How To Get Rid Of Brown Recluse Spiders On Your Fort Worth Property

If you live in Fort Worth, we don't have to tell you that you need to be cautious when it comes to brown recluse spiders. These are well-known pests. But we're willing to bet there is a lot you don't know about these spiders, and that there are facts you may think are true but actually aren't.

Let's take a look at a few common facts about these common spiders in Fort Worth and discuss what works to get rid of them. If you have an urgent need for brown recluse spider control, contact us immediately. All-Safe Pest & Termite provides industry-leading pest control in Fort Worth. With that said, let's take a look at brown recluse spiders, how to get rid of them in your home, and how to get rid of them in your yard.

How To Identify A Brown Recluse Spider

You may know that a brown recluse spider has a dark violin mark on its body, but are you aware of how difficult it can be to see this mark? A full-grown recluse spider is only a little larger than a quarter. The size includes its legs. If you hope to identify a brown recluse, you need to be aware of its shape and coloration.

We recommend looking at pictures of recluse spiders online and comparing them to spiders that look like brown recluse spiders, such as hobo spiders, orb weavers, wolf spiders, and grass spiders. You'll notice that some of the look-alike spiders have lots of hair. So, while brown in color, like a recluse, they don't really look like recluse spiders.

Proper identification of spiders and other pests is key to prevention. It gives you essential information regarding habitat preference, the location of webs, and possible entry points. Brown recluse spiders like woodpiles, brush, and organic clutter. They make tangled webs near the ground and will most likely get into your home through foundation cracks, gaps around doors, and other low entry points.

The Symptoms Of A Brown Recluse Spider's Bite

You may know that the venom of a recluse spider has necrotic properties but are brown recluse spiders deadly? The last recorded death associated with these spiders was in 2004, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. There is also a low chance of a brown recluse causing a large disfiguring wound, as you've probably seen online. Most bites will look like a reddened area with an ulcer at the center. If you go to the hospital, your physician will outline this reddened area and watch for growth. This is an indication that there is necrosis spreading under the skin, which is the concern.

It is important to know what brown recluse spiders look like. It can alert you to a potential threat in your home. It can also help with prevention, as seeing a bite lets you know that you need more prevention than you're currently applying.

Five Environmentally Friendly Spider Prevention Tips For Your Property

There are many things you can do to keep these scary spiders away from your property and out of your home. Use these tips to keep them out:

1. Remove woodpiles, construction materials, pallets, cardboard, and other hiding places near your home.
2. Address standing water and moist conditions. Cleaning gutters and repairing damaged areas in your gutter system can go a long way toward doing this.
3. Seal entry points in your exterior to keep brown recluse, and other common spiders, out of your home. Look for gaps around utilities, doors, and windows. Look for rotting wood and seal any gaps or holes. Look for cracks in your foundation and apply a product to patch those holes.
4. Reduce insects around your home. Brown recluse spiders eat insects, particularly ground insects. When you address moisture in your landscaping, this will help you get control of insects. Another great way to reduce insects is to replace exterior white lights with lights that cast yellow light. Start with ground lighting.
5. Remove webs around your home. If you see tangled webs that are near the ground or are in a sheltered hiding place, they could be brown recluse webs. You can use a web-removal tool attached to a pole to sweep them away. This will work to reduce brown recluse spiders around your home because webs can have as many as 300 eggs on them.

Be cautious when working to exclude and deter brown recluse spiders around your home. While a recluse won't run up to you and bite you, it can bite you if you disturb its web or get one on your body.

The Safe & Effective Way To Get Rid Of A Brown Recluse Infestation

If you attempt to apply prevention or control for brown recluse spiders, be aware that you may not know when your efforts fail. This can leave you and your family at risk. While these spiders rarely bite, it is definitely best to not have them in your Fort Worth home. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite to get rid of spiders in your home and/or provide ongoing exterior protection to keep them out. This really is the best solution for potentially harmful spiders, like the brown recluse.