Fall Pests: Part Three—The Spider – from Tri-County Pest Control

 In News

Last week in our “Fall Pest” series, we covered the cockroach and how to properly defend against them. This week is our final installment of our fall pests checklist, and with Halloween season right around the corner, how fitting it is to end with the spider.

Spiders belong to the Order Araneae, which includes over 45,000 different species. That’s quite a staggering number, especially for those arachnophobes out there. However, most species of spiders are extremely beneficial! It’s ironic that these “pests” take care of other pests in your home, such as flies, moths, and even other spiders! Now, not all species are this of kind, for there are a few that are a danger to humans, and should be kept out of your home at all costs. These include the Black Widow Spider, and the Brown Recluse Spider; both of whom are found in New Jersey.

While the itsy-bitsy spider is infamous for climbing up the waterspout, they’re also infamous for climbing into your humble abode. Most species of spiders enjoy spending their time outside, but they will venture inside to find food, warmth, and a nice place to lay their eggs. Similar to our other fall pests, the best way to beat a spider infestation is to prevent it.

First, check around your home to find any openings in your foundation, siding, or screens, and seal them promptly. This will eliminate any entry point for spiders into your home. Next, try to move any vegetation away from your home, as tasty bugs who will eat these plants will be on the spider’s menu. Finally, as with our other fall pests, try to keep a tidy house, so it will eliminate places where these spiders can hide.

If a spider (or many spiders) find a way into your home, there are a few ways to take care of them on your own. Vacuum up their webs, spray your house with peppermint oil (which will also leave your house smelling fresh!), douse any unlucky eight-legged critter with vinegar, or just use the old-fashioned method and step on the sucker. All of these options will work for all spiders.

If you do come across a Black Widow (look for a red hourglass on its belly) or a Brown Recluse (they’re long, slim, and have a brown violin marking on their back) be extremely careful! Both are extremely venomous, and can cause severe health complications in humans! Handle these with care, and try the three aforementioned methods to rid them.

Of course, sometimes household remedies are not enough, but never fret, for Tri-County Pest Control is right there to combat any spider threat in your home. If you have a large spider population, or see a Brown Recluse or Black Widow, just give us a call, and we’ll make sure the itsy-bitsy spider won’t go up the spout again.

That concludes our “Fall Pest” series. Thank you for joining us, and we hope that you’re now better prepared to combat fall pests!

Recent Posts

Leave a Comment