active pest infestations but prevent future ones from occurring. You can even apply concepts of Integrated Pest Management in your everyday household pest prevention.

If you're now wondering how to keep spiders away, here are five helpful tips to help you prevent a future spider problem.

Install door sweeps under doors leading into and out of your home. Exterior doors provide easy access to spiders trying to get in from outside. These spiders can easily crawl underneath your doors. Door sweeps can help keep them out!
Keep door and window screens in good repair. Spiders will take advantage of even the smallest entrances made available to them. Keep doors and windows closed and properly sealed to block access to these potential entryways.
Seal cracks and crevices around your home to prevent spiders from entering your structure. Use liquid cement to fill cracks, gaps, and holes around your home's exterior.
Turn off exterior lights at night. Pests will often see these lights and interpret them as an open invitation into your home. It's not necessarily that they are attracted to light sources; simply stated, this illuminates the area and makes it easier for spiders to see where they're going!
Close unscreened doors and windows when they are not in use. Have you heard the phrase, "Were you raised in a barn?" That same idea applies here! Leaving doors and windows open makes it much easier for pests to get in and out of your home, so always shut the door behind you!

Professional Pest Control Makes For The Best Spider Control

When you're in the heat of a pest infestation, you don't have any time to waste. You may be tempted to try and control the problem yourself. However, D.I.Y. pest control methods often cause more harm than good. Proper pest control requires many chemical applications that can be dangerous when not handled by a trained professional. If you apply a D.I.Y. solution outside your home, you may unknowingly cause harm to animals, birds, insects, or plants that do not harm you or your family. If these pesticides contaminate your water source, this can also threaten the lives of people in the area.

Finally, D.I.Y. products are just not as effective as professional materials. Professional exterminators are highly trained in the responsible handling and use of pesticides. The wrong products and treatments may only temporarily drive pests away, only to return in more significant numbers than before. For these reasons, your best chance at pest protection is always with a trained professional.

If you're concerned about spiders in your home, the best solution is to contact ProActive Pest Services for professional spider control. Our team offers personalized solutions guaranteed to eliminate active pest pressures in your home and prevent them from returning. Contact us today to request a free estimate!