If you suspect that you’re being plagued with a black widow infestation, knowing the signs will allow you to be sure. Black widows, like many insects and their arachnid cousins, are most commonly found in the dark, secluded areas of your home like your crawl space, attic, or basement. Additionally, they’re known to build their webs in places that are rather close to the ground. Continue reading here to figure out how to identify a black widow spider and how to get rid of spiders in your Murfreesboro home.
How to Identify a Black Widow Spider
Black widows are small spiders, roughly 3mm to 10mm in size, that are very well known for their distinctive hourglass marking. Present on the underside of their abdomens, this mark is bright red and meant to signal danger to its predators and attackers. If that’s not enough for the identification of black widows, they’re also black and shiny.
What is the Usual Habitat for a Black Widow?
As previously stated, the usual habitat for a black widow spider is in a dark, secluded area in your home. This could be a crack in the wall, old boxes in your attic, your crawl space, your basement, or any other location that fits the bill. These spiders are generally more abundant in some warmer areas, and, thus, are more popular here in the south.
What are the Signs of a Black Widow Infestation?
Not to be too obvious, but the presence of these spiders is a great tell that you might have a black widow infestation in your Murfreesboro home. In addition, you’re also likely to see their webs or egg sacs in a secluded space in your home. You could also experience some of the following.
- Bites: Bites from a black widow spider can be painful and are expected to cause irritation symptoms like redness and itching. Because these critters are venomous, you’re also likely to experience nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
- Skins: Black widows actually shed their skin. Because of this, it’s possible that you’ll find some brownish or grayish pieces of their skin scattered in their common hiding places.
- Droppings: The droppings from a black widow will look something like little specks of black pepper.
If you believe that you may have a black window infestation, it’s important to get in touch with a reliable pest control company. Our experts at GK Pest Solutions will quickly be out to give you a free inspection of your property for all things pest-related, not just spiders, and give you a free onsite quote.
Preventing Black Widow Spiders
As with many pests, preventing a black widow spider infestation will begin with keeping your home clean and free of clutter. Also, eliminating their potential hiding spots will also aid in keeping them out of your property. Generally, keeping a regular vacuuming and dusting routine should help to reduce the presence of any kind of spider in your home. Finally, it goes without saying that you should aim to seal any cracks or holes in the walls or foundation of your home. This is one of the most common ways that pests of any variety find their way inside.
