Despite widespread arachnid panic, there are very few truly dangerous spiders in the United States. All spiders are venomous, but the vast majority don't possess potent enough venom that would harm humans.
The same can't be said for black widow spiders, though, unfortunately. They can be found in and around Riverton homes and properties. They're not very social spiders, so discovering an infestation can be difficult at best, but what can you do if you've already found them in your home?
True Facts About Black Widow Spiders In Riverton
Black widow spiders are the most venomous species within the Theridiidae, or tangle-web family, in the United States. They can grow up to 1½ inches long with their legs extended, and they're glossy black in color with an hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of their abdomens.
This iconic marking is most commonly red, but it can also be yellow or orange. These distinct characteristics are only seen in the females, though – male black widows are much smaller, have black and brown-banded legs, and black bodies with brown and gray markings.
In truth, black widows don't really like infesting homes. They prefer living outside in their own cozy, secluded nests, but sometimes they nest in and around things that are brought inside, and on rare occasions, they find indoor dwellings more favorable:
- Boxes and furniture brought in from storage units
- Outdoor furniture brought inside during winter months
- Boxes and furniture left outside for too long
- Furniture and items found on the side of the road
- Firewood
- Seeking shelter from inclement weather – heavy rain, extreme cold
- Surplus of food inside
How To Prevent Black Widows From Nesting In Your Riverton Home
The most effective preventative measures can be successfully implemented by routine inspection, but black widows can't survive in your Riverton home without a food source. Spider prevention includes generalized pest prevention:
- Always inspect anything you bring inside that's been left outside or in storage for an extended amount of time
- Fill in any gaps and cracks around the exterior of your home – roof, trim, foundation, siding, exposed wood, around pipes and wires
- Keep firewood stored at least six feet away from the entrance of your home
- Remove leaf piles, mulch piles, and miscellaneous debris from your lawn
- Replace any worn-down insulation around windows and outdoor-leading doors
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly
- Wipe down counters, food prep areas, and tables daily
- Never leave food sitting out overnight
- Keep dried foods stored in airtight containers
- Clear out the clutter – downsize on any boxes, duplicate items, and things you never use anymore
How To Handle Black Widow Spiders In Your Riverton Home
These spiders are incredibly reclusive and non-aggressive, so black widow spider bites are exceedingly rare. They can and will bite if they feel threatened, though, unintentionally happening at any given time. Not only should you seek medical attention in the event of a black widow spider bite, but you should also seek professional pest control assistance to get them out of your home, and there's no better pest control company for Riverton residents than Tanner Pest Control.
Providing effective, reliable pest control is our passion, and we're proud to serve the families of Riverton. Being a small company affords us the time to be thorough with our treatments, and we leave no stone unturned in our efforts to eradicate any and every pest problem you're struggling with.
We're so confident in our treatments, we even offer our 100% pest-free guarantee with every single treatment we provide. Don't put yourself and your family at risk of a potentially lethal spider bite, get in contact with us today to start discussing your pest control options. We also offer reliable commercial pest control for local businesses.