One of the most common fears in the world is the fear of spiders. As such, it makes sense that people don’t want these eight-legged pests living in their homes. Therefore, if you are a Houston homeowner, you need to know the measures you can rely on to keep spiders out of your house. To do so effectively, you first need to know the factors that attract spiders and what you can do to eliminate them. Furthermore, should your Houston home become overrun with spiders, you need to know the effective spider control solutions that you can rely on to get rid of these creepy-crawly pests.
Identifying Spiders Common To Houston
Spiders aren’t insects but arachnids, which means they are related to ticks and mites. Nearly every spider has venom that they use to hunt their prey and for self-defense. However, most of the spiders we encounter here in Houston do not have potent enough venom to harm humans. With that said, there are two spider species here in Houston considered dangerous. As such, you need to be able to accurately identify the local area spiders for the safety of yourself and your family.
House Spiders
House spiders can vary in color but are typically yellowish-brown. They have round abdomens with distinctive dark-chevron markings and like to build their webs in out-of-the-way locations. House spiders may bite but are not considered dangerous.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are large and can grow to be several inches long. They have brown bodies, sometimes with paler stripes running across them. Wolf spiders do not build webs; instead, they hunt their prey. Despite their large size, wolf spiders rarely bite and are not considered dangerous.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are predominantly brown with a distinctive dark violin-like pattern on their abdomens. Brown recluses have venom considered dangerous to humans. If you are bitten by one, seek medical attention immediately.
Black Widow Spiders
Black widows are predominantly black. You can easily identify the females by the bright-red hourglass-like figure on their abdomens. Black widows are considered the most dangerous spiders in the United States. If you are bitten by one, seek medical attention immediately.
Factors That Attract Spiders Into Homes
Spiders like to feed on nuisance insects, other spiders, invertebrates, and smaller vertebrates. Therefore, if spiders are coming into your home, it likely indicates further pest issues exist on the property. Typically, spiders enter homes through open doors, open windows, cracks in the foundation, and other small openings around utilities.
How To Eliminate Factors That Attract Spiders
To keep spiders out of your home, you need to remove any factors that attract them and seal off potential entry points. Therefore, the best method for spider control is general pest prevention for your home.
- Store food in airtight containers if not in the fridge.
- Keep counters and floors clean.
- Take out the trash regularly.
- Store trash in bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Use dehumidifiers to address areas with moisture buildup.
- Fix leaking pipes and fixtures.
- Install weatherstripping around windows and exterior doors.
- Install screens in windows and exterior doors.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
Effective Spider Control For Your Houston Home
For more spider prevention advice, contact the professionals here at All-Safe Pest & Termite. Please inquire about our spider control services as well as our general pest control offerings. You don’t need to put up with spiders or the pests they feed on living in your home. Give us a call today to get started with effective spider control for your Houston home.