Are Spiders Dangerous In Spring, Texas?
The vast majority of spiders in Spring, Texas present little or no threat to residents. There are only two types of spiders that are considered a medical threat. They are widow spiders and recluse spiders. Today, we're going to talk about several important spiders in Spring, Texas, what causes them to enter homes, how to get rid of spiders, and what works best to prevent and control spiders.
If you are concerned about a spider problem that you are currently dealing with and you want to speak with a human about it, you can jump to our contact page and reach out to us immediately. We provide industry-leading pest control in Spring, Texas. We can help. With that said, let's get into today's topics.
What Types Of Spiders Live In Texas?
The pest professionals at Modern Pest Control mostly see harmless spiders, like the American house spider or various spiders that are considered cellar spiders.
House Spiders & Cellar Spiders
American house spiders are almost exclusively indoor pests. These are the spiders that will make several webs in voids around your home, or wispy webs that hang from your ceilings. You might find an American house spider in its web, but most of the time, webs will be empty. This is because this species tends to have more than one web at a time.
While few homes in Texas have cellars, we have no shortage of cellar spiders. These spiders, like the daddy-long-legs spider, gyrating spider, and skull spider, are commonly found in sheds, garages, boiler rooms, storage rooms, and other still and humid spaces.
Most harmless spiders are not able to bite humans, or they have a bite that is so minor that you may not even realize you were bitten. While it is nice to not have these spiders around, they're not a concern. In fact, some people keep them around because they help to reduce flies and mosquitoes. We don't recommend doing this because an effective pest management program will control flies and mosquitoes without leaving unsightly webs all around your home.
There are several spiders that have a bite that can be described as a pinprick or bee sting. We wouldn't call these harmless spiders, but they're also not medically important. A good example is the wolf spider. If you're bitten by a wolf spider, you're likely to know it, but not only do wolf spiders rarely bite, they have a venom that won't make you sick - unless you're allergic to spider venom in general. If you are allergic, you can get sick from any spider that bites you. While wolf spiders can be scary spiders, you don't need to be afraid of them. They're mostly docile.
Brown Recluse Spiders
These golden brown spiders are known for their necrotic venom. If you're bitten by a recluse, it is wise to seek medical attention and have a physician monitor the wound. But keep in mind that recluse spiders are reclusive. They rarely come in contact with humans unless a home is filled with them. They're also not prone to bite unless they're trapped. This can happen when you put on clothing and don't see the spider clinging to it, or when you slip your foot into a shoe that has a brown recluse spider hiding in it.
Black Widow Spiders
These jet black spiders with their red hourglass markings are widely known for their potent venom. If you're bitten by a widow, you could get very sick but it is unlikely that you'll die. According to the AAPCC, the last death associated with black widow spiders in the United States occurred in 1983. You should also know that black widow spiders don't prefer to live indoors. If a widow gets into your home, it may just go right back outside. It is, however, a good idea to contact Modern Pest Control if you see a black widow (or brown widow) in your yard. It is best to not have them hanging out in your yard where you can have an accidental encounter.
Why Do Spiders Invade Homes?
Spiders in Spring, Texas encroach upon homes. First, they find a reason to come into your yard. Next, they find a reason to explore your exterior. If they find openings in your exterior, they may decide to get inside. Once inside, they may decide to stay if they find food to eat. Spiders don't see your home from a distance and decide to live in it. This is actually important to understand.
If you alter conditions around your home, seal entry points, and make it difficult for spiders to find food inside your home, you can effectively manage spider activity and reduce unwanted spider sightings in your home. Here are some spider-prevention tips that will help you keep spiders out and that could also help you get rid of spiders that have already gotten inside.
Exterior Spider Control
Remove webs and destroy egg sacs to reduce spider populations around your home. A single egg sac can have hundreds of spider eggs in it.
Remove yard debris, such as leaves and sticks. These are what attract spiders most.
Remove yard clutter. Spiders can get into the voids of objects or hide under objects. This is why you find webs in discarded tires and the holes of cinder blocks.
Clean your gutters to reduce dampness around your perimeter. Spiders are attracted to moist habitats.
Address other conditions that can lead to moisture. Trim landscape plants to let the air flow through. Remove unnecessary vegetation from your landscaping, such as grass and weeds. Water your landscaping in the early morning.
Reduce insects. Spiders want to hang out around homes that have lots of insects. There are many simple steps you can take to reduce insects. Replace exterior white lights with yellow lights. Insects can detect yellow light. Make sure your garbage is in covered containers and deodorize your containers if they start to have an odor. Address lawn weeds, particularly weeds that have flowers. Stay on top of waste clean-up if you have a dog. Dog droppings attract flies, and those flies are going to attract spiders. Everything you do to manage insect activity will help to reduce spider activity and deter spider reproduction near your home.
