A phobia of spiders (arachnophobia) is fairly common, right up there with snakes and public speaking. Experts theorize that our fear of spiders is evolutionary - our ancestors learned a healthy fear of arachnids that could potentially kill them since they lacked the medicine and technology we have today.
Spiders pose much less of a threat in the modern world, but you still don’t want to see them spinning their webs in your Orange County home. In this post, we’ll explore what spiders are, whether you should be afraid of them, and how to prevent and get rid of these creepy crawlers
Spider Identification
Spiders are eight-legged arthropods with round bodies, fangs, and spinnerets for creating sticky webs. Most spiders are equipped with eight eyes, but some have zero, and some have as many as twelve. Spiders range in both size and color, depending on the species.
While all spiders possess venom and fangs, only two species in the United States are considered medically dangerous to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse. Both of these spiders are rare to find in your home, but it’s important to be able to identify these species if you do have the bad luck of encountering them.
Black Widow Spiders
Black widow spiders are black with a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomens. They are typically about 1½ inches long and have eight eyes. Black widow bites cause symptoms including fever, nausea, increased blood pressure, swelling, and pain. Fatalities are rare, as long as the victim promptly receives medical treatment.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are between ¼ - ½ inches long and are tan or brown with a characteristic dark, violin-shaped marking on their backs. They have six eyes arranged in a semicircle of three dyads, or pairs. A bite from a brown recluse typically causes a painful, ulcerating sore that can take weeks to heal.
How To Prevent Spiders In Orange County
Whether spiders are dangerous or not, you probably don’t want them living inside your house. Here are some tips for keeping your Orange County home spider-free:
- Seal any cracks, holes, or gaps in the outside of your home to keep spiders from crawling inside.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your house and 5 inches off the ground.
- Install screens on windows and doors.
- Cover vents with mesh screens.
- Remove any spiders, egg sacs, and webs with a vacuum cleaner.
- Keep your grass cut short, trim shrubs, and remove yard debris.
- Declutter your home and use sealed boxes or plastic bags for storage.
- Address any additional pest issues, as insects are a source of food for spiders.
Taking these preventative steps will help reduce spiders in your home, but be sure to seek professional assistance if you have any concerns about spiders on your property.
Professional Spider Control In Orange County
If you are seeing a large number of spiders in your home or are concerned that the spiders may be venomous, contact HomeShield Pest Control for advice and assistance. HomeShield Pest Control has proudly served Orange County since 2009. We are dedicated to providing our community with effective, eco-friendly pest control solutions and outstanding customer service.
Our spider control solutions will eliminate the spiders from your property and identify and treat for pest prey that may have attracted the spiders. Each of our services comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so you can rest assured that your spider problem will be taken care of.
For quality spider control in Orange County, contact HomeShield Pest Control today.