There are two medically dangerous spiders in the country, the black widow and the brown recluse. Although both of these species are not aggressive, they will bite if they feel threatened. Because of this, it is essential to be able to identify them, especially black widows.
- Female black widows are 1 ½ of an inch long, with a black body and a red or orange hourglass marking on their abdomen.
- Male black widows are about half the size of females with light grayish coloring and reddish-pink spots on their backs.
Black widow webs can usually be found in dark and secluded places, close to the ground. If you see a web out in the open, it most likely doesn’t belong to a black widow. This isn’t a species that you shouldn’t take lightly, and as an St. Louis resident, you should know more about them.
Black Widow Bites
While male and female black widows have fangs, venom, and can bite, only the females are medically dangerous. As previously stated, this is not an aggressive species, which means they will only bite if they feel threatened. While bites are rare, they can happen, and if they do, you should look for the following symptoms:
- The bite will swell and will have two red puncture markings
- Rash and itching
- Aching muscles
- Sweating and chills
- Weakness
- Difficulty breathing
Whether these symptoms show or not, you should seek medical attention if you believe a black widow has bitten you. The same goes for children and pets, as they can be more affected by black widows than adults.
Now that you know what a black widow bite looks like, it is crucially important to try and keep this species off your property in the first place.
Black Widow Prevention
Because black widows prefer dark and secluded locations close to the ground, woodpiles make perfect places for them to build their web. This is why you should keep woodpiles away from your home. While this tip is specific to black widows, keeping other insects off your property is essential to spider prevention. Other insects are what spiders prey on and what attracts them to a property.
Implement the following tips on your St. Louis property to reduce the chances of dealing with black widows:
- Remove yard debris and excess foliage.
- Reduce clutter inside your home.
- Keep outdoor lights dim or off at night.
- Keep opened food in air-tight containers.
- Clean up crumbs and spills right away.
- Keep garbage, recycling, and compost bins secured.
- Seal entry points such as cracks in the foundation and exterior walls. Also, make sure screens don’t have holes in them, and you have door sweeps installed.
- Remove standing water from your property, clear gutters, and fix faulty faucets.
While these tips are beneficial, you should still consider the importance of professional services. With help from St. Louis pest control experts, you can ensure your home is safe and pest-free.
Professional Black Widow Control
If you live in St. Louis, you should contact Arenz Pest Management for more advice or assistance. Our trained pest control technicians will inspect your property and help you decide the best approach to remedy your specific pest problem.
We offer both bi-monthly and quarterly service plans to choose from, ensuring a service right for you. Give us a call today at Arenz Pest Management to learn more about these service plans and how we can help you with black widow spiders or other pests.
Tags: spider identification | spider prevention | spiders in st louis |
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