Spider Exclusion
Replace weatherstripping or door sweeps that don't create a good seal around exterior doors.
If you have exterior double doors, make sure they're properly aligned. This may require taking them off and putting them back on.
Replace wood frames around exterior doors. Rodents and other pests can put holes in your frames and these can allow spiders to get inside your home.
Use a caulking gun to seal any gaps around exterior doors or window frames.
Repair damaged door or window screens. There are great home improvement videos on the internet for easily, and cheaply, repairing screens. You don't have to go get them completely redone.
Create a seal around pipes, wire conduits, and other objects that penetrate your exterior or foundation.
If you have a crawlspace under your home, make sure it is properly sealed.
If your home has weep holes, make sure you have weep hole protectors.
Make sure gable vents and other potential entry points are properly protected with screen material.
Indoor Spider Management
Keep your home as clean as possible. This will have an impact on a wide range of pests. Some pests eat crumbs. Some eat hair. Some eat filthy things that we won't mention. Deep clean to reduce insect activity and, in turn, reduce the number of spiders.
Consider putting fruit in the fridge rather than on display. This could prevent a fruit fly infestation. While you probably don't like those tiny flies, spiders love them. If you've had a recent infestation of fruit flies, you should not be surprised to see spiders in your house.
Store your pantry foods in sealed plastic containers. This can deter beetles, weevils, and Indian meal moths. It will also deter spiders.
Address plumbing issues. Spiders need to drink. If you have a faucet that drips, those little droplets will provide more than enough water for most spiders. Moisture problems also inspire insect activity, and spiders will eat those insects.
Reduce humidity. Humidity can be a factor. If you have areas of your home that stay humid, it can invite moisture pests, such as millipedes, centipedes, and silverfish. Spiders will enter these spaces to feed on these moisture pests. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air and reduce the humidity.
Remove webs. Spider web removal isn't just important on the outside of your home. If you see webs inside, it is a good idea to address them quickly. If there is an egg sac, you'll be actively reducing spiders in your home but the greater reason to remove webs is that it sends a signal to spiders that your home is not a safe place to make webs.
How Do I Get Rid Of Spiders?
If you apply the prevention tips above and you're still seeing spiders in your house, you may need to contact a licensed professional. There are circumstances and conditions that can create spider problems. One example is that you could have something going on inside your walls where you can't see the issue, such as a dead mouse attracting flies or an old wasp nest attracting carpet beetles.
While unsettling to think about, these things can happen. A pest management professional uses well-established protocols to locate pest activity, evaluate conducive conditions, select appropriate control products, apply treatments to difficult locations (such as wall voids), and follow-up to make sure no spiders remain.
What Is The Best Way To Prevent Spiders?
Long before spiders become common and unsettling visitors in your home, it is a great idea to contact a pest control provider for spider prevention. When you have year-round pest control for your home, you reduce spider activity around your home and prevent outdoor spiders from becoming indoor pests.
There are two ways this happens. First, a pest professional removes webs and destroys egg sacs. This reduces the spider population. Along with de-webbing, a professional will also perform treatments that remove insects and bugs - essentially reducing what attracts spiders to your home. It is a one-two punch that makes spider sightings in your home a rare event. Plus, you'll get protection from all of those other pests, such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas, carpet beetles, silverfish, and more.
Let Modern Pest Control Help
If you live in Spring, Texas, and you're having trouble with spiders, let the team here at Modern Pest Control guide you in getting the right pest control for your home and family.
We offer convenient packages that outline the coverage you'll get. You can easily select what works best for you. And, because we've bundled pests together, you're going to get the best deal possible for your pest control needs. Take a look at Modern Plus, Signature, and Signature Plus to get started.
We treat key areas around your home to reduce pest activity that can attract the attention of spiders.
The products we use are environmentally friendly and family-friendly.
We provide coverage for a long list of pests, and our pest control programs come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Sometimes, unexpected things can happen. When they do, you're covered. If you have trouble with covered pests between visits, we come back and take care of them at no additional cost to you.
It is easy to get started. Connect with us through our contact page and schedule to meet with one of our friendly and highly-trained pest professionals. We'll inspect your property, look for pest activity and conducive conditions, evaluate the findings, and offer you the best residential pest control options available to meet your needs. You don't have to live with scary spiders getting into your home. Reach out to us today and get control of spiders. We're standing by to help.