Your Edmond property is unfortunately extremely susceptible to spider infestations. Why? Well, after the wet season, the climate is moisture-rich and more conducive to insects. Insects attract spiders; it’s their food source, and therefore, your Edmond property is more vulnerable to spider activity. Once the wet season is over, things dry up, and temperatures rise. This temperature change causes spiders to seek entry into your home for shelter to stay cool. So, no matter what season it is, a spider infestation is pretty much a possibility all year long.
Some of the most common spiders in Oklahoma are jumping spiders, wolf spiders, garden spiders, and possibly tarantulas. The good news is, most spiders in Oklahoma are harmless. However, two species, in particular, can be dangerous; the brown recluse and the black widow and each contain potent venom that can have some negative health consequences. But, before we get into all that scary stuff, let’s start with identifying these pests individually.
Brown Recluse Identification
- Also known as the “fiddleback” spider because of the violin-shaped marking on its back
- Range in color from light tan to dark brown
- Legs covered in short hairs
- Hide in cabinets, basements, piles of clothing
Black Widow Identification
- Prefer remote areas with minimal human activity
- Females are black with a red spot on the abdomen
- Males are brown and rarely emerge
The good thing is, if you leave spiders alone, you should be fine. Spiders only bite when disturbed, and though their bites are undoubtedly harmful, they are rarely fatal. In some cases, the bite site itself can get infected, especially if you scratch vigorously. The populations at the highest risk are children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised.
Common Spider Bite Symptoms
Here are some of the adverse health effects of these venomous bites.
Brown Recluse Bites
- Cytotoxic venom
- Can cause holes in your skin/body
- Leaves painful marks
- Causes skin tissue decay
- May require skin grafts
Black Widow Bites
- Neurotoxic venom
- Effects nerves and nerve tissues
- Bite leaves a pinprick and can lead to several symptoms.
- Symptoms, such as muscle aches, cramping, fever, abdominal pain, sweating
Spider Prevention Tips
To protect yourself from spider bites, you need to be proactive. There are several preventative measures you can take to eliminate attractants around the house and reduce your exposure to spiders. Consider the following in your spider control efforts:
- Clean up any dead insects around the house.
- Inspect your weatherstripping and replace it if it’s damaged.
- Install door sweeps to prevent spiders from entering.
- Install window and door screens, or repair existing ones.
- Keep other bugs away from home because spiders feed on them.
- Keep the exterior porch lights off.
- Reduce excess moisture around the property by repairing leaky pipes, faucets, and gutters.
- Remove accessible food sources and clean up spills and messes promptly.
- Remove yard debris and brush around the property.
- Replace outdoor bulbs with yellow, insect-resistant bulbs.
- Routinely remove any spider webs that develop.
- Shake out clothing that has been untouched for a while.
- Take the garbage out regularly and keep trash outside in sealed containers.
- Thoroughly dust, sweep, and clean; reduce clutter around the home.
- Use caulk or foam to seal up any cracks and crevices.
- Use cedar mulch, cedar hangers, cedar chests, cedar shavings, cedar blocks, etc.
While all of the helpful tips above can go a long way in keeping spiders away from your property, you still can’t be 100% sure that there aren’t any black widow or brown recluse spiders around. Your best protection from these creepy crawlers is regular service from the pest professionals. Thunder Pest Control offers comprehensive spider control and prevention services that guarantee year-round pest protection for you and your loved ones. Give us a call today and set up your free inspection. We look forward to hearing from you.
