Black widow spiders are probably one of the most well-known and feared spiders found in North American homes. Although they are not lethal to humans, the females’ bite does cause painful burning and cramping. Anyone bitten – especially children, the sick, and the elderly – should seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is why it is important to prevent the infestation of black widows in your home. If they do manage to make your home their home, however, call a professional exterminator immediately. For those who would rather take care of the problem themselves, be very careful and do not allow yourself to get bitten. Always wear gloves, boots, long sleeves, and pants tucked into your socks when attempting to exterminate black widow spiders.
Non-Chemical Ways to Prevent and Exterminate Black Widow Spiders
The first way to reduce black widow spider populations in your home and garden is to destroy their habitats. Black widows like small, dark places that are rather secluded and have a fair amount of moisture, so dismantle woodpiles and rock piles, cut back ivy and long grasses, and constantly check under rain traps for webs. To make your house as inhospitable to black widows as possible, get rid of clutter, rearrange your furniture regularly, and set up dehumidifiers in your basement.
After spider-proofing your home, it is time to look for those that are already in residence. The best time to look for black widows is at night, since they are nocturnal. Bring a flashlight, but don’t shine it into known webs until you are ready squish any offending creatures with a stick or stomp on them with your boot. For indoor black widow hunting, use a vacuum cleaner to suck up spiders and egg sacs. When you are finished, immediately put the vacuum bag into a sealable plastic sack and put it in the garbage outside. Remember, one egg sack can hold hundreds of spiders, so it is just as important to destroy them as it is to kill the adult black widow.
Chemical Ways to Prevent and Exterminate Black Widow Spiders
To ensure the extermination of any and all black widow spiders in your home and yard, there are also plenty of chemicals available to do the job. Put insecticidal dusts in cracks or holes in the foundation of your house before caulking them so that future spiders will be repelled even if the caulk gives way. Sprinkling dusts in attic corners, crawl spaces, and basements also helps with black widow control. Sprays work well for treating small areas or spraying directly on an offending black widow. Sprays will not penetrate egg sacks, however, so you will have to destroy the spider before she lays eggs.