Spiders are one of the most common pests that enter homes across the country, and as you well know, Tucson is no different. Who hasn’t walked into a room, turned on a light, and spotted a spider poised up in the corner by the ceiling? Worse yet, you unwittingly step into a spider web and commence with that special dance. You know, that one you do when you wonder where the spider went.
Nobody wants to go through that, and you shouldn’t have to. Preventing and getting rid of spiders in your Tucson home can be a difficult task. There are tips and tricks to deterring spiders in your home, but to ensure a more complete solution to your spider problem, contacting a Tucson pest control company near you is your best bet. Here at Green Home Pest Control, we have highly trained technicians to tackle your spider issues once and for all.
What Kind Of Spiders Might I Encounter In Tucson?
The most common spiders in Arizona that you’re likely to come across are common house spiders, jumping spiders, wolf spiders, black widow spiders, and brown recluses.
American house spider: This is the most common spider seen in homes across the country. They are yellowish-brown in color, and their abdomen is paler with dark stripes. The female is about 3/16 to 5/16 of an inch long and the male is a little smaller.
Jumping spider: These spiders are dark brown or black with light markings. They are approximately 1/8 to ¾ of an inch long. As their name implies, jumping spiders can leap up to 20 times their length.
Wolf spiders: These are large, hairy creatures, with the female coming in at 3/8 to 1 3/8 inches long. Wolf spiders are dark brown and have pale markings or stripes.
Black widow: The black widow is well-known for its red hourglass mark on the bottom of its abdomen. The females are 1 ½ to 1 3/8 inches long, while the males are usually smaller.
Brown recluse: These spiders are ¼ to ½ inch in length with skinny, long legs. The brown recluse is famous for the dark violin-shaped mark on its back. They are light to dark brown in color.
You are less apt to meet up with the latter two, but they are worth mentioning due to their more potent venom.
Are Most House Spiders Dangerous?
All spiders have venom in order to kill their prey, but very few have venom potent enough to be a health risk to humans. The two venomous spiders in Arizona to be leery of are the black widow and brown recluse. Even if you suffer a bite from one of these spiders, it will most likely just result in a painful sting that may become more painful with time. If symptoms worsen after a bite from either one of these poisonous spiders, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
In the United States, there are only a few spiders that everyone knows by name. Black widows are one such species. This infamous spider is one of the most dangerous in the country, and knowing all the facts about them is the first step to keeping yourself and your home protected from them.
While black widows may seem easier to identify than other common spiders, it can’t hurt to go over their characteristics. When the most prominent characteristic of a dangerous spider is on its abdomen, it’s safer to know some of the other defining features, so you don’t have to get close enough to look for them.
Black widows can be described using the following characteristics:
Around 1 and ? inches long
Small, rounded body
Females – characteristic red hourglass on the stomach
Females – brownish-black
Eight eyes with two pairs that almost touch
Young black widows – orange and white color
Create messy webs, usually in corners close to the ground
Choose dark and dry locations to make their webs
Pick ants, beetles, cockroaches, and scorpions for food
Mostly active at night and in warmer temperatures
Bites from black widow spiders are rare, but the likelihood increases if you approach their web or threaten them in any way. Making a black widow feel threatened enough to bite may be as simple as moving a box in the garage that they were using as a hiding spot. Bites are very rare, but the side effects include fever, increased blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
There have been no known deaths due to black widow bites in the United States, but the venom can be lethal to children and the elderly. If you believe you or someone you love has been the victim of a black widow spider bite, it’s best to seek medical attention.
Bites from black widow spiders are rare, but the likelihood increases if you approach their web or threaten them in any way. Making a black widow feel threatened enough to bite may be as simple as moving a box in the garage that they were using as a hiding spot. Bites are very rare, but the side effects include fever, increased blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
There have been no known deaths due to black widow bites in the United States, but the venom can be lethal to children and the elderly. If you believe you or someone you love has been the victim of a black widow spider bite, it’s best to seek medical attention.
The other dangerous spider in Tucson is the brown recluse spider. The brown recluse is known by the following characteristics:
About half an inch in length
Siz small eyes in a semi-circle shape on their heads
Brown coloration on their head or legs
Fine brown hairs on their eight legs
Violin shape found on their abdomen
Hide in out-of-the way areas around homes, giving them their “recluse” name
While brown recluses do not often bite humans, their bites can be very serious. They are reclusive, as their name suggests, but the places they tend to hide are often places like the closets or bathrooms in a home. While it doesn’t want to interact with you, accidentally walking in on its territory could make it feel threatened.
Immediate symptoms of a brown recluse bite include burning feeling, pain, itchiness, and redness to the bite site. The bite site commonly turns deep blue or purple with a large red ring on the outside edges. Common symptoms afterward include headache, body aches, rash, fever, nausea, and vomiting. While there has never been a verified case of a brown recluse killing a human, their bites still require immediate medical attention.
Five Ways To Deter Spiders In Tucson
What deters spiders from entering your house? The general answer to that question is “good housekeeping.” Keeping a clean and neat home helps keep the insect population down, and the fewer bugs around, the less food for spiders.
Maintain clean kitchen floors, food pantries, and countertops. Wipe up spills and food crumbs as soon as possible.
Don’t leave pet dishes out with food in them for extended periods of time.
Leave the outside lights off as often as possible.
Make sure trash bins have a tight seal.
Check all doors and windows for any openings or gaps when closed.
When it comes to black widow spiders, these spiders are more likely to choose outdoor buildings like sheds and garages to nest, so it was most likely an accident if they are in the home. To keep these dangerous insects away from your home and property, try these tips.
Seal any cracks, holes, and crevices around the outside walls and foundation of your home and around your outdoor buildings to prevent them from getting in.
Make sure screens, doors, and windows are well-maintained and secure.
Keep firewood stored at least twenty feet away from the house and keep it raised up off the ground. Wear gloves when transporting them and check the logs thoroughly before bringing them indoors.
Reduce the clutter in garages and basements to eliminate black widow hiding spots.
Preventing spiders from getting in might seem like a losing battle, and perhaps the spiders already have a foothold in your home. If you suspect an infestation of any kind, but especially a black widow infestation, don’t try to deal with it alone.
These are just a few examples of things that can be done around the house to make your home less attractive to spiders. But sometimes it seems like no matter how meticulous you are, spiders just keep popping up.
Total Spider Control For Your Home Or Business
Pest prevention and control are necessary to keep family and pets safe from spider bites. Our inspection, prevention, and extermination methods can keep your home routinely safe from invaders, and there’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes with a protected home. Call Green Home Pest Control today, or visit us online for a free estimate.
For complete spider control, call Green Home Pest Control. With more than 30 years of serving the Tucson area, we have the knowledge and experience to provide you with the best spider control solutions for your home or business. Our highly trained technicians are happy to come out to conduct a thorough inspection and come up with a residential or commercial pest control treatment and prevention plan that best fits your needs.
