Whether it is because of their constant presence in horror movies or their use in scary Halloween decorations, spiders are frequently featured in the nightmares of many people. Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is consistently ranked one of Americans' top five fears. For most spiders, this fear is wildly overblown.
Most spiders in Highland aren’t dangerous and actually provide value to the ecosystem by eating other pests. One spider that is dangerous, however, is the black widow. These venomous spiders get their name from the popular but largely untrue belief that females of the species eat the males after mating.
Black widows are easily recognizable by their black color and females can be distinguished by the red hourglass shape on their abdomen. Your first clue that you have pest in your Highland home may be the presence of webs. They spin messy and irregularly shaped webs that are usually found near ground level. If you see these webs, you need to be on the lookout for black widows around your home.
Where Will I Find Black Widows?
Black widows aren’t an aggressive species. They prefer to live in dark, sheltered areas that aren’t frequently used by humans. They are mostly nocturnal, hiding during the day and coming out at night to hunt. Black widows won’t seek out or attack people, but if they feel threatened, they will react by biting and injecting their dangerous venom. This is especially true for females that have just laid eggs.
Startling a black widow is what is most likely to get you bitten. This makes knowing where to look for black widows important, so you can identify them and avoid causing them to react.
Some common outdoor areas where black widows live include:
- Wood piles
- Rubble
- Hollow logs
- Loose bark on trees
- Holes in the ground
- Under stones and pavers
- Sheds
- Garages
- Wells
- Water meters
- Root cellars
- Drainage pipes
You should use caution whenever you are moving stones, lifting covers, and in other areas where black widows are common. Indoors, they are commonly found in boxes, unused shoes, around air vents, in basements and crawlspaces, and in dark corners.
Are They Dangerous?
Black widows are one of the few species of venomous spiders in the Highland area. Fatalities from black widow spiders are rare, but they can still be a major health concern. A black widow bite may not be that painful at first. The pain will increase over the first three hours and may continue for multiple days.
Symptoms of black widow bite include:
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Breathing difficulties
- Increased blood pressure
- Excess sweating
If it is left untreated, a bite from a black widow can lead to death.
Black Widow Prevention
Even if black widows aren’t aggressive, you still don’t want them around. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep yourself protected from these pests and keep them away from your home and property:
- Seal cracks and crevices in the walls and foundation of your home that black widows can use to gain access.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and any other buildings.
- Reduce clutter in basements and garages where these pests can hide.
- Always check shoes before you put them on.
- Wear heavy gloves when moving items that have been in storage for a long time.
A residential pest control plan will also help keep black widows — and the pests that they feed on — out of your home.
Dealing With An Infestation
If you are dealing with an active black widow infestation on your property, the safest and easiest way to handle it is to get professional home pest control. At TrueShield Pest Control, our exterminators know exactly where to look to find black widows and are highly trained in removing these dangerous pests.
Don’t let these spiders hang around your home. Call us at the first sign of these pests and let us keep you and your family safe. We also offer quality commercial pest management for local businesses.
