The black widow spider

Abell Pest Control

 

It's common to be afraid of all spiders, but the harmful species - such as the Black Widow - are the ones you should really be afraid of. According to Do-It-Yourself Pest Control, Black Widow Spiders are considered poisonous, spiteful spiders in North America. Fortunately, Black Widows are not usually lethal, because they can only inject a small amount of venom into humans, but they can still be harmful.

Identifying this pest can be easy in most cases, especially if it's a female - her body is black and shiny, and usually has a bright-colored hourglass marking on her abdomen. As for the male, it's about half the size of the female, usually has yellow and red spots on his back, and is known to be harmless. Now that you know what to look for, it's time to learn proper Black Widow control and prevention.

Inspection
DoMyOwnPestControl recommends starting by giving your entire home a quick inspection to help you close in on the spaces where the Black Widows may be hiding. Once you've identified the space where they seem to be gathering, you'll know where to focus your immediate attention and efforts to eliminate them. Most common places to check include dark places, around boxes and in piles of clutter.

Removal
If you've found the spot in your home where the Black Widow spiders are living, a non-chemical way to remove them is by using a vacuum. This method of removal can get rid of the spiders, their webs and their egg sacks. After vacuuming the contents of the Black Widow up, remove the vacuum bag or contents of the filter immediately, seal it in a plastic bag, and discard in an outdoor garbage can.

Prevention

Now that you've gotten rid of the Black Widow spiders residing in your home, it's important to take measures to ensure they won't come back. Here are a few tips for Black Widow spider prevention:

 

Minimize the hiding spots - Pestkill suggested getting rid of as many Black Widow hiding spots as you can. This includes boxes piled up throughout your home, clutter in the basement, unnecessary outdoor items or garage contents and debris left in the yard.

Inspect constantly - Make sure you're always checking for webs, egg sacs and spiders throughout your home. The more often you check and clean up the space, the less chance you'll find Black Widows taking residency in your house.

Keep vacuuming - By now you know that vacuuming up the Black Widow and its contents is an effective way to get rid of them, but it's an excellent way to prevent them from coming back, too. Always make it a point to dust and vacuum under furniture, in corners of the room and windows throughout your home. This will help remove the clutter of dirt and debris, giving the Black Widow no place to hide.

Store firewood safely - The National Pest Management Association suggested storing firewood at least twenty feet from your home and about five inches off of the ground. Piles of firewood are a common place for Black Widows to hide and reside in. The closer the piles are to your home, the greater the chance of the spiders' finding their way into your house is. Therefore, keeping your firewood as far away from your home as possible is the smartest choice.



About the author:

Abell Pest Control is a family owned Canadian company dedicated to providing effective, professional and courteous service in pest management.Started in 1924 with one office, Abell now employs several hundred people with branch offices across Canada and the United States.

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