Get Rid Of Spiders And Their Unsightly Webs
Have you noticed spider webs hanging in your home’s corners, cracks or crevices? If you feel like your home has been overrun with spiders and the unattractive webs they create, Lake Country Pest Control is here to help. Together with individual spider service on an ‘as and when’ basis, Lake Country Pest Control also offers regular preventative residential & business service programmes. Generally performed in the Spring, Summer (x2) and Fall seasons, our spider treatments not only help you control spiders, but also work to keep other crawling insects away from your home or business.
Need help with Spider Control in the Okanagan Valley?
Free site visits and written estimates can be provided for every spider job in the Okanagan Valley. Call Lake Country Pest Control now at 250 808 3552 or contact Lake Country Pest Control by email
Spiders have an ominous, but often undeserved reputation. Though most spiders are venomous and considered predators, of the thousands of species found in Canada, few are actually considered a health threat. In fact, spiders are actually helpful in controlling other pests in the home or garden since they feed on other insects and spiders. They generally bite and inject venom into their prey. The average life span of a spider is usually one to two years, but some can live five years and up to 20 years.
There are many types of spiders found throughout North American homes. Spiders are a nuisance for many, and are occasionally dangerous to humans. Treatment around the inside (i.e. baseboards, window sills, door frames lower level cupboards) and outside perimeter is necessary. Trimming back bushes and shrubs from the house will help to reduce insect activity around your home.
The two most common spiders that are considered health threats are the black widow and brown recluse.
Brown Recluse
Description
The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles spp.) is a poisonous spider that is light brown in color. It is about 1/2 inch in length, has a violin-shaped marking on the thorax (mid-section) and is sometimes called a fiddleback spider due to the unique markings. While most spiders have 8 eyes, the brown recluse has 6 (3 pairs). The brown recluse spider received its name because of its color and reclusive behavior. These spiders make an irregular and sticky web that is used for shelter rather than for trapping insects.
Biology
There are seven species of brown recluse spider that are a health concern in North America. Though active throughout the year, they often go unnoticed because of their reclusive habits. Adults may be found in dark, secluded indoor places that are dry, cluttered, undisturbed and contain a supply of insects for food. They are most commonly found behind baseboards, under tables and chairs, in the basement, crawlspace, attic, infesting cedar shake roofs, and in garages and sheds. Another common hiding place for a brown recluse is in garments that are left hanging undisturbed for some time and in the linens of beds that have been unoccupied for a long while. Bites often occur when the spider is trapped in shoes or clothing, rolled on while in bed, and encountered when cleaning storage areas.
The brown recluses venom is a cytotoxin that attacks the cells of flesh and produces necrosis or dead tissue in humans. Though fatalities from the venom are very rare, the reaction to the venom depends on the amount of and individual sensitivity to the toxin. The bite is not usually felt, but a stinging sensation may develop shortly after, followed by intense pain. The reaction, however, may not occur until an hour or more after the bite. The bitten area will first develop a small, white blister and enlarge to the size of a silver dollar as the venom attacks and kills the tissue in the affected area. Eventually, the affected tissue will die and leave a sunken, ulcerated sore. The healing process is slow, generally six to eight weeks. If bitten, call a physician or go to the emergency room immediately. If possible, exterminate the spider and take it along for identification purposes. Though no antitoxin is available, prompt medical treatment can prevent severe reaction and minimize the extent of damaged tissue and eventual scarring.
Solution
To avoid getting bitten by the brown recluse, shake out unworn or stored shoes and clothes before wearing, check bed linens of unoccupied beds and wear leather gloves when working around potential habitats. Use caution around spider webs in basements and crawlspaces. If a brown recluse is encountered, contact a pest control professional.
The Brown Recluse spider is not usually found in Canada.
Black Widow
Description
The female black widow spider (Latrodectus spp.) is a poisonous spider that has a somewhat round, shiny black abdomen with red markings that resemble an hourglass on the underside. The size of the body is approximately 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 to 1 3/8 inches long. Despite common opinion, the female rarely kills the male after mating.
Biology
Five different species of the black widow spider are prevalent in North America. They generally live under rocks and under fallen trees outside the home. In and around the house they are often found in firewood piles, basements and crawlspaces. They are also found in secluded places, such as garages and sheds. They feed on insects and other spiders that are trapped in their web. They are usually not aggressive spiders, but if handled or accidentally touched, they may bite.
The black widow’s venom is a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system and may cause pain and serious illness in humans. Though the bite is not often felt, pain will develop immediately. Reactions to the black widow’s venom include increased body temperature and blood pressure, profuse sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and pain and swelling around the bite. Antitoxin is available to combat the neurotoxin. If bitten, call a physician or go to an emergency room immediately. If possible, exterminate the spider and take it along for identification purposes. Bites are rarely fatal when promptly treated, however, small children are at greater risk.
Solution
To avoid getting bitten by the black widow, wear leather gloves when working around potential habitats. Use caution around spider webs in basements and crawl spaces. If a black widow is encountered, contact a pest control professional.
The Hobo Spider
The Hobo spider is brown in color and its body is about 3/8-inch long. Its abdomen is spherically shaped, and is white to brown in color with several dark markings. Males are smaller than females, and their legs are orange in color. The female’s legs are yellow. This spider is the most common type of comb-footed spider, a group that includes the black widow species. They are urban pests named after the comb-like row of bristles located on the tarsi of their fourth pair of legs. Hobo spiders are common throughout the world, and their webs are most often found in corners, basements, crawlspaces, under furniture and around windows. The venom is necrotic, causing open, localized wounds that may be slow to heal but Despite its aggressive nature, reported bites from this spider are relatively rare.
Need help with Spider Control in the Okanagan Valley?
Call Lake Country Pest Control now at 250 808 3552 or contact Lake Country Pest Control by email