Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
Tennessee is home to many varieties of spiders, and the majority of them are harmless to humans. While their bites may irritate your skin, their venom isn’t poisonous and is almost never life-threatening for most healthy individuals. But, the black widow is known as one of the most dangerous spiders in the U.S., and they live right here in Middle Tennessee, as well as throughout other areas of the country. Today on our newest blog, find out the best way to control black widow spiders in Murfreesboro so that you can keep your family and pets safe from their poisonous bite.
What do black widow spiders look like?
Black widows are black spiders with a distinct red hourglass marking on their bellies. They have eight legs, and their body shapes differ between male and female varieties. Males are about 0.1 to 0.3 inches long while females are larger, measuring up to 0.5 inches in length. Their webs have what look like hanging cocoons. Black widows are shy spiders, emerging only during mating season. Typically, black widows reside in undisturbed areas like the inside of boxes, underneath patio furniture or lawn toys, barns, and any other dark areas.
How bad are black widow spiders?
Female black widows can deliver a toxic bite to humans. If bitten, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- General discomfort
- Mild muscle pain
- Swelling in the area bitten
- Excessive sweating
If you experience these symptoms after being bitten by a spider, you should seek medical attention immediately.
What to know about black widow spiders in Nashville
Black widows don’t typically cause infestations like other pests and spiders in our area, although it is not unusual for homeowners to spot one on their property occasionally. And the good news is that just because you find one black widow does not mean there are many more nearby. But still, homeowners often wonder how to prevent black widow spiders.
Here are some tips to help reduce the occurrence of black widows on your property:
- Keep wood piles away from your home.
- Keep brush and excess wood debris clear from your home and its foundation.
- Take caution when working around or with rock piles.
- Reduce outdoor lighting at night, which attracts bugs in general.
- Be careful when reaching into voids like under stairwells, porches, or patios, as black widows hide in these dark areas.
- Control other household pests inside and around your home as black widows eat other insects.
Black Widow Spider Removal in Nashville, Hermitage, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee
One of the best solutions to preventing black widow spiders is with year-round pest control treatments. Since spiders, black widows included, prefer to feast on other tiny insects, reducing those bugs will limit your risk of black widow spiders on your property. Also, take caution when reaching for items in storage or opening old boxes of items that have been undisturbed for quite some time. It’s also a good idea to inspect and clean your outdoor furniture in the spring and periodically check it before using your outdoor furniture during the summer. If you would like to learn more about pest control in Murfreesboro, please contact Ameri Care Services by calling (615) 893-7111.