How To Prevent Brown Recluse Spiders From Getting Into Houston Homes
If you were to ask anyone here in Houston to give you the name of a venomous spider, they’d most likely give you one of two names—the black widow spider or the brown recluse spider. Both spiders are well recognized and have an incredibly dangerous bite, but the venom in the bite of the brown recluse spider attacks the tissue cells surrounding the area of the bite rather than only affecting the nervous system. Blistering, reddened skin, and mild to intense pain commonly follows for 2 to 8 hours after being bit by a brown recluse, while ulcers and the breakdown of tissue will develop after a week or more if the bite is left untreated. In some cases, these ulcers and the tissue damage has resulted in severe scarring after many months of healing. But brown recluse bites are rarely fatal.
Why Are Spiders In My Home?
Like many other spiders, brown recluse spiders are pushed indoors as the weather cools, but contrary to what many people might believe, spiders do not enter homes to escape the cooler weather. Brown recluse spiders are most active during the summer, and while they do become more sluggish as the weather cools, they do not actively seek out warmth. Instead, brown recluse spiders invade Houston homes in search of food. Many insects that the brown recluse spider feeds on typically start moving inside homes as the weather cools. In order to continue maintaining a steady food source, the brown recluse must follow. However, true to its name, the brown recluse spiders typically try to avoid human contact. They find areas that are high in bug activity but low in human activity. These spiders would rather hide from you than bite you, but they will attack if they are spooked or threatened.
How Can I Keep Them Out?
Many Houston residents forget why spiders are intruding in the first place. It’s important to remember, if you have a spider infestation, it is most likely an indicator of other pest problems. If insects can’t get in, spiders won’t follow.
Seal areas where insects and spiders can get in. Torn window screens, gaps under doors, and cracks in your foundation are all areas where pests find ways into your home. Repairing these areas and installing door sweeps will help reduce the number of locations where spiders and other pests are able to enter.
Brown recluse spiders like hiding in and near your home. If you remove areas where spiders can hide around the outside of your home, your home will become less appealing. Wood piles, leaf piles, debris, and foliage should be moved away from the exterior of your home, and grass should be cut short, regularly.
Similar to the way spiders enjoy hiding in debris on the outside of your home, spiders also love hiding in cluttered closets and attics inside your home. Keeping your storage spaces tidy and organized is a great way to remove areas where brown recluse spiders can hide from you.
Sheds, garages, and other outdoor utility spaces should be closed when not in use.
Preventative measures are a great way to make your home less appealing to spiders and other unwanted pest intruders, but the best way to eliminate the spiders on your property and keep them from returning is to contact the professionals at Modern Pest Control. Modern Pest Control provides comprehensive treatment plans specific to each home’s infestation. Based on what type of spider problem we find in your home during our inspection, we will create a safe and effective treatment plan to rid your home of spiders for good! Contact Modern Pest Control today for more information on all the residential pest control options we provide for Houston residents!